Cineverse Corp.: Form 10-K for the period ended Mar 31, 2024

OVERVIEW

Cineverse Corp. (“Cineverse”, “us”, “our”, "we", and “Company” refers to Cineverse Corp. and its subsidiaries unless the context otherwise requires) was incorporated in Delaware on March 31, 2000. Since our inception, we have played a significant role in the digital distribution revolution that continues to transform the media and entertainment landscape.

The Company has a long legacy in using technology to transform the entertainment industry and played a pioneering role in transitioning movie screens from traditional analog film prints to digital distribution. Over the past several years, Cineverse has transformed itself from being a digital cinema equipment and physical content distributor to a leading independent streaming company, and we continue to push the bounds of our industry with innovative technology offerings.

Cineverse is a premier streaming technology and entertainment company with its core business operating as (i) a portfolio of owned and operated streaming channels with enthusiast fan bases; (ii) a large-scale global aggregator and full-service distributor of feature films and television programs; and (iii) a proprietary technology software-as-a-service platform for over-the-top (“OTT”) app development and content distribution through subscription video on demand ("SVOD"), dedicated ad-supported ("AVOD"), ad-supported streaming linear ("FAST") channels, social video streaming services, and audio podcasts. Our streaming channels reach audiences in several distinct ways: direct-to-consumer, through these major application platforms, and through third party distributors of content on platforms.

The Company’s streaming technology platform, known as MatchpointTM, is a software-based streaming operating platform which provides clients with AVOD, SVOD, transactional video on demand ("TVOD") and linear capabilities, automates the distribution of content, and features a robust data analytics platform.

We distribute products for major brands such as Hallmark, ITV, Nelvana, ZDF, Konami, NFL and Highlander, as well as leading international and domestic content creators, movie producers, television producers and other short-form digital content producers. We collaborate with producers, major brands and other content owners to market, source, curate and distribute quality content to targeted audiences through (i) existing and emerging digital home entertainment platforms, including but not limited to Apple iTunes, Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hulu, Xbox, Pluto, and Tubi, as well as (ii) physical goods, including DVD and Blu-ray Discs.

Cineverse’s broad portfolio enables the Company to achieve significant market share on key consumer streaming devices and platforms. As its channel portfolio has grown, the Company’s viewership and subscription metrics have grown significantly. The Company has rights to a library of over 33,000 film & TV assets, has reached over 82 million streaming viewers, has over 1.4 million SVOD subscribers, and 25 million followers on social media. The Company is well positioned in a changing media and entertainment landscape. As a leading independent distributor, the Company believes the enthusiast segment provides a significant and underserved market opportunity on a global basis. Today, the Company operates channels in numerous specialty sectors, including faith and family, anime, action, horror, sports, Westerns, Asian, standup comedy, and other major segments. From time to time, the Company will cease operating or distributing channels that do not find adequate audiences or meet the needs of platforms or audiences. We believe our scaled channel portfolio, our superior capabilities in launching and managing channels at scale, and our strategic partnerships with key content owners and platforms will provide us a strategic advantage to gain considerable market share in the immediate future.

Given our extensive experience in operating and distributing enthusiast content, and the ability to centralize operations and reduce operating costs due to our proprietary technology, the Company also pursues accretive M&A opportunities in order to grow profitably and fortify its competitive advantage.

As part of its M&A strategy, the Company:

• Focuses on acquiring premium content and streaming channels;
• Explores opportunities for new technology and other revenue channels including ecommerce, podcasts and merchandise; and
• Leverages its proprietary tech platform (MatchpointTM), which allows for on-boarding multiple acquisitions concurrently.

The Company believes it is positioned to deliver sustained profitable growth in the future by executing on several key initiatives:

• Content: Acquiring and distributing high-quality, curated content through SVOD, AVOD and linear FAST channels
• Technology & Distribution:
• Expanding streaming content business through its Matchpoint™ platform,
• Launching and scaling our portfolio of enthusiast streaming channels.
• Accelerating the Company’s device and platform reach and further establishing key strategic advantages through expanded partnership deals with connected streaming TV companies including Amazon, Samsung, Roku, YouTube TV and Vizio, as well as large OEM’s, cable companies and technology platforms including LG, Sling TV, and others.
• Licensing film and TV content to every key player in OTT streaming ecosystem with Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Google.
• Audience: Growing viewership and subscription numbers significantly beyond our current base of more than 82 million monthly viewers to potentially hundreds of millions of global viewers across billions of connected devices.
• Financial Performance/Metrics:
• Driving EBITDA through incremental revenue growth from technology product launches such as Matchpoint, expansion of distribution, improved monetization and partnerships, and continuous efforts on cost mitigation.

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, or Nasdaq, under the symbol “CNVS.”

On April 4, 2022, the Company received a letter from the Nasdaq indicating that the Company no longer met the Bid Price Rule. On June 7, 2023, The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) approved an additional extension through July 19, 2023, during which the Company may cure the previously-announced minimum bid price deficiency. In order to regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule, in addition to the initiation of the implementation of a stock repurchase program of up to 500 thousand shares in the open market over a 12 month period since announcement in March 2023, the Company has effected a reverse stock split. The Company has maintained its compliance with the $1.00 bid price requirement for continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market and remains subject to a one-year “Panel Monitor” as that term is defined by Nasdaq Listing Rule 5815(d)(4)(A) through June 30, 2024.

On June 9, 2023, the Company effected a 1-for-20 reverse stock split of the Company's Class A common stock. All shares and price amounts in this report reflect the 1-for-20 reverse stock split.

Our Strategy

The shift from traditional entertainment consumption to streaming continues to accelerate. We believe that our large library of film and television programs, long-standing relationships with digital platforms, state of the art technologies and years of experience operating and growing streaming audiences (collectively, our “Streaming” business) will allow us to continue to build a diversified portfolio of enthusiasts OTT channels that generate recurring revenue streams from advertising, subscriptions and merchandising. We believe that our success, market leadership and scale will continue to attract strong brands and media companies who bring name recognition, high-quality film and television content, and strong marketing support.

We believe that we are well positioned to succeed in the streaming channel business for the following key reasons:

• More than 15 years of experience as a primary distributor of content to scale third party OTT platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Tubi, Apple iTunes and more, and nearly seven years of history operating OTT channels with millions of downloads, hundreds of thousands of registered users, and hundreds of millions of discrete data points on our customer’s behavior and preferences;
• The depth and breadth of our over 33,000 title film and television episode library;
• Our digital assets and deep, long-standing relationships as launch partners that cover the major digital platforms and devices;
• Our marketing expertise;
• Our flexible releasing strategies, which differ from larger entertainment companies that need to protect their legacy businesses;
• Our proprietary streaming technology enabling us to operate at scale and at lower operating costs than our competitors; and
• Our experienced management team.

Intellectual Property

We own certain copyrights, trademarks and Internet domain names in connection with our business. We view these proprietary rights as valuable assets. We maintain registrations, where appropriate, to protect them and monitor them on an ongoing basis.

ENVIRONMENTAL

The nature of our business does not subject us to environmental laws in any material manner.

EMPLOYEES

As of March 31, 2024 we had 179 employees, 176 full-time and 3 part time, on-leave, or temporaries. Of these employees, 74 are in operations, 16 are in sales and marketing, and 89 are in executive, finance, technology and administrative functions. There are 85 employees based in the United States and 94 employees based in India.

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

Our Internet website address is www.cineverse.com (http://www.cineverse.com). We will make available, free of charge at the “Investor Relations - Financial Information” section of our website, our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements and all amendments to those reports and statements filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as soon as reasonably practicable after such reports are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC.

In addition, the SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding companies that file electronically with the SEC. This information is available at www.sec.gov (http://www.sec.gov).

An investment in our securities involves a degree of risk. The risks described below are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also have a material adverse effect on us. If any of the following risks actually occur, our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or business could be harmed. In that case, the market price of our stock could decline and you could lose part or all of your investment in our securities.

Risks Related to our Business

We face the risks of doing business in new and rapidly evolving markets and may not be able to successfully address such risks and achieve acceptable levels of success or profits.

We have encountered and may continue to encounter the challenges, uncertainties and difficulties frequently experienced in new and rapidly evolving markets, including:

• limited operating experience;
• net losses;
• lack of sufficient customers or loss of significant customers;
• a changing business focus;
• the downward trend in sales of physical DVD and Blu-ray discs;
• rapidly-changing technology for some of the products and services we offer; and
• difficulties in managing potentially rapid growth.

We expect competition to be intense. If we are unable to compete successfully, our business and results of operations will be seriously harmed.

The markets for technology and content distribution business are competitive, evolving and subject to rapid technological and other changes. We expect the intensity of competition in each of these areas to increase in the future. Companies willing to expend the necessary capital to create facilities and/or capabilities similar to ours may compete with our business. Increased competition may result in reduced, or prevent us from generating forecasted, revenues and/or margins and loss of market share, any of which could seriously harm our business. In order to compete effectively in each of these fields, we must differentiate ourselves from our competitors.

Many of our current and potential competitors may have longer operating histories and greater financial, technical, marketing and other resources than we do, which may permit them to adopt aggressive pricing policies. As a result, we may suffer from pricing pressures that could adversely affect our ability to generate revenues and our results of operations. Many of our competitors also have significantly greater name and brand recognition and a larger customer base than us. If we are unable to compete successfully, our business and results of operations will be seriously harmed.

Our plan to acquire additional businesses involves risks, including our inability to complete or integrate an acquisition successfully, our assumption of liabilities, dilution of your investment and significant costs.

Strategic and financially appropriate acquisitions are a key component of our growth strategy. Although there are no acquisitions identified by us as probable at this time, we may make acquisitions of similar or complementary businesses or assets. Even if we identify appropriate acquisition candidates, we may be unable to negotiate successfully the terms of the acquisitions, finance them, integrate the acquired business into our then existing business, obtain required regulatory approvals, and/or attract and retain customers. Completing an acquisition and integrating an acquired business may require a significant diversion of management time and resources and may involve assuming new liabilities. Any acquisition also involves the risks that the assets acquired may prove less valuable than expected and/or that we may assume unknown or unexpected liabilities, costs and problems. If we make one or more significant acquisitions in which any of the consideration consists of our capital stock, your equity interest in the Company could be diluted, perhaps significantly. If we were to proceed with one or more significant acquisitions in which the consideration included cash, we could be required to use a substantial portion of our available cash or obtain additional financing to consummate them.

We have recorded goodwill impairment charges in the past and may be required to record additional charges to future earnings if our goodwill becomes further impaired or our intangible assets become impaired.

We are required under generally accepted accounting principles to review our goodwill and definite-lived intangible assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. Goodwill must be tested for impairment at least annually. Factors that may be considered a change in circumstances indicating that the carrying value of our reporting units and intangible assets may not be recoverable include, slower growth rates in our industry or our own operations, and/or other materially adverse events that have implications on the profitability of our business. In the current fiscal year, we recognized $14 million of impairment, and we may be required to record additional charges to earnings during any period in which further impairment of our goodwill or other intangible assets is determined that could adversely affect our results of operations.

If we do not manage our growth, our business will be harmed.

We may not be successful in managing our growth. Past growth has placed, and future growth will continue to place, significant challenges on our management and resources. To manage the expected growth of our operations, we will need to improve our existing, and implement new, operational and financial systems, procedures and controls. We may also need to expand our finance, administrative, client services and operations staffs and train and manage our growing employee base effectively. Our current and planned personnel, systems, procedures and controls may not be adequate to support our future operations. Our business, results of operations and financial position will suffer if we do not effectively manage our growth.

If we are not successful in protecting our intellectual property, our business will suffer.

We depend heavily on technology and viewing content to operate our business. Our success depends on protecting our intellectual property, which is one of our most important assets. We have intellectual property consisting of:

• rights to certain domain names;
• registered service marks on certain names and phrases;
• various unregistered trademarks and service marks;
• film, television and other forms of viewing content;
• know-how; and
• rights to certain logos.

If we do not adequately protect our intellectual property, our business, financial position and results of operations would be harmed. Our means of protecting our intellectual property may not be adequate. Unauthorized parties may attempt to copy aspects of our intellectual property or to obtain and use information that we regard as proprietary. In addition, competitors may be able to devise methods of competing with our business that are not covered by our intellectual property. Our competitors may independently develop similar technology, duplicate our technology or design around any intellectual property that we may obtain.

Although we hold rights to various web domain names, regulatory bodies in the United States and abroad could establish additional top-level domains, appoint additional domain name registrars or modify the requirements for holding domain names. The relationship between regulations governing domain names and laws protecting trademarks and similar proprietary rights is unclear. We may be unable to prevent third parties from acquiring domain names that are similar to or diminish the value of our proprietary rights.

We maintain outstanding indebtedness, which could impair our ability to operate our business and react to changes in our business, remain in compliance with debt covenants and make payments on our debt.

We maintain an amount of outstanding indebtedness, which could impair our ability to operate our business and react to changes in our business, remain in compliance with debt covenants and make payments on our debt. Our level of indebtedness could require a significant portion of our cash flow from operations to be dedicated to the payment of principal and interest on our indebtedness, therefore reducing our ability to use our cash flow to fund our operations, capital expenditures and future business opportunities.

In addition, our current credit facilities contain, and any future credit facilities will likely contain, covenants and other provisions that restrict our operations. These restrictive covenants and provisions could limit our ability to obtain future financing, make needed capital expenditures, withstand a future downturn in our business or the economy in general, or otherwise conduct necessary corporate activities, and may prevent us from taking advantage of business opportunities that arise in the future. If we refinance our credit facilities, we cannot guarantee that any new credit facility will not contain similar covenants and restrictions.

Cinedigm Digital Funding 2, LLC ("CDF2") and CDF2 Holdings, LLC ("CDF2 Holdings") are our indirect wholly-owned, non-consolidated variable interest entities ("VIEs") that are intended to be special purpose, bankruptcy remote entities. CDF2 Holdings has entered into the a lease (the “CHG Lease”) pursuant to which CHG-Meridian U.S. Finance, Ltd. provided sale/leaseback financing for digital cinema projection systems that were partially financed as part of the Phase II deployment of our legacy digital equipment business. The CHG Lease is non-recourse to Cineverse and our subsidiaries, excluding our VIEs, CDF2 and CDF2 Holdings, as the case may be. Our financial exposure related to the debt of CDF2 and CDF2 Holdings is limited to the $2.0 million initial investment we made into CDF2 and CDF2 Holdings. CDF2 Holding’s total stockholder’s deficit at March 31, 2024 was $59.2 million. We have no obligation to fund the operating loss or the deficit beyond our initial investment, and accordingly, we carried our investment in CDF2 Holdings at $0 as of March 31, 2024 and 2023.

The obligations and restrictions under the CHG Lease could have important consequences for CDF2 and CDF2 Holdings, including:

• limiting our ability to obtain necessary financing in the future;
• restricting us from incurring liens on the digital cinema projection systems financed and from subleasing, assigning or modifying the digital cinema projection systems financed; and
• requiring them to dedicate a substantial portion of their cash flow to payments on their debt obligations, thereby reducing the availability of their cash flow for other uses.

If we are unable to meet our debt obligations, we could be forced to restructure or refinance our obligations, to seek additional equity financing or to sell assets, which we may not be able to do on satisfactory terms or at all. As a result, we could default on those obligations and in the event of such default, our lenders could accelerate our debt or take other actions that could restrict our operations.

The foregoing risks would be intensified to the extent we borrow additional money or incur additional debt.

We may not be able to generate the amount of cash needed to fund our future operations.

Our ability either to make payments on or to refinance our indebtedness, or to fund planned capital expenditures and research and development efforts, will depend on our ability to generate cash in the future. Our ability to generate cash is in part subject to general economic, financial, competitive, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control.

Based on our current level of operations and in conjunction with the cost reduction measures that we have recently implemented and continue to implement, we believe our cash flow from operations, available borrowings and loan and credit agreement terms will be adequate to meet our future liquidity needs through at least the next twelve months. Significant assumptions underlie this belief, including, among other things, that there will be no material adverse developments in our business, liquidity or capital requirements. If we are unable to service our indebtedness, we will be forced to adopt an alternative strategy that may include actions such as:

• reducing capital expenditures;
• reducing our overhead costs and/or workforce;
• reducing research and development efforts;
• selling assets;
• restructuring or refinancing our remaining indebtedness; and
• seeking additional funding.

We cannot assure you, however, that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations, or that we will be able to make future borrowings in amounts sufficient to enable us to pay the principal and interest on our current indebtedness or to fund our other liquidity needs. We may need to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness on or before maturity. We cannot assure you that we will be able to refinance any of our indebtedness on commercially reasonable terms or at all.

We have incurred losses over the long term.

We have incurred long term losses and have financed our operations principally through equity investments and borrowings. As of March 31, 2024, though we had a positive working capital, defined as current assets less current liabilities, of $1.5 million, and cash and cash equivalents of $5.2 million, and total equity of $32.2 million, the Company used $10.6 million of net cash flows in operating activities.

Our net losses and cash outflows may increase as and to the extent that we increase the size of our business operations, increase our sales and marketing activities, increase our content distribution rights acquisition activities, enlarge our customer support and professional services and acquire additional businesses. These efforts may prove to be more expensive than we currently anticipate which could further increase our losses. We must continue to increase our revenues in order to become profitable. We cannot reliably predict when, or if, we will become profitable. Even if we achieve profitability, we may not be able to sustain it. If we cannot generate operating income or positive cash flows in the future, we will be unable to meet our working capital requirements.

Many of our corporate actions may be influenced by our officers, directors and principal stockholders; these actions may benefit these principal stockholders more than our other stockholders.

As of June 17, 2024, our directors, executive officers and principal stockholders, those known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate, approximately 20.8% of our outstanding Common Stock. These stockholders, as a group, may have significant influence over our business affairs, with the ability to influence matters requiring approval by our security holders, including elections of directors and approvals of mergers or other business combinations.

Our success will significantly depend on our ability to hire and retain key personnel.

Our success will depend in significant part upon the continued performance of our senior management personnel and other key technical, sales and creative personnel. We do not currently have significant “key person” life insurance policies for any of our employees. We currently have employment agreements with our Chief Executive Officer, our President and Chief Strategy Officer, our Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer, our Chief Legal Officer, and our Chief Financial Officer. If we lose one or more of our key employees, we may not be able to find a suitable replacement(s) and our business and results of operations could be adversely affected. In addition, competition for key employees necessary to create and distribute our entertainment content and software products is intense and may grow in the future. Our future success will also depend upon our ability to hire, train, integrate and retain qualified new employees and our inability to do so may have an adverse impact upon our business, financial condition, operating results, liquidity and prospects for growth.

Our success depends on external factors in the media industry.

Our success depends on the commercial success of media content, which is unpredictable. Operating in the motion picture and television industry involves a substantial degree of risk. Content is an individual artistic work, and inherently unpredictable audience reactions primarily determine commercial success. Generally, the popularity of content depends on many factors, including the critical acclaim they receive, the format of their initial release, for example, theatrical or direct-to-streaming, the actors and other key talent, their genre and their specific subject matter. The commercial success of movies and television programs also depends upon the quality and acceptance of movies or programs that our competitors release into the marketplace at or near the same time, critical reviews, the availability of alternative forms of entertainment and leisure activities, general economic conditions and other tangible and intangible factors, many of which we do not control and all of which may change. We cannot predict the future effects of these factors with certainty, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, operating results, liquidity and prospects. In addition, because a theatrical movie or streaming content's performance in ancillary markets, such as branded consumer goods, is often directly related to its box office performance or television ratings, poor box office results or poor television ratings may negatively affect future revenue streams. Our success will depend on the experience and judgment of our management to select and develop new content acquisition and investment opportunities. We cannot make assurances that movies and streaming content will obtain favorable reviews or ratings, will perform well at the box office or in ancillary markets or that broadcasters will license the rights to broadcast any of our content in development or renew licenses to use programs in our library. The failure to achieve any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, operating results, liquidity and prospects.

Our business involves risks of liability claims for media content, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

As a distributor of media content, we may face potential liability for:

• defamation;
• invasion of privacy;
• negligence;
• copyright or trademark infringement (as discussed above); and
• other claims based on the nature and content of the materials distributed.

These types of claims have been brought, sometimes successfully, against producers and distributors of media content. Any imposition of liability that is not covered by insurance or is in excess of insurance coverage could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, operating results, liquidity and prospects.

Our revenues and earnings are subject to market downturns.

Our revenues and earnings may fluctuate significantly in the future. General economic or other conditions could cause lower than expected revenues and earnings within our digital cinema, technology or content and entertainment businesses. A global economic turmoil can cause a general tightening in the credit markets, lower levels of liquidity, increases in the rates of default and bankruptcy, an unprecedented level of intervention from the U.S. federal government and other foreign governments, decreased consumer confidence, overall slower economic activity and extreme volatility in credit, equity and fixed income markets. A decrease in economic activity in the U.S. or in other regions of the world in which we do business could adversely affect demand for our content, thus reducing our revenue and earnings. Moreover, financial institution failures may cause us to incur increased expenses or make it more difficult either to financing of any future acquisitions, or financing activities. Any of these factors could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and could result in significant additional dilution to shareholders.

Changes in economic conditions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position and results of operations.

Our operations and performance could be influenced by worldwide economic conditions. Uncertainty about current global economic conditions poses a risk as consumers and businesses may postpone spending in response to tighter credit, negative financial news and/or declines in income or asset values, which could have a material negative effect on the demand for our products and services. Other factors that could influence demand include increases in energy costs, conditions in the residential real estate and mortgage markets, labor and healthcare costs, access to credit, consumer confidence, and other macroeconomic factors affecting consumer-spending behavior. These and other economic factors could have a material adverse effect on demand for our products and services and on our financial condition and operating results. Uncertainty about current global economic conditions could also continue to increase the volatility of our stock price.

Changes to existing accounting pronouncements or taxation rules or practices may affect how we conduct our business and affect our reported results of operations.

New accounting pronouncements or tax rules and varying interpretations of accounting pronouncements or taxation practice have occurred and may occur in the future. A change in accounting pronouncements or interpretations or taxation rules or practices can have a significant effect on our reported results and may even affect our reporting of transactions completed before the change is effective. Changes to existing rules and pronouncements, future changes, if any, or the questioning of current practices or interpretations may adversely affect our reported financial results or the way we conduct our business.

Our ability to utilize our net operating loss carryforwards in the future is subject to substantial limitations and we may not be able to use some identified net operating loss carryforwards, which could result in increased tax payments in future periods.

Under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, if a corporation undergoes an ownership change (generally defined as a greater than 50% change (by value) in its equity ownership over a three-year period), the corporation’s ability to use its pre-change net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards to offset its post-change income may be limited. Similar rules may apply under state tax laws. On November 1, 2017, we experienced an ownership change with respect to the Bison acquisition. Accordingly, our ability to utilize our NOL carryforwards attributable to periods prior to November 1, 2017, is subject to substantial limitations. These limitations could result in increased future tax payments, which could be material. We experienced subsequent ownership changes under Section 382 on September 15, 2020 and November 1, 2022, which resulted in additional limitations in our ability to utilize our NOL carryforwards attributable to periods prior to September 15, 2020 and November 2022, respectively. The limitations triggered by the September 15, 2020 and November 1, 2022 ownership changes were significantly less substantial than the limitation triggered by the November 1, 2017 ownership change, however.

Global health threats may adversely affect our business.

Our business could be adversely affected by the effects of a widespread outbreak of contagious disease, such as the outbreak of COVID-19. A significant outbreak of contagious diseases in the human population and resulting widespread health crisis could adversely affect the economies and financial markets of many countries, resulting in an economic downturn and reduced spending on media and technology. The reduction of economic activity and reduced spending related to such outbreaks and actions taken by governments to mitigate the spread of a virus or other infectious agent could have a material impact on our earnings, cash flow and financial condition.

We are subject to cybersecurity risk

We have controls in place to protect against and mitigate cyber security risk, including employee education and technological tools; however, actual or attempted security incidents or breaches, loss of data, or other disruptions could expose us to material liability and materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and our reputation.

Risks Related to Common Stock

The liquidity of our Common Stock is uncertain; the limited trading volume of our Common Stock may depress the price of such stock or cause it to fluctuate significantly.

Although our Common Stock is listed on Nasdaq, there has been a limited public market for our Common Stock and there can be no assurance that a more active trading market for our Common Stock will develop. As a result, you may not be able to sell your shares of our Common Stock in short time periods, or possibly at all. The absence of an active trading market may cause the price per share of our Common Stock to fluctuate significantly.

Substantial resales or future issuances of our Common Stock could depress our stock price.

The market price for our Common Stock could decline, perhaps significantly, as a result of resales or issuances of a large number of shares of our Common Stock in the public market or even the perception that such resales or issuances could occur. In addition, we have outstanding a substantial number of options and warrants exercisable for shares of our Common Stock that may be exercised in the future. These factors could also make it more difficult for us to raise funds through future offerings of our equity securities.

You will incur substantial dilution as a result of certain future equity issuances.

We have a substantial number of options and warrants currently outstanding which may be immediately exercised for shares of Common Stock. To the extent that these options or warrants are exercised, or to the extent we issue additional shares of Common Stock in the future, as the case may be, there will be further dilution to holders of shares of the Common Stock.

Our issuance of preferred stock could adversely affect holders of Common Stock.

Our Board of Directors (the "Board of Directors") is authorized to issue series of preferred stock without any action on the part of our holders of Common Stock. The Board of Directors also has the power, without stockholder approval, to set the terms of any such series of preferred stock that may be issued, including voting rights, dividend rights, preferences over our Common Stock with respect to dividends or if we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our business and other terms. If we issue preferred stock in the future that has preference over our Common Stock with respect to the payment of dividends or upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or if we issue preferred stock with voting rights that dilute the voting power of our Common Stock, the rights of holders of our Common Stock or the price of our Common Stock could be adversely affected.

Our stock price has been volatile and may continue to be volatile in the future; this volatility may affect the price at which you could sell our Common Stock.

The trading price of our Common Stock has been volatile and may continue to be volatile in response to various factors, some of which are beyond our control. Any of the factors listed below could have a material adverse effect on an investment in our securities:

• actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly financial results or the quarterly financial results of companies perceived to be similar to us;
• changes in the market’s expectations about our operating results;
• success of competitors;
• our operating results failing to meet the expectation of securities analysts or investors in a particular period;
• changes in financial estimates and recommendations by securities analysts concerning us, the market for digital and physical content, content distribution and entertainment in general;
• operating and stock price performance of other companies that investors deem comparable to us;
• our ability to market new and enhanced products on a timely basis;
• changes in laws and regulations affecting our business or our industry;
• commencement of, or involvement in, litigation involving us;
• changes in our capital structure, such as future issuances of securities or the incurrence of debt;
• the volume of shares of the Common Stock available for public sale;
• any major change in our Board of Directors or management;
• sales of substantial amounts of Common Stock by our directors, executive officers or significant stockholders or the perception that such sales could occur; and
• general economic and political conditions such as recessions, interest rates, international currency fluctuations and acts of war or terrorism.

Broad market and industry factors may materially harm the market price of the Common Stock irrespective of our operating performance. The stock market in general, and Nasdaq in particular, have experienced price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of the particular companies affected. The trading prices and valuations of these stocks, and of the Common Stock, may not be predictable. A loss of investor confidence in the market for retail stocks or the stocks of other companies that investors perceive to be similar to us could depress our stock price regardless of our business, prospects, financial conditions or results of operations. A decline in the market price of the Common Stock also could adversely affect our ability to issue additional securities and our ability to obtain additional financing in the future.

Anti-takeover provisions contained in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, as well as provisions of Delaware law, could impair a takeover attempt.

The Company's Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, and our Second Amended and Restated Bylaws contain provisions that could have the effect of delaying or preventing changes in control or changes in our management without the consent of the Board of Directors.

These provisions include:

• no cumulative voting in the election of directors, which limits the ability of minority stockholders to elect director candidates;
• the exclusive right of the Board of Directors to elect a director to fill a vacancy created by the expansion of the Board of Directors or the resignation, death, or removal of a director, which prevents stockholders from being able to fill vacancies on the Board of Directors;
• the ability of the Board of Directors to determine to issue shares of preferred stock and to determine the price and other terms of those shares, including preferences and voting rights, without stockholder approval, which could be used to significantly dilute the ownership of a hostile acquirer;
• the requirement that an annual meeting of stockholders may be called only by the Board of Directors, which may delay the ability of our stockholders to force consideration of a proposal or to take action, including the removal of directors;
• limiting the liability of, and providing indemnification to, our directors and officers;
• controlling the procedures for the conduct and scheduling of stockholder meetings; and
• providing that directors may be removed prior to the expiration of their terms by the Board of Directors only for cause.

In addition, our certificate of incorporation authorizes the issuance of 15 million shares of preferred stock. The terms of our preferred stock may be fixed by the company’s Board of Directors without further stockholder action. The terms of any outstanding series or class of preferred stock may include priority claims to assets and dividends and special voting rights, which could adversely affect the rights of holders of Common Stock. Any future issuance(s) of preferred stock could make the takeover of the company more difficult, discourage unsolicited bids for control of the company in which our stockholders could receive premiums for their shares, dilute or subordinate the rights of holders of Common Stock and adversely affect the trading price of the Common Stock.

These provisions, alone or together, could delay hostile takeovers and changes in control of the Company or changes in our management.

As a Delaware corporation, we are also subject to provisions of Delaware law, including Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "DGCL"), which prevents some stockholders holding more than 15% of our outstanding Common Stock from engaging in certain business combinations without approval of the holders of substantially all of our outstanding common stock. Any provision of our certificate of incorporation or bylaws or Delaware law that has the effect of delaying or deterring a change in control could limit the opportunity for our stockholders to receive a premium for their shares of our common stock, and could also affect the price that some investors are willing to pay for our securities.

We may not be able to maintain the listing of our Common Stock on Nasdaq, which may adversely affect the flexibility of holders of Common Stock to resell their securities in the secondary market.

The Common Stock is presently listed on Nasdaq. If the Company is unable to meet the continued listing criteria of Nasdaq and the Common Stock became delisted, trading of the Common Stock could thereafter be conducted in the over-the-counter markets in the OTC Pink, also known as “pink sheets” or, if available, on another OTC trading platform. Any such delisting could harm our ability to raise capital through alternative financing sources on terms acceptable to us, or at all, and may result in the loss of confidence in our financial stability by suppliers, customers and employees. Investors would likely find it more difficult to dispose of, or to obtain accurate market quotations for, the Common Stock, as the liquidity that Nasdaq provides would no longer be available to investors. In addition, the failure of our Common Stock to continue to be listed on the Nasdaq could adversely impact the market price for the Common Stock and our other securities, and we could face a lengthy process to re-list the Common Stock, if we are able to re-list the Common Stock.

The Company's share price has decreased since the end of its fiscal year ending March 31, 2023. A sustained decrease in share price may indicate a risk the Company’s goodwill may become impaired.

On March 31, 2023, the Company's share price was $8.40 and had since declined to a share price of $1.39 as of March 31, 2024. Under ASC 350, Goodwill, a sustained decline in share price represents a triggering event which would require the Company to test for impairment and there may be a risk that the Company incurs expenses related to goodwill impairment. The Company incurred Goodwill impairment of $14.0 million during the twelve months ended March 31, 2024, and there may be additional impairment incurred if there are further declines in the Company's share price.

We have no present intention of paying dividends on our Common Stock.

We have never paid any cash dividends on our Common Stock and have no present plans to do so. In addition, certain of our credit facilities restrict our ability to pay dividends on the Common Stock. As a result, you may not receive any return on an investment in our Common Stock unless you sell any shares you hold for a price greater than that which you paid for them.

Our ability to raise capital in the future may be limited, which could make us unable to fund our capital requirements.

Our business and operations may consume resources faster than we anticipate, or we may require additional funds to pursue acquisition or expansion opportunities. In the future, we may need to raise additional funds through the issuance of new equity securities, debt or a combination of both. Additional financing may not be available on favorable terms or at all. If adequate funds are not available on acceptable terms, we may be unable to fund our capital requirements. If we issue new debt securities, the debt holders would have rights senior to common stockholders to make claims on our assets, and the terms of any debt could restrict our operations, including our ability to pay dividends on our Common Stock. Because our decision to issue securities in any future offering will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of our future offerings. Thus, our stockholders bear the risk of our future securities offerings reducing the market price of our Common Stock, diluting their interest or being subject to rights and preferences senior to their own.

The execution of our stock repurchase program may not provide the desired return on investment.

In March 2023, the Company approved a program to share repurchase program, which was renewed in February 2024. The Company will execute on this program if and when management perceives the share price of the Company's common stock to be attractive. Any share repurchase under this program will take the place of other use of Company funds and may not achieve the same level of return on investment.

We recognize the critical importance of maintaining the trust and confidence of customers, business partners, and employees toward our business and are committed to protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of our business operations and systems. Our board of directors is actively involved in oversight of our risk management activities, and cybersecurity represents an important element of our overall approach to risk management. We seek to address cybersecurity risks through a comprehensive, cross-functional approach that is focused on preserving the confidentiality, security, integrity, and availability of the information that we collect and store by identifying, preventing, and mitigating cybersecurity threats and effectively responding to cybersecurity incidents when they occur.

As of March 31, 2024, our leased Principal Executive Office address is 224 W. 35th St., Suite 500 #947, New York, NY 10001; however, we primarily operate as a company with a virtual workforce.

We do not own any real estate or invest in real estate or related investments.

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our historical consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this report.

This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These include statements about our expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies for the future, which are indicated by words or phrases such as “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “will,” “estimates,” and similar words. Forward-looking statements represent, as of the date of this report, our judgment relating to, among other things, future results of operations, growth plans, sales, capital requirements and general industry and business conditions applicable to us. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, some of which are beyond our control that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

OVERVIEW

Cineverse is a premier streaming technology and entertainment company with its core business operating as (i) a portfolio of owned and operated streaming channels with enthusiast fan bases; (ii) a large-scale global aggregator and full-service distributor of feature films and television programs; and (iii) a proprietary technology software-as-a-service platform for over-the-top (“OTT”) app development and content distribution through subscription video on demand ("SVOD"), dedicated ad-supported ("AVOD"), ad-supported streaming linear ("FAST") channels, social video streaming services, and audio podcasts. Our streaming channels reach audiences in several distinct ways: direct-to-consumer, through these major application platforms, and through third party distributors of content on platforms.

The Company’s streaming technology platform, known as MatchpointTM, is a software-based streaming operating platform which provides clients with AVOD, SVOD, transactional video on demand ("TVOD") and linear capabilities, automates the distribution of content, and features a robust data analytics platform.

Risks and Uncertainties

Our business and prospects are exposed to numerous risks and uncertainties. For more information, see “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in this report.

Liquidity

We have incurred net losses historically and a net loss for the year ended March 31, 2024 of $21.8 million. As of March 31, 2024, we had an accumulated deficit of $504.2 million and net cash used in operating activities for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024 was $10.6 million. Though we have working capital of $1.5 million, we may continue to generate net losses for the foreseeable future.

The Company is party to a Loan, Guaranty, and Security Agreement, as amended to date, with East West Bank (“EWB”) providing for a revolving line of credit (the “Line of Credit Facility”) of $7.5 million, guaranteed by substantially all of our material subsidiaries and secured by substantially all of our and such subsidiaries’ assets. The Line of Credit Facility bears interest at a rate equal to 1.5% above the prime rate, equal to 10.00% as of March 31, 2024. In June 2024, the Company was notified in writing by EWB that it intends to extend the maturity date of the Line of Credit Facility to September 15, 2025, subject to definitive documentation.

As of March 31, 2024, $6.4 million was outstanding on the Line of Credit Facility. Under the Line of Credit Facility, the Company is subject to certain financial and nonfinancial covenants including terms which require the Company to maintain certain metrics and ratios, maintain certain minimum cash on hand, and to report financial information to our lender on a periodic basis. Please see Note 5 - Debt for further information regarding the Company's Line of Credit Facility.

On June 16, 2023, the Company issued and sold 2,150,000 thousand shares of Common Stock, 516,667 thousand prefunded warrants, and warrants to purchase up to 2,666,667 thousand shares of Common Stock at a combined public offering price of $3.00 per share and accompanying warrant for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $7.4 million, after deducting placement agent fees and other offering expenses in the amount of $0.6 million. The warrants have an exercise price of $3.00 per share, were exercisable immediately and will expire five years from issuance. The Company received $2.999 per share for the pre-funded warrants, with the remaining $0.001 due at the time of exercise. All 516,667 pre-funded warrants were subsequently exercised in July 2023 for total proceeds of $0.5 thousand.

On April 5, 2024, Cineverse Terrifier LLC (“T3 Borrower”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company entered into a Loan and Security Agreement with BondIt LLC (“T3 Lender”) and the Company, as a guarantor (the “T3 Loan Agreement”). The T3 Loan Agreement provides for a term loan with a principal amount not to exceed $3,666,000 (the “T3 Loan”), and a maturity date of April 1, 2025, unless extended for 120 days under certain conditions. The T3 Loan bears no interest until the maturity date other than an interest advance equal to $576,000 at the closing of the T3 Loan on April 5, 2024. After the principal of the T3 Loan is paid in full, T3 Lender will be entitled to receive 15% of all royalties earned by the Company on the Film under its distribution agreements for the Film until T3 Lender has received 1.75 times the full commitment amount of $3,666,000, consisting of the principal amount plus interest and fees advanced to T3 Borrower, plus any extension interest. See Note 8 - Subsequent Events for further information.

In July 2020, we entered into an At-the-Market sales agreement (the “ATM Sales Agreement”) with A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners (“A.G.P.”) and B. Riley FBR, Inc. (“B. Riley” and, together with A.G.P., the “Sales Agents”), pursuant to which the Company may offer and sell, from time to time, through the Sales Agents, shares of Common Stock at the market prices prevailing on Nasdaq at the time of the sale of such shares. For the twelve months ended March 31, 2024, the Company sold 176,751 thousand shares for $1.1 million in net proceeds, respectively, after deduction of commissions and fees. The ATM Sales Agreement has expired in accordance with its terms.

On May 3, 2024, the Company entered into a Sales Agreement (the “Sales Agreement”) with A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners and The Benchmark Company, LLC (collectively, the “Sales Agents”), pursuant to which the Company may offer and sell, from time to time, through the Sales Agents, shares of its Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”). Shares of Common Stock may be offered and sold for an aggregate offering price of up to $15 million. The Sales Agents’ obligations to sell shares under the Sales Agreement are subject to satisfaction of certain conditions, including the continuing effectiveness of the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-273098) (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on June 30, 2023 and declared effective by the SEC on January 25, 2024, and other customary closing conditions. The Company will pay the Sales Agents a commission of 3.00% of the aggregate gross proceeds from each sale of shares and has agreed to provide the Sales Agents with customary indemnification and contribution rights. The Company has also agreed to reimburse the Sales Agents for certain specified expenses. The Company is not obligated to sell any shares under the Sales Agreement and has not sold any shares through the date of this report.

The Company will continue to invest in content development and acquisition, from which it believes it will obtain an appropriate return on its investment. As of March 31, 2024 and March 31, 2023, short term content advances were $9.3 million and $3.7 million, respectively, and content advances, net of current portion were, $2.6 million and $1.4 million, respectively.

Our capital requirements will depend on many factors, and we may need to use capital resources and obtain additional capital. We believe our cash and cash equivalent balances as of March 31, 2024 (See Note 8 - Subsequent Events) will be sufficient to support our operations for at least twelve months from the filing of this report. The Company may also undertake equity or debt offerings, if necessary and opportunistically available, for further capital needs.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). In connection with the preparation of our consolidated financial statements, we are required to make assumptions and estimates about future events and apply judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, expenses and the related disclosures. We base our assumptions, estimates and judgments on historical experience, current trends and other factors that management believes to be relevant at the time our consolidated financial statements are prepared. On a regular basis, management reviews the accounting policies, assumptions, estimates and judgments to ensure that our consolidated financial statements are presented fairly and in accordance with GAAP. However, because future events and their effects cannot be determined with certainty, actual results could differ from our assumptions and estimates, and such differences could be material.

Our significant accounting policies are discussed in Note 2 – Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, included in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Management believes that the following accounting policies are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our reported financial results, and they require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, resulting from the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. Management has reviewed these critical accounting estimates and related disclosures with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors.

FAIR VALUE ESTIMATES

Goodwill

Goodwill is the excess of the purchase price paid over the fair value of the net assets of an acquired business. Goodwill is tested for impairment on an annual basis or more often if warranted by events or changes in circumstances indicating that the carrying value may exceed fair value, also known as impairment indicators.

Inherent in the fair value determination for each reporting unit are certain judgments and estimates relating to future cash flows, including management’s interpretation of current economic indicators and market conditions, and assumptions about our strategic plans with regard to its operations. To the extent additional information arises, market conditions change, or our strategies change, it is possible that the conclusion regarding whether our remaining goodwill is impaired could change and result in future goodwill impairment charges that will have a material effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In certain reporting periods, the Company may have the option to assess goodwill for possible impairment by performing a qualitative analysis to determine if it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount or to perform the quantitative impairment test.

Property and Equipment, net and Intangible Assets, net

We review the recoverability of our long-lived assets and finite-lived intangible assets, when events or conditions occur that indicate a possible impairment exists. Determining whether impairment has occurred typically requires various estimates and assumptions, including determining which cash flows are directly related to the potentially impaired asset, the useful life over which cash flows will occur, their amount and the asset’s residual value, if any. The assessment for recoverability is based primarily on our ability to recover the carrying value of our long-lived and finite-lived assets from expected future undiscounted net cash flows. If the total of expected future undiscounted net cash flows is less than the total carrying value of the assets the asset is deemed not to be recoverable and possibly impaired. We then estimate the fair value of the asset to determine whether an impairment loss should be recognized. An impairment loss will be recognized if the asset’s fair value is determined to be less than its carrying value. Fair value is determined by computing the expected future discounted cash flows.

In the years ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, no impairment charges were recorded to intangible assets.

REVENUE RECOGNITION

We determine revenue recognition by:

• identifying the contract, or contracts, with the customer;
• identifying the performance obligations in the contract;
• determining the transaction price;
• allocating the transaction price to performance obligations in the contract; and
• recognizing revenue when, or as, we satisfy performance obligations by transferring the promised goods or services.

We recognize revenue in the amount that reflects the consideration we expect to receive in exchange for the services provided, sales of physical products (DVD’s and Blu-ray Discs) or when the content is available for subscription on the digital platform or available on the point-of-sale for transactional and video on demand services which is when the control of the promised products and services is transferred to our customers and our performance obligations under the contract have been satisfied. Revenues that might be subject to various taxes are recorded net of transaction taxes assessed by governmental authorities, such as sales value-added taxes and other similar taxes.

Payment terms and conditions vary by customer and typically provide net 30 to 90 day terms. We do not adjust the promised amount of consideration for the effects of a significant financing component when we expect, at contract inception, that the period between our transfer of a promised product or service to our customer and payment for that product or service will be one year or less.

Depending upon the nature of the agreements with the platform and content providers, the fee rate that we earn varies. The Company’s performance obligations include the delivery of content for transactional, subscription and ad supported/free ad-supported streaming TV (“FAST”) on the digital platforms, and shipment of DVDs and Blu-ray Discs. Revenue is recognized at the point in time when the performance obligation is satisfied, which is when the content is available for subscription on the digital platform, at the time of shipment for physical goods, or point-of-sale for transactional and VOD services as the control over the content or the physical title is transferred to the customer. The Company considers the delivery of content through various distribution channels to be a single performance obligation.

Revenue from the sale of physical goods is recognized after deducting reserves for sales returns and other allowances. Reserves for potential sales returns and other allowances are recorded based upon historical experience. If actual future returns and allowances differ from past experience, adjustments to our allowances may be required.

For the theatrical distribution of third party feature movies and alternative content, distribution fee revenue and participation in box office receipts are recognized at the time a feature movie and alternative content are viewed. The Company may have the right to receive or bill a portion of the theatrical distribution fee in advance of the exhibition date, and therefore such amount is recorded as a receivable at the time of execution, and all related distribution revenue is deferred until the third party feature movies’ or alternative content’s theatrical release date.

Principal Agent Considerations

We determine whether revenue should be reported on a gross or net basis based on each revenue stream. Key indicators that we use in evaluating gross versus net treatment include, but are not limited to, the following:

• which party is primarily responsible for fulfilling the promise to provide the specified good or service; and
• which party has discretion in establishing the price for the specified good or service.

Shipping and Handling

Shipping and handling costs are incurred to move physical goods (e.g., DVDs and Blu-ray Discs) to customers. We recognize all shipping and handling costs as an expense in direct operating expenses because we are responsible for delivery of the product to our customers prior to transfer of control to the customer.

Credit Losses

We maintain reserves for expected credit losses on accounts receivable. We review the composition of accounts receivable and analyze historical credit losses, customer concentrations, customer credit worthiness, current and forecasted economic trends and changes in customer payment patterns to evaluate the adequacy of this allowance.

Contract Assets and Liabilities

We generally record a receivable related to revenue or a unbilled revenue (contract asset) when we have an unconditional right to invoice and receive payment. Unbilled revenue includes an accrued revenue, the right to which has been earned at the period end based on completed performance. We record deferred revenue (contract liability) when cash payments are received or due in advance of our performance, even if amounts are refundable. Deferred revenue includes payments related to the sale of DVDs with future release dates or subscription dues paid in advance.

Deferred revenue which is short term in nature, carried a balance as of March 31, 2024 and 2023 of $0.4 million and $0.2 million, respectively. For the years ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the additions to our deferred revenue balance were primarily due to cash payments received or due in advance of satisfying performance obligations, while the reductions to our deferred revenue balance were primarily due to the recognition of revenue upon fulfillment of our performance obligations, both of which were in the ordinary course of business.

Participations and Royalties Payable

When we use third parties to distribute company owned content, we record participations payable, which represent amounts owed to the distributor under revenue-sharing arrangements. When we provide content distribution services, we record accounts payable and accrued expenses to studios or content producers for royalties owed under licensing arrangements. We identify and record as a reduction to the liability any expenses that are to be reimbursed to us by such studios or content producers.

ASSET ACQUISITIONS

An asset acquisition is an acquisition of an asset, or a group of assets, that does not meet the definition of a business as substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired are concentrated in a single or group of similar, identifiable assets. Asset acquisitions are accounted for by using the cost accumulation model whereby the cost of the acquisition, including certain transaction costs, is allocated to the assets acquired on a relative fair value basis. Determining the cost of an acquisition may require judgment in certain circumstances depending on the nature of the asset transferred as consideration.

Results of Operations for the Fiscal Years Ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands, except where noted below)

Revenues

For the twelve months ended March 31, 2024, the Company's revenue declined by $18.9 million. The decrease was driven by the decrease in Other non-recurring revenue, related to the run-off of the Company's legacy digital cinema business. Following the legacy business' active operations' run-off at the end of fiscal year 2023, the Company had $0.5 million of digital system sales, with the remaining $3.3 million revenue relating to the recognition of previously constrained variable consideration. The Company does not anticipate this revenue to recur at a substantial level in fiscal year 2025 and beyond.

In addition, the Company experienced a $8.1 million decline in the Company's base distribution, driven by a $3.8 million decline in theatrical revenue following fiscal year 2023's theatrical success with films such as Terrifier 2, a $3.0 million decrease in DVD and related supply chain revenue, as the Company has shifted its focus away from the physical business.

Streaming and digital revenue decreased by $3.1 million, driven by a $6.6 million decrease in AVOD from the headwinds faced in the advertising market, partially offset by a $2.7 million increase in SVOD and a $0.6 million increase from digital revenue as the Company continued to see the benefits from recent years' acquisitions, such as DMR, Fandor and Bloody Disgusting, which have contributed value-accretive libraries, distribution platforms and technologies.

Direct Operating Expenses

For the twelve months ended March 31, 2024, the Company's direct operating expenses decreased $17.2 million. The decrease was primarily driven by a $7.0 million reduction in royalties and participation expenses from lower revenue and a $2.3 million decrease in estimated OTT royalty accrual as of March 31, 2024, $3.1 million in fulfillment and manufacturing costs associated with the decline in the Company's physical distribution business, a $1.9 million decrease in the Company's costs associated with the Company's reserves against advances to partners, and a $0.6 million decrease related to the estimated Bloody Disgusting earnout liability based on fiscal year 2024 performance.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

During the twelve months ended March 31, 2024, the Company's SG&A decreased by $8.9. million relative to the twelve months ended March 31, 2023.

The decrease was primarily related to a decrease in share-based expense of $3.4 million as a result of the US-based workforce reduction, a decline in stock price, and a number of legacy awards tranches fully vesting.

Compensation expense also declined primarily due to a $2.1 million decrease in employee wage, tax, and benefit-related expenses as a result of the lower cost from a shift in employees to Cineverse Services India, and a reduction in the Company's bonus expense of $1.1 million based on fiscal year 2024 performance, partially offset by a $0.5 million increase in severance expense.

Corporate expenses declined by $1.8 million primarily decreased due to a corporate focus on reducing third-party costs due to the Company's cost-saving initiatives, including $1.1 million in consulting and service providers and legal costs in the amount of $0.9 million.

Other operating expense declined by $1.3, which includes $0.9 million from decreased legal settlement costs and $0.8 million reduction in direct marketing campaigns.

Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation expense decreased primarily due to the remainder of our digital cinema assets reaching the conclusion of their ten-year useful lives during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023. Amortization expense has continued to increase as a result of the Company's shift away from the physical business to its focus on content-related spend, including $0.2 million from the amortization of capitalized content costs.

Goodwill impairment

For the twelve months ended March 31, 2024, the Company recognized an impairment on its carrying value of goodwill in the amount of $14.0 million following a sustained depressed share price for the Company's fiscal year 2024, which was deemed a triggering event. In accordance with process outlined in ASC 350, the Company first determined that its finite long-lived assets were recoverable. The impairment was quantified using a market multiple approach which utilized information from comparable businesses. The Company does not anticipate any material change to future operating cash flows as a result of the impairment recognized.

Interest expense

Interest expense decreased by $0.2 million to $1.1 million for the twelve months ended March 31, 2024 primarily as a result of lower deferred and earnout consideration accretion related to the acquisitions of Bloody Disgusting and DMR.

Loss from equity investment in Metaverse, a related party

Following the halting of trading on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited in April 2022, the Company valued our equity investment in Metaverse as of March 31, 2023 using a market approach and categorized it as a Level 3 investment (See Note 2, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies). As of March 31, 2023, the fair value was $5.2 million, resulting in a decrease in fair value of $1.8 million for the year ended March 31, 2023.

On November 6, 2023, Metaverse's stock resumed trading on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited. During the year ended March 31, 2024, the Company sold 220,550,005 of its original 362,307,397 million shares held as of March 31, 2023, which resulted in a realized loss of $0.3 thousand during the twelve months ended March 31, 2024. The resumption of active trading status represented renewed availability of quoted, unadjusted prices in active markets for identical assets, upon which the Company can execute a sale and readily access pricing information at the measurement date. Accordingly, the Company has presented the fair value of its Metaverse shares held as of March 31, 2024 within the Level 1 grouping. The fair value of the shares held as of March 31, 2024 was $0.4 million, with associated losses of $4.3 million recognized during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024.

Employee Retention Tax Credit

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the "CARES Act") provided an employee retention credit that was a refundable tax credit against certain employment taxes. The Consolidated Appropriations Act (the "Appropriations Act") extended and expanded the availability of the employee retention credit through December 31, 2021. The Appropriations Act amended the employee retention credit to be equal to 70% of qualified wages paid to employees during the 2021 fiscal year.

The Company qualified for the employee retention credit beginning in June 2020 for qualified wages through September 2021 and filed a cash refund claim during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023 in the amount of $2.5 million in the Employee retention tax credit line on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

As of March 31, 2024 and March 31, 2023, the tax credit receivable of $1.7 and $2.1 million, respectively, has been included in the Employee retention tax credit line on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Company received notification during the second quarter of fiscal year 2024 that its ERTC claim was under examination with the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"). In April 2024, the Company received a letter from the IRS indicating that its claim had been accepted and $1.7 million was received in June 2024.

Income Tax Expense

For the year ended March 31, 2024, the Company had income tax expense of $10 thousand consisted of $35 thousand of current foreign income taxes, offset by the recognition of a $14 thousand deferred tax benefit, and a tax benefit of $11 thousand for a return to provision adjustment related to U.S. state income taxes.

Adjusted EBITDA

We define Adjusted EBITDA to be earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, other income, net, stock-based compensation and expenses, merger and acquisition costs, restructuring, transition and acquisitions expense, net, goodwill impairment and non-recurring items.

Adjusted EBITDA is not a measurement of financial performance under GAAP and may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. We use Adjusted EBITDA as a financial metric to measure the financial performance of the business because management believes it provides additional information with respect to the performance of its fundamental business activities. For this reason, we believe Adjusted EBITDA will also be useful to others, including its stockholders, as a valuable financial metric.

We present Adjusted EBITDA because we believe that Adjusted EBITDA is a useful supplement to net income (loss) from continuing operations as an indicator of operating performance. We also believe that Adjusted EBITDA is a financial measure that is useful both to management and investors when evaluating our performance and comparing our performance with that of our competitors. We also use Adjusted EBITDA for planning purposes and to evaluate our financial performance because Adjusted EBITDA excludes certain incremental expenses or non-cash items, such as stock-based compensation charges, that we believe are not indicative of our ongoing operating performance.

We believe that Adjusted EBITDA is a performance measure and not a liquidity measure, and therefore a reconciliation between net loss from continuing operations and Adjusted EBITDA has been provided in the financial results. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to loss from operations or net loss from continuing operations as an indicator of performance or as an alternative to cash flows from operating activities as an indicator of cash flows, in each case as determined in accordance with GAAP, or as a measure of liquidity. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA does not take into account changes in certain assets and liabilities as well as interest and income taxes that can affect cash flows. We do not intend the presentation of these non-GAAP measures to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for results prepared in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP measures should be read only in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Following is the reconciliation of our consolidated net loss to Adjusted EBITDA (in thousands):

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 2 - Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies to our consolidated financial statements included herein.

Cash Flow

Changes in our cash flows were as follows (in thousands):

As of March 31, 2024 and 2023, we had cash balances of $5.2 million and $7.2 million, respectively.

For the year ended March 31, 2024, the change in net cash used in operating activities was primarily driven by a net loss of $21.3 million and decreases from the Company's operating assets and liabilities ($11.5 million), offset by the non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $14.0 million, depreciation and amortization of $3.8 million, and the non-cash change in the valuation of the Company's investment in Metaverse which is recognized in earnings ($4.3 million).

Cash flows used in investing activities of $0.5 million were driven by the acquisition of long-lived fixed and intangible assets, partially offset by cash received from the sale of Company shares in Metaverse.

Cash flows provided by financing activities were driven by issuance of the Company's Class A common stock in the first quarter of fiscal year 2024 ($8.5 million) and a net increase of $1.4 million funds, following the Company's expansion of its revolving line of credit from $5.0 million to $7.5 million in February 2024.

For the year ended March 31, 2023, net cash used by operating activities was primarily driven by a net loss ($9.7 million), offset by non-cash expenses of stock based compensation ($4.4 million), allowance against advances, a decrease in the valuation of the Company's investment in Metaverse, and non-cash interest expense. The Company's changes in working capital also contributed to cash used operations, highlighted by a decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses by $18.0 million, offset by a decrease in accounts receivable by $9.9 million, due to the continued growth in streaming.

Cash flows used in investing activities consisted of purchases of property and equipment of $0.7 million, and expenditures to acquire intangible assets of $0.6 million.

Cash flows provided by financing activities consisted of drawdowns under the line of credit of $31.0 million and corresponding repayments of $26.0 million. Additionally, the Company paid $0.7 million in acquisition-related liabilities and $0.2 million for deferred financing fees.

Contractual Obligations

The following table summarizes our significant recognized contractual obligations as of March 31, 2024 (in thousands):

In addition, the Company presents its unrecognized commitments to content partners in the notes to the Financial Statements, Note 6 - Commitments and Contingencies.

Seasonality

The timing of movie and streaming content releases can have a significant effect on our results of operations, and the results of one quarter are not necessarily indicative of results for the next quarter or any other quarter. While our business benefits from the winter holiday season, we believe the seasonality of the movie and streaming landscape, is becoming less pronounced as the motion picture studios are releasing movies somewhat more evenly throughout the year.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We are not a party to any off-balance sheet arrangements. In addition, as discussed further in Note 2 - Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Note 3 - Other Interests to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we hold a 100% equity interest in CDF2 Holdings, which is an unconsolidated variable interest entity (“VIE”), which wholly owns CDF2; however, we are not the primary beneficiary of the VIE.

Impact of Inflation

The impact of inflation on our operations has not been significant to date. However, there can be no assurance that a sustained high rate of inflation in the future would not have an adverse impact on our operating results.

Definition and Limitations of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) are designed to reasonably ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The management of the Company, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in the Exchange Act), as of March 31, 2024. Based on such evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial and accounting officer have concluded that, as of the end of such period, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported, on a timely basis, and (ii) accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures in our internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2024.

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act). Management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria set forth in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Based on this evaluation, management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of March 31, 2024.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, except that we have redesigned our royalty accrual estimation process, following the upgrade of certain accounting systems and integration of acquirees into a more centralized accounting process.