Research Solutions, Inc.: Form 10-Q for the period ended Sep 30, 2023

Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes to those financial statements that are included elsewhere in this report. Our discussion includes forward-looking statements based upon current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties, such as our plans, objectives, expectations, and intentions. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those set forth under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023.

We use words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “continuing,” “ongoing,” “expect,” “believe,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements included in this report are based on information available to us on the date hereof and, except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.

Overview

Research Solutions was incorporated in the State of Nevada on November 2, 2006, and is a publicly traded holding company with four wholly owned subsidiaries as of September 30, 2023: Reprints Desk, Inc., a Delaware corporation, including its wholly owned subsidiary Resolute Innovation, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Reprints Desk Latin America S. de R.L. de C.V, an entity organized under the laws of Mexico, and RESSOL LA, S. DE R.L. DE C.V., an entity organized under the laws of Mexico.

We provide two service offerings to our customers: cloud-based software-as-a-service (“SaaS”) research platforms (“Platforms”) typically sold via annual auto-renewing license agreements and the sale of published scientific, technical, and medical (“STM”) content sold as individual articles (“Transactions”) either stand alone or via our core research Platform. When customers utilize the core research Platform to purchase Transactions it is packaged as a single solution that enables life science and other research-intensive organizations to accelerate their research and development activities with faster, access and management of STM articles used throughout the intellectual property development lifecycle. The Platforms typically deliver a ROI to the customer via more effectively managing Transaction costs and saving researchers time during the research process.

Platforms

Our cloud-based SaaS research Platforms consist of proprietary software and Internet-based interfaces sold to customers for an annual subscription fee. Legacy functionality allows customers to initiate orders, route orders for the lowest cost acquisition, manage transactions, obtain spend and usage reporting, automate authentication, and connect seamlessly to in-house and third-party software systems. Customers can also enhance the information resources they already own or license and collaborate around bibliographic information.

Additional functionality has recently been added to our Platforms in the form of interactive app-like components. An alternative to manual data filtering, identification and extraction, the apps are designed to gather, augment, and extract data across a variety of formats, including bibliographic citations, tables of contents, RSS feeds, PDF files, XML feeds, and web content. We continue to develop new apps in order to build an ecosystem of apps. Together, these apps will provide researchers with an “all in one” toolkit, delivering efficiencies in core research workflows and knowledge creation processes.

Our Platforms are deployed as a single, multi-tenant system across our entire customer base. Customers securely access the Platforms through online web interfaces and via web service APIs that enable customers to leverage Platform features and functionality from within in-house and third-party software systems. The Platforms can also be configured to satisfy a customer’s individual preferences. We leverage our Platforms’ efficiencies in scalability, stability and development costs to fuel rapid innovation and competitive advantage.

Transactions

Our core research Platform provides our customers with a single source to the universe of published STM content that includes over 80 million existing STM articles and over one million newly published STM articles each year. STM content is sold to our customers on a transaction basis. Researchers and knowledge workers in life science and other research-intensive organizations generally require single copies of published STM journal articles for use in their research activities. These individuals are our primary users.

Our core research Platform allows customers to find and download digital versions of STM articles that are critical to their research. Customers submit orders for the articles they need which we source and electronically deliver to them generally in under an hour; in many cases under one minute. This service is generally known in the industry as single article delivery or document delivery. We also obtain the necessary permission licenses from the content publisher or other rights holder so that our customer’s use complies with applicable copyright laws. We have arrangements with hundreds of content publishers that allow us to distribute their content. The majority of these publishers provide us with electronic access to their content, which allows us to electronically deliver single articles to our customers often in a matter of minutes.

Inflation Risk

We do not believe that inflation has had a material effect on its operations to date, other than its impact on the general economy. However, there is a risk that our operating costs could become subject to inflationary and interest rate pressures in the future, which would have the effect of increasing our operating costs, and which would put additional stress on our working capital resources.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or GAAP, requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. When making these estimates and assumptions, we consider our historical experience, our knowledge of economic and market factors and various other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ under different estimates and assumptions.

The accounting estimates and assumptions discussed in this section are those that we consider to be the most critical to an understanding of our financial statements because they inherently involve significant judgments and uncertainties.

Revenue Recognition

We account for revenue in accordance with ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), (“ASC 606”). The underlying principle of ASC 606 is to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers at the amount expected to be collected.

Revenues are recognized when control of the promised goods or services are transferred to a customer, in an amount that reflects the consideration that we expect to receive in exchange for those goods or services. We derive our revenues from two sources: annual licenses that allow customers to access and utilize certain premium features of our cloud-based SaaS research intelligence platforms (Platforms) and the transactional sale of STM content managed, sourced and delivered through the Platform (Transactions).

We apply the following five steps in order to determine the appropriate amount of revenue to be recognized as we fulfill our obligations under each of our agreements:

• identify the contract with a customer;
• identify the performance obligations in the contract;
• determine the transaction price;
• allocate the transaction price to performance obligations in the contract; and
• recognize revenue as the performance obligation is satisfied.

Platforms

We charge a subscription fee that allows customers to access and utilize certain premium features of our Platforms. Revenue is recognized ratably over the term of the subscription agreement, which is typically one year, provided all other revenue recognition criteria have been met. Billings or payments received in advance of revenue recognition are recorded as deferred revenue.

Transactions

We charge a transactional service fee for the electronic delivery of single articles, and a corresponding copyright fee for the permitted use of the content. We recognize revenue from single article delivery services upon delivery to the customer provided all other revenue recognition criteria have been met.

Stock-Based Compensation

The fair value of our stock options is estimated using the Black-Scholes-Merton Option Pricing model, which uses certain assumptions related to risk-free interest rates, expected volatility, expected life of the stock options or restricted stock, and future dividends. Compensation expense is recorded based upon the value derived from the Black-Scholes-Merton Option Pricing model and based on actual experience. The assumptions used in the Black-Scholes-Merton Option Pricing model could materially affect compensation expense recorded in future periods.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Please refer to footnote 2 to the condensed consolidated financial statements contained elsewhere in this Form 10-Q for a discussion of Recent Accounting Pronouncements.

Quarterly Information (Unaudited)

The following table sets forth unaudited and quarterly financial data for the most recent eight quarters:

Comparison of the Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 and 2022

Results of Operations

Revenue

Total revenue increased $1,376,328, or 15.8%, for the three months ended September 30, 2023 compared to the prior year, due to the following:

Cost of Revenue

* The difference between current and prior period cost of revenue as a percentage of revenue

Total cost of revenue as a percentage of revenue decreased 1.5%, from 61.4% for the previous year to 59.9%, for the three months ended September 30, 2023.

Gross Profit

* The difference between current and prior period gross profit as a percentage of revenue

Operating Expenses

Net Income (Loss)

Net income decreased $1,202,608 or 560.5%, for the three months ended September 30, 2023 compared to the prior year, primarily due to increased operating expenses, partially offset by increased gross profit as described above.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Liquidity

As of September 30, 2023, we had cash and cash equivalents of $9,882,064, compared to $13,545,333 as of June 30, 2023, a decrease of $3,663,269. This decrease was primarily due to cash used in investing activities.

Operating Activities

Net cash used in operating activities was $755,571 for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and resulted primarily from a decrease in deferred revenue of $646,830 and an increase in accounts receivable of $112,965.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $108,879 for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and resulted primarily from a decrease in prepaid royalties of $710,640, a net income of $214,565, a decrease of accounts receivable of $81,756 and a decrease of prepaid expenses and other current assets of $70,908, partially offset by a decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses of $1,037,057.

Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities was $2,752,078 for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and resulted primarily from the payment for the ResoulteAI acquisition of $2,718,253.

Net cash used in investing activities was $301,131 for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and resulted primarily from the payment for non-refundable deposit for the FIZ asset acquisition of $297,450.

Financing Activities

Net cash used in financing activities was $156,325 for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and resulted from the payment of contingent acquisition consideration of $110,190 and the repurchase of common stock of $74,556.

Net cash used in financing activities was $18,062 for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and resulted from the repurchase of common stock of $18,062.

We entered into a Loan and Security Agreement with Silicon Valley Bank (“SVB”) on July 23, 2010, which, as amended, provides for a revolving line of credit for the lesser of $2,500,000, or 80% of eligible accounts receivable. The line of credit matures on February 28, 2024, and is subject to certain financial and performance covenants with which we were in compliance as of September 30, 2023. Financial covenants include maintaining an adjusted quick ratio of unrestricted cash and net accounts receivable, divided by current liabilities plus debt less deferred revenue of at least 1.15 to 1.0. The line of credit bears interest at an annual rate equal to the greater of 1% above the prime rate and 5.0%. The interest rate on the line of credit was 9.5% as of September 30, 2023. The line of credit was secured by our consolidated assets.

There were no outstanding borrowings under the line as of September 30, 2023 and June 30, 2023, respectively. As of September 30, 2023, there was approximately $2,355,000 of available credit. On March 27, 2023, First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (“FCB”) entered into an agreement with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to purchase all of the assets and liabilities of SVB. We have confirmed that the Loan and Security Agreement remains in effect post this transaction and that, we continue to have access to the revolving line of credit.

SVB Bridge Bank agreed that we can lower our cash balance threshold requirement associated with the SVB LSA, reducing the required balances of its and its subsidiaries’ primary operating and other accounts with SVB, and we continue to evaluate the SVB LSA. We have established additional banking relationships with Bank of America, N.A. and PNC Bank, N.A. At September 30, 2023, we held cash at Bank of America, N.A. of $1,516,191 and at PNC Bank, N.A. of $3,496,791.

Subsequent to September 30, 2023, FCB informed us of certain defaults under the SVB LSA resulting from our violation of certain covenants regarding retaining operating cash with SVB, obtaining deposit account control agreements with respect to such accounts and failing to maintain the required adjusted quick ratio. We became aware of additional technical defaults following FCB’s outreach, and such defaults substantially related to our moves to promptly diversify its cash position following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank in March of 2023. On November 14, 2023, we entered into a Fifth Amendment to Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement, Consent and Forbearance Agreement (the “Fifth Amendment”) with FCB, pursuant to which, among other matters, FCB agreed to forbear from exercising its remedies under the SVB LSA in connection with the existing events of default, and agreed to waive the existing events of default provided we regain compliance with the adjusted quick ratio covenant and the operating accounts covenants by January 30, 2024, no other events of defaults have occurred and no forbearance termination events (as listed in the Fifth Amendment) have occurred.

Non-GAAP Measure – Adjusted EBITDA

In addition to our GAAP results, we present Adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental measure of our performance. However, Adjusted EBITDA is not a recognized measurement under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income, income from operations or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP or as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities as a measure of liquidity. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss), plus interest expense, other income (expense), foreign currency transaction loss, provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, income from discontinued operations and gain on sale of discontinued operations. Management considers our core operating performance to be that which our managers can affect in any particular period through their management of the resources that affect our underlying revenue and profit generating operations that period. Non-GAAP adjustments to our results prepared in accordance with GAAP are itemized below. You are encouraged to evaluate these adjustments and the reasons we consider them appropriate for supplemental analysis. In evaluating Adjusted EBITDA, you should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses that are the same as or similar to some of the adjustments in this presentation. Our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items.

Set forth below is a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss) for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022:

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We present Adjusted EBITDA because we believe it assists investors and analysts in comparing our performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that we do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance. In addition, we use Adjusted EBITDA in developing our internal budgets, forecasts and strategic plan; in analyzing the effectiveness of our business strategies in evaluating potential acquisitions; and in making compensation decisions and in communications with our board of directors concerning our financial performance. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, which includes, among others, the following:

• Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect our cash expenditures, or future requirements, for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;
• Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;
• Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on our debts; and
• Although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. For purposes of this section, the term disclosure controls and procedures means controls and other procedures of an issuer that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by an issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the issuer’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of September 30, 2023, the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at a reasonable assurance level.

Inherent Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls

Management does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent or detect all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control systems are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, no evaluation of internal control over financial reporting can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been or will be detected.

These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of a simple error or mistake. Controls can also be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls is based in part on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Projections of any evaluation of controls effectiveness to future periods are subject to risks. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

In addition, our management with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have determined that no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as that term is defined in Rules 13(a)-15(f) and 15(d)-15(f) of the Exchange Act) occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2023 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

There have been no material changes from the risk factors disclosed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2023.