System1 Announces Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

System1, Inc. (NYSE: SST) reported a 30% year-over-year revenue increase, reaching $220 million for Q2 2022, alongside a 55% growth in gross profit to $67 million. Despite a $34 million net loss, adjusted EBITDA rose by 20% to $41 million. The company updated its 2022 guidance, expecting pro forma revenue between $900 million and $930 million and adjusted EBITDA between $155 million and $165 million. A new $25 million stock and warrant repurchase program reflects their confidence in long-term prospects.

Positive

• Revenue increased 30% year-over-year to $220 million.
• Gross profit rose 55% year-over-year to $67 million.
• Adjusted EBITDA increased 20% year-over-year to $41 million.
• Authorized $25 million stock and warrant repurchase program demonstrates confidence in business fundamentals.

Negative

• Net loss of $34 million compared to $12 million net income in the prior year.
• Full-year guidance reflects economic conditions, indicating potential softness in growth.

• Revenue Grew 30% Year-Over-Year to $220 Million
• Revenue Grew 7% Year-Over-Year on a Pro Forma Basis
• Gross Profit¹ Grew 55% Year-Over-Year to $67 Million
• Adjusted Gross Profit Grew 31% Year-Over-Year to $74 Million on a Pro Forma Basis
• Net Loss of $34 million
• Adjusted EBITDA increased 20% to $41 million compared to $34 Million in the prior year on a Pro Forma Basis
• Company Announces $25 million Stock and Warrant Repurchase Program
• Company Updates Full-Year 2022 Guidance: $900 Million to $930 Million of Pro Forma Revenue, $285 Million to $295 Million of Pro Forma Adjusted Gross Profit and $155 Million to $165 Million of Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- System1, Inc. (NYSE: SST) (“System1” or the “Company”), an omnichannel customer acquisition marketing platform, announced its financial results for the second quarter of 2022.

“System1 made considerable progress in Q2 on our key operating priorities that will enable us to triple our scale over the next few years. We launched new subscription products, began rolling out our next-generation RAMP technology, and integrated our latest acquisitions,” commented Michael Blend, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer. “Despite macro headwinds in the advertising environment, we are forecasting substantial growth and increasing cashflow. We are continuing to invest in our platform and remain focused on the opportunities that will drive our long-term growth. Further, our newly authorized stock and warrant repurchase program demonstrates our confidence in our long-term prospects and the underlying fundamentals of our business.”

Tridivesh Kidambi, Chief Financial Officer of System1, commented, “We are pleased with our second quarter financial and operating results, as we delivered growth in revenue, adjusted gross profit and adjusted EBITDA. Similar to our peers, we are seeing softness in the advertising marketplace, which has impacted our full year outlook. We remain confident in both the power and efficiency of RAMP and our business model, and we expect the slowdown in growth to be temporary.”

Explanatory Note of Year-Over-Year Comparisons

For financial reporting purposes, S1 Holdco has been determined to be the accounting predecessor and therefore its financial results are presented for all periods prior to the Business Combination with Trebia. In order to present comparable financial information, year-over-year comparisons of financial results against the second quarter of 2021 combine the unaudited financial results of Protected with the unaudited financial results of S1 Holdco for the second quarter of 2021. The Company believes it is important to provide these pro forma financial results for investors and other stakeholders to properly evaluate its performance in 2022 relative to comparable information provided in prior periods. Please refer to the tables at the end of this release for a reconciliation of the pro forma financial results as presented herein to the individual financial results of S1 Holdco, Protected and System1, respectively, for the respective successor and predecessor periods. These pro forma financial results are not prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X.

Second Quarter 2022 Financial Highlights

• Revenue increased 30% year-over-year to $220 million compared to $170 million in the prior year.
• Revenue increased 7% year-over-year on a pro forma basis².
• Gross profit increased 55% year-over-year to $67 million compared to $43 million in the prior year.
• Adjusted Gross Profit increased 31% year-over-year to $74 million compared to $56 million in the prior year on a pro forma basis².
• Net loss of $34 million, compared to $12 million of net income in the prior year.
• Adjusted EBITDA increased 20% year-over-year to $41 million compared to $34 million in the prior year on a pro forma basis².
• Adjusted Gross Profit and Adjusted EBITDA excludes $6 million negative impact to gross profit in the second quarter of 2022 caused by a traffic partner advertising network inadvertently sending fraudulent traffic to the Company.

Full-Year 2022 Guidance

• The Company is updating its full year outlook to reflect current economic conditions. The Company expects for the full year 2022:
  • Pro forma Revenue between $900 million and $930 million
  • Pro forma Adjusted Gross Profit between $285 million and $295 million
  • Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA between $155 million and $165 million.

Second Quarter 2022 Business Highlights

• On May 4, 2022, the Company completed the acquisition of Answers.com, one of the largest destinations for higher education and lifelong learning content, to add to its portfolio of Owned & Operated publishing sites and search destinations. This is the Company’s fourth acquisition year to date in 2022.
• In July 2022, the Company renewed its strategic advertising agreement with Microsoft Bing for an additional 3 years on substantially similar terms to our prior agreement.
• In August 2022, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a $25 million stock and warrant repurchase program covering System1’s Class A common stock and public warrants.

_________________________
¹ Gross profit is defined as revenue less cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization).
² Please refer to the tables at the end of this release for a reconciliation of pro forma financial results to reported S1 Holdco results in Q2 2021.

About System1, Inc.

System1 combines best-in-class technology & data science to operate its advanced Responsive Acquisition Marketing Platform (RAMP). System1’s RAMP is omnichannel and omnivertical, and built for a privacy-centric world. RAMP enables the building of powerful brands across multiple consumer verticals, the development & growth of a suite of privacy-focused products, and the delivery of high-intent customers to advertising partners. For more information, visit www.system1.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes “forward-looking statements “ within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, particularly any statements or materials regarding System1’s future results or “guidance” for fiscal year 2022. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding System1 or its management team’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.

These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) or other assumptions that may cause System1’s actual financial results or operating performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Readers or users of this press release should evaluate the risk factors summarized below, which summary list is not exclusive. Readers or users of this press release should also carefully review the “Risk Factors” and other information included in our registration statements on Form S-4 (including the related proxy statement/prospectus) with respect to the Business Combination with Trebia Acquisition Corp. and on Form S-1, each filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC ”), as well as System1’s Form 10-K, Form 8-K and other reports filed with the SEC from time to time. Please refer to the SEC filings for additional information regarding the risks and other factors that may impact System1’s business, prospects, financial results and operating performance following completion of the Business Combination.

Such risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to: (1) our ability to grow and manage growth profitably, and retain its key employees; (2) our ability to acquire businesses on acceptable terms and to successfully integrate and recognize anticipated synergies from acquired businesses; (3) use of cash and other available liquidity to grow and invest in our businesses; (4) continued growth of our digital media and subscription offerings; (5) international growth; (6) our ability to develop or introduce new products, services, features and technologies; (7) our liquidity and our ability to repay or refinance our outstanding indebtedness; (8) technology, platform and infrastructure systems capacity, coverage, reliability and security; (9) changes in or recent developments related to applicable laws or regulations (including those concerning data security, consumer privacy and/or information sharing); (10) the possibility that we may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; and (11) the impact of Covid-19 and other political or societal developments. The foregoing list of factors is not exclusive.

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, they could cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements contained in this press release. System1’s independent auditors have not audited, reviewed, compiled or performed any procedures with respect to the forward-looking statements for the purpose of their inclusion in this press release, and accordingly, do not express an opinion or provide any other form of assurance with respect thereto for the purpose of this press release. System1 will not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You should not take any statement regarding past trends or activities as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. Accordingly, you should not put undue reliance on these statements.

Non-GAAP Measures: Adjusted Gross Profit and Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted Gross Profit and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures and represent key metrics used by System1’s management and board of directors to measure the operational strength and performance of its business, to establish budgets, and to develop operational goals for managing its business. Adjusted Gross Profit is defined as revenue less cost of revenues plus certain discrete items impacting a particular segment’s results in a particular period. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income (loss) before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization expense, stock-based compensation expenses, deferred compensation, management fees, minority interest expense, restructuring charges, impairment and certain discrete items impacting a particular segment’s results in a particular period.

System1 believes Adjusted Gross Profit and Adjusted EBITDA are relevant and useful metrics for investors because it allows investors to view performance in a manner similar to the method used by management. There are limitations on the use of Adjusted Gross Profit and Adjusted EBITDA and it may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Other companies, including companies in System1’s industry, may calculate non-GAAP financial measures differently than System1 does, limiting the usefulness of those measures for comparative purposes.

Adjusted Gross Profit should not be considered a substitute for revenue less cost of revenue. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered a substitute for income (loss) from operations, net income (loss), or net income (loss) attributable to System1 on a consolidated basis that System1 reports in accordance with GAAP. Although System1 uses Adjusted Gross Profit and Adjusted EBITDA as financial measures to assess the performance of its business, such use is limited because it does not include certain costs necessary to operate System1’s business. System1’s presentation of Adjusted Gross Profit and Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as indications that its future results will be unaffected by unusual or nonrecurring items.

The Company is not able to reasonably reconcile Adjusted EBITDA to net income, its nearest GAAP metric, in its guidance for future periods due to uncertainties regarding purchase accounting, stock-based compensation, taxes and other potential adjustments.

Unaudited Condensed Statements of Operations
(In thousands)
	Successor					Predecessor
	Three Months Ended June 30, 2022					Three Months Ended June 30, 2021
Revenue	$	219,797				$	169,579
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of revenues (excludes depreciation and amortization)		152,558					126,167
Salaries, commissions, and benefits		45,555					17,698
Selling, general, and administrative		16,167					6,277
Depreciation and amortization		33,397					3,112
Total operating costs and expenses		247,677					153,254
Operating income (loss)		(27,880	)				16,325
Other expense (income):
Interest expense		7,324					4,476
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities		(4,139	)				—
Total other expense (income), net		3,185					4,476
Income (loss) before income tax		(31,065	)				11,849
Income tax (benefit) provision		3,000					77
Net income (loss)	$	(34,065	)			$	11,772
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest		(4,867	)				—
Net income (loss) attributable to System1, Inc.	$	(29,198	)			$	11,772

Unaudited Condensed Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except for par values)
	Successor					Predecessor
	June 30, 2022					December 31, 2021
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	37,442				$	47,896
Restricted cash, current		5,757					—
Accounts receivable		93,397					90,203
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		9,671					7,689
Total current assets		146,267					145,788
Restricted cash, non-current		1,532					743
Property and equipment, net		4,330					830
Internal-use software development costs, net		11,647					11,213
Intangible assets, net		537,913					50,368
Goodwill		907,248					44,820
Operating lease right-of-use assets		7,533					—
Other non-current assets		779					3,149
Total assets	$	1,617,249				$	256,911
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		17,286					72,846
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		97,752					31,284
Deferred revenue		68,368					1,971
Operating lease liabilities, current		2,065					—
Notes payable, current		14,888					170,453
Total current liabilities		200,359					276,554
Operating lease liabilities, non-current		7,073					—
Notes payable, non-current		406,026					—
Warrant liability		13,669					—
Deferred tax liability		137,354					7,789
Protected incentive plan liability		18,163					—
Other liabilities		7,482					969
Total liabilities		790,126					285,312
Commitments and contingencies
EQUITY / MEMBERS' DEFICIT
Class A Common stock - $0.0001 par value; 250,000 shares authorized, 90,587 Class A shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2022		9					—
Class C Common stock - $0.0001 par value; 25,000 shares authorized, 22,077 Class C shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2022		2					—
Additional paid-in capital		761,002					—
Accumulated deficit		(118,373	)				—
Members' deficit		—					(28,829	)
Accumulated other comprehensive income		179					428
Total equity/members' deficit		642,819					(28,401	)
Non-controlling interest		184,304					—
Total equity/members' deficit		827,123					(28,401	)
Total liabilities and equity/members' deficit	$	1,617,249				$	256,911

The following tables reconcile net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA and Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA for the periods presented for System1, Inc, S1 Holdco LLC and Protected.net.

	Successor
	System1, Inc.
($ in millions)	Three Months Ended June 30, 2022
Net (Loss)	$	(34.1	)
Plus:
Income Tax (Benefit)		3.0
Interest Expense		7.3
Depreciation & Amortization		33.4
Other Expense		2.1
Stock-Based Compensation & Distributions To Members		22.4
Non-cash revaluation of warrant liability		(4.1	)
Acquisition & Restructuring Costs		4.6
One-time Ad Credit Impact		6.3
Acquisition Earnout		0.1
Adjusted EBITDA	$	41.0

	Three Months Ended June 30, 2021
	Predecessor			Unaudited				Pro Forma
($ in millions)	S1 Holdco LLC			Protected.net				Total
Net Income (Loss)	$	11.8		$	7.5			$	19.3
Plus:
Income Tax Expense		0.1			—				0.1
Interest Expense		4.5			(0.2	)			4.3
Depreciation & Amortization		3.1			0.1				3.2
Other Expense		—			2.7				2.7
Stock-Based Compensation & Distribution To Members		3.3			—				3.3
Terminated Product Lines		—			—				—
Acquisition & Restructuring Costs		0.9			0.5				1.4
Acquisition Earnout		—			—				—
Adjusted EBITDA	$	23.7		$	10.6			$	34.3

The following tables reconcile Revenue to Pro Forma Revenue, Adjusted Gross Profit and Pro Forma Gross Profit for the periods presented for System1, Inc, S1 Holdco LLC and Protected.net.

	Three Months Ended June 30, 2022
	Successor
($ in millions)	System1, Inc.
Revenue	$	219.8
Less: Cost of Revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)		(152.6	)
Gross Profit	$	67.2
One-time Ad Credit Impact		6.3
Adjusted Gross Profit	$	73.5

	Three Months Ended June 30, 2021
	Unaudited								Pro Forma
($ in millions)	S1 Holdco LLC				Protected.net				Total
Revenue	$	169.6			$	36.0			$	205.6
Less: Cost of Revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)		(126.2	)			(23.4	)		$	(149.6	)
Gross Profit	$	43.4			$	12.6			$	56.0

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220811005264/en/

Investors:

Brett Milotte

ICR, Inc.

Brett.milotte@icrinc.com

Source: System1, Inc.

FAQ

What were System1's Q2 2022 revenue results?

System1 reported a revenue of $220 million for Q2 2022, a 30% increase year-over-year.

What is the updated full-year revenue guidance for System1 in 2022?

System1's updated full-year guidance for 2022 is pro forma revenue between $900 million and $930 million.

How much did System1's gross profit grow in Q2 2022?

The gross profit for Q2 2022 grew by 55% year-over-year to $67 million.

What was System1's net loss for Q2 2022?

System1 reported a net loss of $34 million for Q2 2022.

What does the stock and warrant repurchase program mean for System1?

The $25 million stock and warrant repurchase program indicates System1's confidence in its long-term business fundamentals.