Release – PLBY Group Closes Previously Announced Acquisition of Honey Birdette

 


PLBY Group Closes Previously Announced Acquisition of Honey Birdette

 

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 10, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PLBY Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: PLBY) (“PLBY Group” or the “Company”), a leading pleasure and leisure lifestyle company and owner of Playboy, one of the most recognizable and iconic brands in the world, today announced the completion of its previously announced deal to acquire Australia-based Honey Birdette, the fast-growing, luxury lingerie and lifestyle brand.

The acquisition of 100% of the equity of Honey Birdette was completed for consideration of $235 million in cash and 2.16 million shares of PLBY Group stock. Honey Birdette generated $71 million of revenue and $17.6 million of net income for the twelve months ended June 30, 2021, representing growth of over 42% and 187%, respectively, over the prior year period.

Ben Kohn, Chief Executive Officer of PLBY Group, commented, “We are thrilled to officially welcome the Honey Birdette team to PLBY Group. This transaction will play a key role in the acceleration of our company’s expansion into new territories and product categories, specifically bolstering product design, sourcing and direct-to-consumer capabilities across our lingerie, loungewear, swimwear, sexual wellness and essentials collections. We see enormous organic growth prospects for both the Honey Birdette brand and the new Playboy-branded female focused lifestyle collections we will bring to market powered by Honey Birdette’s superior infrastructure.”

Eloise Monaghan, Founder and Managing Director of Honey Birdette, commented, “Today is a proud day for us as we officially join forces with one of the world’s most iconic brands and the lifestyle platform it represents. PLBY Group’s commitment to sexual wellness and female empowerment is everything that Honey Birdette embraces, and this partnership will help transform the company into one of the leading global lingerie and lifestyle platforms.”

About PLBY Group, Inc.

PLBY Group, Inc. connects consumers around the world with products, services, and experiences to help them look good, feel good, and have fun. PLBY Group serves consumers in four major categories: Sexual Wellness, Style & Apparel, Gaming & Lifestyle, and Beauty & Grooming. PLBY Group’s flagship consumer brand, Playboy, is one of the most recognizable, iconic brands in the world, driving billions of dollars in global consumer spending annually across approximately 180 countries. Learn more at http://www.plbygroup.com.

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. The Company’s actual results may differ from their expectations, estimates, and projections and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “budget,” “forecast,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “believes,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” and similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the Company’s expectations with respect to future performance, growth plans and anticipated financial impacts of its acquisitions.

These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: (1) the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business and acquisitions; (2) the inability to maintain the listing of the Company’s shares of common stock on Nasdaq; (3) the risk that the business combination, recent acquisitions or any proposed transactions disrupt the Company’s current plans and/or operations, including the risk that the Company does not complete any such proposed transactions or achieve the expected benefits from them; (4) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the business combination, acquisitions, commercial collaborations, commercialization of digital assets and proposed transactions, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the Company to grow and manage growth profitably, and retain its key employees; (5) costs related to being a public company, acquisitions, commercial collaborations and proposed transactions; (6) changes in applicable laws or regulations; (7) the possibility that the Company may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; (8) risks relating to the uncertainty of the projected financial information of the Company; (9) risks related to the organic and inorganic growth of the Company’s business and the timing of expected business milestones; and (10) other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K, including those under “Risk Factors” therein, and in the Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive, and readers should not place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date which they were made. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

Contact:

Investors: investors@plbygroup.com
Media: press@plbygroup.com

Release – PLBY Group Reports Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results

 


PLBY Group Reports Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results

 

Second Quarter 2021 Revenue Grew 44% Year-Over-Year to $49.9 Million

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 10, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PLBY Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: PLBY) (“PLBY Group” or the “Company”), a leading pleasure and leisure lifestyle company and owner of Playboy, one of the most recognizable and iconic brands in the world, today provided financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2021.

Ben Kohn, Chief Executive Officer of PLBY Group, stated, “We are pleased to report another successful quarter that demonstrates the powerful combination of our growing direct-to-consumer business, an optimized licensing operation and scalable digital offerings. On the direct-to-consumer side, we saw great traction on Playboy.com with expanded merchandise offerings and strategic influencer marketing. In addition, the second quarter marked continued strong performance in our licensing business and our entry into blockchain-powered offerings with our first NFT collection.”

Mr. Kohn continued, “We are also very excited by our acquisition of Honey Birdette, the fast-growing, luxury lingerie and lifestyle brand. We are eager to integrate Honey Birdette’s operations into our direct-to-consumer infrastructure and to help accelerate the high-end brand’s growth in new regions. The Honey Birdette team brings immense experience in product design, sourcing and direct-to-consumer strategies that will contribute to our work building the leading global pleasure and leisure lifestyle platform.”

Second Quarter 2021 Financial Highlights

  • Revenue grew 44% year-over-year, to $49.9 million, driven by growth in both direct-to-consumer and licensing revenues.
  • Direct-to-consumer revenue grew 88% year-over-year, to $28.0 million, and licensing revenue grew 12% year-over-year, to $15.4 million.
  • Net loss was $8.9 million, largely driven by $7.9 million of non-recurring expenses related to the acquisition of Honey Birdette, refinancing of debt, and amortization of a one-time non-cash inventory valuation step-up as part of the purchase accounting resulting from the acquisition of Lovers in March 2021.
  • Adjusted EBITDA was $5.9 million and was impacted by a full quarter of public company expenses, in addition to technology investments being made to provide a superior and unified direct-to-consumer experience.

Webcast Details
The Company will host a webcast at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time today to discuss the second quarter 2021 financial results. Participants may access the live webcast on the events section of the PLBY Group, Inc. Investor Relations website at https://www.plbygroup.com/investors/events-and-presentations.

About PLBY Group, Inc.
PLBY Group connects consumers around the world with products, services, and experiences to help them look good, feel good, and have fun. PLBY Group serves consumers in four major categories: Sexual Wellness, Style & Apparel, Gaming & Lifestyle, and Beauty & Grooming. PLBY Group’s flagship consumer brand, Playboy, is one of the most recognizable, iconic brands in the world, driving billions of dollars in consumer spending annually across approximately 180 countries. Learn more at http://www.plbygroup.com.

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. The Company’s actual results may differ from their expectations, estimates, and projections and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “budget,” “forecast,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “believes,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” and similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the Company’s expectations with respect to future performance, growth plans and anticipated financial impacts of its acquisitions.

These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: (1) the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business and acquisitions; (2) the inability to maintain the listing of the Company’s shares of common stock on Nasdaq; (3) the risk that the business combination, recent acquisitions or any proposed transactions disrupt the Company’s current plans and/or operations, including the risk that the Company does not complete any such proposed transactions or achieve the expected benefits from them; (4) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the business combination, acquisitions, commercial collaborations, commercialization of digital assets and proposed transactions, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the Company to grow and manage growth profitably, and retain its key employees; (5) costs related to being a public company, acquisitions, commercial collaborations and proposed transactions; (6) changes in applicable laws or regulations; (7) the possibility that the Company may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; (8) risks relating to the uncertainty of the projected financial information of the Company; (9) risks related to the organic and inorganic growth of the Company’s business and the timing of expected business milestones; and (10) other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K, including those under “Risk Factors” therein, and in the Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive, and readers should not place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date which they were made. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

Contact:

Investors: investors@plbygroup.com
Media: press@plbygroup.com


PLBY Group, Inc.        
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)

  Three Months Ended
June 30,
  Six Months Ended
June 30,
  2021   2020   2021   2020
Net revenues $ 49,851     $ 34,557     $ 92,531     $ 66,331  
Costs and expenses              
Cost of sales (23,675 )   (19,096 )   (42,699 )   (35,648 )
Selling and administrative expenses (29,615 )   (13,277 )   (57,561 )   (25,727 )
Related party expenses     (250 )   (250 )   (500 )
Total costs and expenses (53,290 )   (32,623 )   (100,510 )   (61,875 )
Operating (loss) income (3,439 )   1,934     (7,979 )   4,456  
Nonoperating income (expense):              
Interest expense (2,253 )   (3,314 )   (5,550 )   (6,656 )
Loss on extinguishment of debt (1,217 )       (1,217 )    
Other (expense) income, net (3 )   42     742     29  
Total nonoperating expense (3,473 )   (3,272 )   (6,025 )   (6,627 )
Loss before income taxes (6,912 )   (1,338 )   (14,004 )   (2,171 )
Benefit (expense) from income taxes (2,003 )   (2,278 )   91     (3,854 )
Net loss (8,915 )   (3,616 )   (13,913 )   (6,025 )
Net loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest              
Net loss attributable to PLBY Group, Inc. $ (8,915 )   $ (3,616 )   $ (13,913 )   $ (6,025 )
Net loss per share, basic and diluted $ (0.24 )   $ (0.16 )   $ (0.42 )   $ (0.27 )
Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share, basic and diluted 36,736,446     22,199,098     33,298,957     22,093,444  
                       
                       

PLBY Group, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

  June 30,
2021
  December 31,
2020
  (Unaudited)    
Assets      
Current assets:      
Cash and cash equivalents $ 255,529       $ 13,430    
Restricted cash       2,130    
Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts 6,770       6,601    
Inventories, net 18,263       11,788    
Stock receivable       4,445    
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 14,215       8,822    
Total current assets 294,777       47,216    
Restricted cash 2,130          
Property and equipment, net 20,925       5,203    
Intangible assets, net 342,812       339,032    
Goodwill 16,814       504    
Contract assets, net of current portion 14,667       7,159    
Other noncurrent assets 12,658       13,013    
Total assets $ 704,783       $ 412,127    
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity      
Current liabilities:      
Accounts payable $ 15,467       $ 8,678    
Accrued salaries, wages, and employee benefits 2,377       4,870    
Deferred revenues, current portion 10,644       11,159    
Long-term debt, current portion 2,093       4,470    
Convertible promissory notes       6,230    
Other current liabilities and accrued expenses 19,359       18,556    
Total current liabilities 49,940       53,963    
Deferred revenues, net of current portion 42,891       43,792    
Long-term debt, net of current portion 159,438       154,230    
Deferred tax liabilities, net 73,797       74,909    
Other noncurrent liabilities 5,160       2,422    
Total liabilities 331,226       329,316    
Commitments and contingencies (Note 13)      
Redeemable noncontrolling interest (208 )     (208 )  
Stockholders’ equity:      
Common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, 150,000,000 shares authorized, 39,228,956 shares issued and 38,528,956 shares outstanding as of June 30, 2021; 20,626,249 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020 4       2    
Treasury stock, at cost, 700,000 shares and 0 shares as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 (4,445 )        
Additional paid-in capital 470,134       161,033    
Accumulated deficit (91,928 )     (78,016 )  
Total stockholders’ equity 373,765       83,019    
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest, and stockholders’ equity $ 704,783       $ 412,127    

EBITDA Reconciliation

This release presents the financial measure earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or “EBITDA”, and Adjusted EBITDA, which are not financial measures under the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). “EBITDA” is defined as net income or loss before interest, income tax expense or benefit, and depreciation and amortization. “Adjusted EBITDA” is defined as EBITDA adjusted for stock-based compensation and other special items determined by management. Adjusted EBITDA is intended as a supplemental measure of our performance that is neither required by, nor presented in accordance with, GAAP. We believe that the use of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA provides an additional tool for investors to use in evaluating ongoing operating results and trends and in comparing our financial measures with those of comparable companies, which may present similar non-GAAP financial measures to investors. However, investors should be aware that when evaluating EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, we may incur future expenses similar to those excluded when calculating these measures. In addition, our presentation of these measures should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or nonrecurring items. Our computation of Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures computed by other companies, because all companies may not calculate Adjusted EBITDA in the same fashion.

In addition to adjusting for non-cash stock-based compensation, we typically adjust for nonoperating expenses and income, such as management fees paid to our largest stockholder, merger related bonus payments, non-recurring special projects including the implementation of internal controls, expenses associated with financing activities, acquisition related inventory step-up amortization and costs, the expense associated with reorganization and severance resulting in the elimination or rightsizing of specific business activities or operations as we transform from a print and digital media business to a commerce centric business.

Because of these limitations, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for performance measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. We compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and using EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA on a supplemental basis. Investors should review the reconciliation of net loss to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA below and not rely on any single financial measure to evaluate our business.

The following table reconciles the Company’s net loss to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA:


GAAP Net Loss to Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)

  Three Months Ended June 30,   Six Months Ended June 30,
  2021   2020   2021   2020
Net loss $ (8,915 )   $ (3,616 )   $ (13,913 )   $ (6,025 )
Adjusted for:              
Interest expense 2,253     3,314     5,550     6,656  
Loss on extinguishment of debt 1,217         1,217      
Provision for income taxes 2,003     2,278     (91 )   3,854  
Depreciation and amortization 1,034     533     1,762     1,174  
EBITDA (2,408 )   2,509     (5,475 )   5,659  
Adjusted for:              
Stock-based compensation 361     1,345     3,859     2,094  
Reduction in force expenses     1,780         2,777  
Nonrecurring items 1,460     117     7,500     117  
Amortization of inventory step-up 2,250     1,615     2,250     3,230  
Management fees and expenses     250     250     500  
Nonoperating expenses     44         102  
Acquisition related costs 4,218         4,218      
Adjusted EBITDA $ 5,881     $ 7,660     $ 12,602     $ 14,479  


PLBY Group Closes Previously Announced Acquisition of Honey Birdette

 


PLBY Group Closes Previously Announced Acquisition of Honey Birdette

 

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 10, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PLBY Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: PLBY) (“PLBY Group” or the “Company”), a leading pleasure and leisure lifestyle company and owner of Playboy, one of the most recognizable and iconic brands in the world, today announced the completion of its previously announced deal to acquire Australia-based Honey Birdette, the fast-growing, luxury lingerie and lifestyle brand.

The acquisition of 100% of the equity of Honey Birdette was completed for consideration of $235 million in cash and 2.16 million shares of PLBY Group stock. Honey Birdette generated $71 million of revenue and $17.6 million of net income for the twelve months ended June 30, 2021, representing growth of over 42% and 187%, respectively, over the prior year period.

Ben Kohn, Chief Executive Officer of PLBY Group, commented, “We are thrilled to officially welcome the Honey Birdette team to PLBY Group. This transaction will play a key role in the acceleration of our company’s expansion into new territories and product categories, specifically bolstering product design, sourcing and direct-to-consumer capabilities across our lingerie, loungewear, swimwear, sexual wellness and essentials collections. We see enormous organic growth prospects for both the Honey Birdette brand and the new Playboy-branded female focused lifestyle collections we will bring to market powered by Honey Birdette’s superior infrastructure.”

Eloise Monaghan, Founder and Managing Director of Honey Birdette, commented, “Today is a proud day for us as we officially join forces with one of the world’s most iconic brands and the lifestyle platform it represents. PLBY Group’s commitment to sexual wellness and female empowerment is everything that Honey Birdette embraces, and this partnership will help transform the company into one of the leading global lingerie and lifestyle platforms.”

About PLBY Group, Inc.

PLBY Group, Inc. connects consumers around the world with products, services, and experiences to help them look good, feel good, and have fun. PLBY Group serves consumers in four major categories: Sexual Wellness, Style & Apparel, Gaming & Lifestyle, and Beauty & Grooming. PLBY Group’s flagship consumer brand, Playboy, is one of the most recognizable, iconic brands in the world, driving billions of dollars in global consumer spending annually across approximately 180 countries. Learn more at http://www.plbygroup.com.

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. The Company’s actual results may differ from their expectations, estimates, and projections and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “budget,” “forecast,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “believes,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” and similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the Company’s expectations with respect to future performance, growth plans and anticipated financial impacts of its acquisitions.

These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: (1) the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business and acquisitions; (2) the inability to maintain the listing of the Company’s shares of common stock on Nasdaq; (3) the risk that the business combination, recent acquisitions or any proposed transactions disrupt the Company’s current plans and/or operations, including the risk that the Company does not complete any such proposed transactions or achieve the expected benefits from them; (4) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the business combination, acquisitions, commercial collaborations, commercialization of digital assets and proposed transactions, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the Company to grow and manage growth profitably, and retain its key employees; (5) costs related to being a public company, acquisitions, commercial collaborations and proposed transactions; (6) changes in applicable laws or regulations; (7) the possibility that the Company may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; (8) risks relating to the uncertainty of the projected financial information of the Company; (9) risks related to the organic and inorganic growth of the Company’s business and the timing of expected business milestones; and (10) other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K, including those under “Risk Factors” therein, and in the Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive, and readers should not place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date which they were made. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

Contact:

Investors: investors@plbygroup.com
Media: press@plbygroup.com

PLBY Group Reports Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results

 


PLBY Group Reports Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results

 

Second Quarter 2021 Revenue Grew 44% Year-Over-Year to $49.9 Million

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 10, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PLBY Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: PLBY) (“PLBY Group” or the “Company”), a leading pleasure and leisure lifestyle company and owner of Playboy, one of the most recognizable and iconic brands in the world, today provided financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2021.

Ben Kohn, Chief Executive Officer of PLBY Group, stated, “We are pleased to report another successful quarter that demonstrates the powerful combination of our growing direct-to-consumer business, an optimized licensing operation and scalable digital offerings. On the direct-to-consumer side, we saw great traction on Playboy.com with expanded merchandise offerings and strategic influencer marketing. In addition, the second quarter marked continued strong performance in our licensing business and our entry into blockchain-powered offerings with our first NFT collection.”

Mr. Kohn continued, “We are also very excited by our acquisition of Honey Birdette, the fast-growing, luxury lingerie and lifestyle brand. We are eager to integrate Honey Birdette’s operations into our direct-to-consumer infrastructure and to help accelerate the high-end brand’s growth in new regions. The Honey Birdette team brings immense experience in product design, sourcing and direct-to-consumer strategies that will contribute to our work building the leading global pleasure and leisure lifestyle platform.”

Second Quarter 2021 Financial Highlights

  • Revenue grew 44% year-over-year, to $49.9 million, driven by growth in both direct-to-consumer and licensing revenues.
  • Direct-to-consumer revenue grew 88% year-over-year, to $28.0 million, and licensing revenue grew 12% year-over-year, to $15.4 million.
  • Net loss was $8.9 million, largely driven by $7.9 million of non-recurring expenses related to the acquisition of Honey Birdette, refinancing of debt, and amortization of a one-time non-cash inventory valuation step-up as part of the purchase accounting resulting from the acquisition of Lovers in March 2021.
  • Adjusted EBITDA was $5.9 million and was impacted by a full quarter of public company expenses, in addition to technology investments being made to provide a superior and unified direct-to-consumer experience.

Webcast Details
The Company will host a webcast at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time today to discuss the second quarter 2021 financial results. Participants may access the live webcast on the events section of the PLBY Group, Inc. Investor Relations website at https://www.plbygroup.com/investors/events-and-presentations.

About PLBY Group, Inc.
PLBY Group connects consumers around the world with products, services, and experiences to help them look good, feel good, and have fun. PLBY Group serves consumers in four major categories: Sexual Wellness, Style & Apparel, Gaming & Lifestyle, and Beauty & Grooming. PLBY Group’s flagship consumer brand, Playboy, is one of the most recognizable, iconic brands in the world, driving billions of dollars in consumer spending annually across approximately 180 countries. Learn more at http://www.plbygroup.com.

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. The Company’s actual results may differ from their expectations, estimates, and projections and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “budget,” “forecast,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “believes,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” and similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the Company’s expectations with respect to future performance, growth plans and anticipated financial impacts of its acquisitions.

These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: (1) the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business and acquisitions; (2) the inability to maintain the listing of the Company’s shares of common stock on Nasdaq; (3) the risk that the business combination, recent acquisitions or any proposed transactions disrupt the Company’s current plans and/or operations, including the risk that the Company does not complete any such proposed transactions or achieve the expected benefits from them; (4) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the business combination, acquisitions, commercial collaborations, commercialization of digital assets and proposed transactions, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the Company to grow and manage growth profitably, and retain its key employees; (5) costs related to being a public company, acquisitions, commercial collaborations and proposed transactions; (6) changes in applicable laws or regulations; (7) the possibility that the Company may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; (8) risks relating to the uncertainty of the projected financial information of the Company; (9) risks related to the organic and inorganic growth of the Company’s business and the timing of expected business milestones; and (10) other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K, including those under “Risk Factors” therein, and in the Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive, and readers should not place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date which they were made. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

Contact:

Investors: investors@plbygroup.com
Media: press@plbygroup.com


PLBY Group, Inc.        
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)

  Three Months Ended
June 30,
  Six Months Ended
June 30,
  2021   2020   2021   2020
Net revenues $ 49,851     $ 34,557     $ 92,531     $ 66,331  
Costs and expenses              
Cost of sales (23,675 )   (19,096 )   (42,699 )   (35,648 )
Selling and administrative expenses (29,615 )   (13,277 )   (57,561 )   (25,727 )
Related party expenses     (250 )   (250 )   (500 )
Total costs and expenses (53,290 )   (32,623 )   (100,510 )   (61,875 )
Operating (loss) income (3,439 )   1,934     (7,979 )   4,456  
Nonoperating income (expense):              
Interest expense (2,253 )   (3,314 )   (5,550 )   (6,656 )
Loss on extinguishment of debt (1,217 )       (1,217 )    
Other (expense) income, net (3 )   42     742     29  
Total nonoperating expense (3,473 )   (3,272 )   (6,025 )   (6,627 )
Loss before income taxes (6,912 )   (1,338 )   (14,004 )   (2,171 )
Benefit (expense) from income taxes (2,003 )   (2,278 )   91     (3,854 )
Net loss (8,915 )   (3,616 )   (13,913 )   (6,025 )
Net loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest              
Net loss attributable to PLBY Group, Inc. $ (8,915 )   $ (3,616 )   $ (13,913 )   $ (6,025 )
Net loss per share, basic and diluted $ (0.24 )   $ (0.16 )   $ (0.42 )   $ (0.27 )
Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share, basic and diluted 36,736,446     22,199,098     33,298,957     22,093,444  
                       
                       

PLBY Group, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

  June 30,
2021
  December 31,
2020
  (Unaudited)    
Assets      
Current assets:      
Cash and cash equivalents $ 255,529       $ 13,430    
Restricted cash       2,130    
Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts 6,770       6,601    
Inventories, net 18,263       11,788    
Stock receivable       4,445    
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 14,215       8,822    
Total current assets 294,777       47,216    
Restricted cash 2,130          
Property and equipment, net 20,925       5,203    
Intangible assets, net 342,812       339,032    
Goodwill 16,814       504    
Contract assets, net of current portion 14,667       7,159    
Other noncurrent assets 12,658       13,013    
Total assets $ 704,783       $ 412,127    
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity      
Current liabilities:      
Accounts payable $ 15,467       $ 8,678    
Accrued salaries, wages, and employee benefits 2,377       4,870    
Deferred revenues, current portion 10,644       11,159    
Long-term debt, current portion 2,093       4,470    
Convertible promissory notes       6,230    
Other current liabilities and accrued expenses 19,359       18,556    
Total current liabilities 49,940       53,963    
Deferred revenues, net of current portion 42,891       43,792    
Long-term debt, net of current portion 159,438       154,230    
Deferred tax liabilities, net 73,797       74,909    
Other noncurrent liabilities 5,160       2,422    
Total liabilities 331,226       329,316    
Commitments and contingencies (Note 13)      
Redeemable noncontrolling interest (208 )     (208 )  
Stockholders’ equity:      
Common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, 150,000,000 shares authorized, 39,228,956 shares issued and 38,528,956 shares outstanding as of June 30, 2021; 20,626,249 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020 4       2    
Treasury stock, at cost, 700,000 shares and 0 shares as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 (4,445 )        
Additional paid-in capital 470,134       161,033    
Accumulated deficit (91,928 )     (78,016 )  
Total stockholders’ equity 373,765       83,019    
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interest, and stockholders’ equity $ 704,783       $ 412,127    

EBITDA Reconciliation

This release presents the financial measure earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or “EBITDA”, and Adjusted EBITDA, which are not financial measures under the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). “EBITDA” is defined as net income or loss before interest, income tax expense or benefit, and depreciation and amortization. “Adjusted EBITDA” is defined as EBITDA adjusted for stock-based compensation and other special items determined by management. Adjusted EBITDA is intended as a supplemental measure of our performance that is neither required by, nor presented in accordance with, GAAP. We believe that the use of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA provides an additional tool for investors to use in evaluating ongoing operating results and trends and in comparing our financial measures with those of comparable companies, which may present similar non-GAAP financial measures to investors. However, investors should be aware that when evaluating EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, we may incur future expenses similar to those excluded when calculating these measures. In addition, our presentation of these measures should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or nonrecurring items. Our computation of Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures computed by other companies, because all companies may not calculate Adjusted EBITDA in the same fashion.

In addition to adjusting for non-cash stock-based compensation, we typically adjust for nonoperating expenses and income, such as management fees paid to our largest stockholder, merger related bonus payments, non-recurring special projects including the implementation of internal controls, expenses associated with financing activities, acquisition related inventory step-up amortization and costs, the expense associated with reorganization and severance resulting in the elimination or rightsizing of specific business activities or operations as we transform from a print and digital media business to a commerce centric business.

Because of these limitations, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for performance measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. We compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and using EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA on a supplemental basis. Investors should review the reconciliation of net loss to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA below and not rely on any single financial measure to evaluate our business.

The following table reconciles the Company’s net loss to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA:


GAAP Net Loss to Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)

  Three Months Ended June 30,   Six Months Ended June 30,
  2021   2020   2021   2020
Net loss $ (8,915 )   $ (3,616 )   $ (13,913 )   $ (6,025 )
Adjusted for:              
Interest expense 2,253     3,314     5,550     6,656  
Loss on extinguishment of debt 1,217         1,217      
Provision for income taxes 2,003     2,278     (91 )   3,854  
Depreciation and amortization 1,034     533     1,762     1,174  
EBITDA (2,408 )   2,509     (5,475 )   5,659  
Adjusted for:              
Stock-based compensation 361     1,345     3,859     2,094  
Reduction in force expenses     1,780         2,777  
Nonrecurring items 1,460     117     7,500     117  
Amortization of inventory step-up 2,250     1,615     2,250     3,230  
Management fees and expenses     250     250     500  
Nonoperating expenses     44         102  
Acquisition related costs 4,218         4,218      
Adjusted EBITDA $ 5,881     $ 7,660     $ 12,602     $ 14,479  


FAT Brands Inc. (FAT) – Reports 2Q21 Results

Monday, August 09, 2021

FAT Brands Inc. (FAT)
Reports 2Q21 Results

FAT Brands Inc is a multi-brand restaurant franchising company. It develops, markets, and acquires predominantly fast casual restaurant concepts. The company provides turkey burgers, chicken Sandwiches, chicken tenders, burgers, ribs, wrap sandwiches, and others. Its brand portfolio comprises Fatburger, Buffalo’s Cafe and Express, and Ponderosa and Bonanza. The company’s overall footprint covers nearly 32 countries. Fatburger generates maximum revenue for the company.

Joe Gomes, Senior Research Analyst, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.

Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.

    2Q21 Results. Fat Brands reported 2Q21 revenue of $8.3 million, compared to $3.1 million in 2Q20. The increased revenue was driven by royalties, which rose to $6.2 million in the quarter from $2.2 million in 2Q20. FAT reported operating income of $2.0 million in the second quarter versus an operating loss of $2.6 million, excluding impairment charges, last year. A $6.4 million charge for debt extinguishment drove a reported $5.9 million, or $0.48 per share, loss in the quarter, compared to a $4.3 million, or $0.36 per share loss last year. We had projected revenue of $8 million and net income of $350,000, or $0.03 per share.

    Sales Trends Continue Improving.  Building on the first quarter, second quarter sales trends continued to improve. System-wide sales were $144 million, up from $114.4 million in the first quarter, and up 201.9% from the COVID impacted 2Q20. Average weekly sales were $20,056 in the quarter, up from $16,472 in the first quarter and improved to $22,674 in the first three weeks of 3Q21 …



This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).

*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary.  Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision. 

Release – 1-800-FLOWERS.COM Inc. to Release Results for its Fiscal 2021 Fourth Quarter and Full Year on Thursday August 26 2021


1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. to Release Results for its Fiscal 2021 Fourth Quarter and Full Year on Thursday, August 26, 2021

 

CARLE PLACE, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLWS),a leading provider of gifts designed to help customers express, connect and celebrate, today announced that the Company will release financial results for its fiscal 2021 fourth quarter and full year (ended 6/27/21) on Thursday, August 26, 2021. The press release will be issued prior to market opening and will be followed by a conference call with members of senior management at 8:00 a.m. (ET).

The conference call will be available via live webcast from the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.1800flowersinc.com. A recording of the call will be posted on the website within two hours of the call’s completion. A telephonic replay of the call can be accessed beginning at 2:00 p.m. (ET) on August 26 through September 2, 2021, at: (US) 1-877-344-7529; (
Canada) 855-669-9658; (International) 1-412-317-0088; enter conference ID #:10159487. If you have any questions regarding the above information, please call Patty Altadonna at (516) 237-6113 or the Investor Relations office at (516) 237-6131.

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

Some of the statements contained in the Company’s scheduled Thursday, August 26, 2021 press release and conference call regarding its fiscal 2021 first quarter (ended 9/27/20) results, other than statements of historical fact, may be forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the applicable statements. For a more detailed description of these and other risk factors, please refer to the Company’s SEC filings including its Annual Reports and Forms 10K and 10Q available at the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.1800flowersinc.com. The Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements made in the scheduled conference call and any recordings thereof, or in any of its SEC filings, except as may be otherwise stated by the Company.

About 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc.

1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. is a leading provider of gifts designed to help customers express, connect and celebrate. The Company’s ecommerce business platform features an all-star family of brands, including: 1-800-Flowers.com®, 1-800-Baskets.com®, Cheryl’s Cookies®, Harry & David®, PersonalizationMall.com®, Shari’s Berries®, FruitBouquets.com®, Moose Munch®, The Popcorn Factory®, Wolferman’s Bakery®, Stock Yards® and Simply Chocolate®. Through the Celebrations Passport® loyalty program, which provides members with free standard shipping and no service charge across our portfolio of brands, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. strives to deepen relationships with customers. The Company also operates BloomNet®, an international floral and gift industry service provider offering a broad-range of products and services designed to help members grow their businesses profitably; Napco?, a resource for floral gifts and seasonal décor; and DesignPac Gifts, LLC, a manufacturer of gift baskets and towers. 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. was recognized among the top 5 on the National Retail Federation’s 2021 Hot 25 Retailers list, which ranks the nation’s fastest-growing retail companies. Shares in 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, ticker symbol: FLWS. For more information, visit 1800flowersinc.com or follow @1800FLOWERSInc on Twitter.

FLWS-CP

Investor Contact:

Joseph D. Pititto
(516) 237-6131
E-mail: invest@1800flowers.com

Media Contact:

Kathleen Waugh
(516) 237-6028
kwaugh@1800flowers.com

Source: 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc.

1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. to Release Results for its Fiscal 2021 Fourth Quarter and Full Year on Thursday, August 26, 2021


1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. to Release Results for its Fiscal 2021 Fourth Quarter and Full Year on Thursday, August 26, 2021

 

CARLE PLACE, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLWS),a leading provider of gifts designed to help customers express, connect and celebrate, today announced that the Company will release financial results for its fiscal 2021 fourth quarter and full year (ended 6/27/21) on Thursday, August 26, 2021. The press release will be issued prior to market opening and will be followed by a conference call with members of senior management at 8:00 a.m. (ET).

The conference call will be available via live webcast from the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.1800flowersinc.com. A recording of the call will be posted on the website within two hours of the call’s completion. A telephonic replay of the call can be accessed beginning at 2:00 p.m. (ET) on August 26 through September 2, 2021, at: (US) 1-877-344-7529; (
Canada) 855-669-9658; (International) 1-412-317-0088; enter conference ID #:10159487. If you have any questions regarding the above information, please call Patty Altadonna at (516) 237-6113 or the Investor Relations office at (516) 237-6131.

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

Some of the statements contained in the Company’s scheduled Thursday, August 26, 2021 press release and conference call regarding its fiscal 2021 first quarter (ended 9/27/20) results, other than statements of historical fact, may be forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the applicable statements. For a more detailed description of these and other risk factors, please refer to the Company’s SEC filings including its Annual Reports and Forms 10K and 10Q available at the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.1800flowersinc.com. The Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements made in the scheduled conference call and any recordings thereof, or in any of its SEC filings, except as may be otherwise stated by the Company.

About 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc.

1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. is a leading provider of gifts designed to help customers express, connect and celebrate. The Company’s ecommerce business platform features an all-star family of brands, including: 1-800-Flowers.com®, 1-800-Baskets.com®, Cheryl’s Cookies®, Harry & David®, PersonalizationMall.com®, Shari’s Berries®, FruitBouquets.com®, Moose Munch®, The Popcorn Factory®, Wolferman’s Bakery®, Stock Yards® and Simply Chocolate®. Through the Celebrations Passport® loyalty program, which provides members with free standard shipping and no service charge across our portfolio of brands, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. strives to deepen relationships with customers. The Company also operates BloomNet®, an international floral and gift industry service provider offering a broad-range of products and services designed to help members grow their businesses profitably; Napco?, a resource for floral gifts and seasonal décor; and DesignPac Gifts, LLC, a manufacturer of gift baskets and towers. 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. was recognized among the top 5 on the National Retail Federation’s 2021 Hot 25 Retailers list, which ranks the nation’s fastest-growing retail companies. Shares in 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, ticker symbol: FLWS. For more information, visit 1800flowersinc.com or follow @1800FLOWERSInc on Twitter.

FLWS-CP

Investor Contact:

Joseph D. Pititto
(516) 237-6131
E-mail: invest@1800flowers.com

Media Contact:

Kathleen Waugh
(516) 237-6028
kwaugh@1800flowers.com

Source: 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc.

Release – ACCO Brands Corporation Declares Quarterly Dividend


ACCO Brands Corporation Declares Quarterly Dividend

 

LAKE ZURICH, Ill.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– ACCO Brands Corporation (NYSE: ACCO) today announced that its board of directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.065 per share. The dividend will be paid on September 15, 2021, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on August 27, 2021.

About ACCO Brands Corporation

ACCO Brands Corporation is one of the world’s largest designers, marketers and manufacturers of branded academic, consumer and business products. Our widely recognized brands include AT-A-GLANCE®, Barrilito®, Derwent®, Esselte®, Five Star®, Foroni®, GBC®, Hilroy®, Kensington®, Leitz®, Mead®, PowerA®, Quartet®, Rapid®, Rexel®, Swingline®, Tilibra®, Wilson Jones®, and many others. Our products are sold in more than 100 countries around the world. More information about ACCO Brands, the Home of Great Brands Built by Great People, can be found at www.accobrands.com.

Christine Hanneman
Investor Relations
(847) 796-4320

Julie McEwan
Media Relations
(937) 974-8162

Source: ACCO Brands Corporation

ACCO Brands Corporation Declares Quarterly Dividend


ACCO Brands Corporation Declares Quarterly Dividend

 

LAKE ZURICH, Ill.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– ACCO Brands Corporation (NYSE: ACCO) today announced that its board of directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.065 per share. The dividend will be paid on September 15, 2021, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on August 27, 2021.

About ACCO Brands Corporation

ACCO Brands Corporation is one of the world’s largest designers, marketers and manufacturers of branded academic, consumer and business products. Our widely recognized brands include AT-A-GLANCE®, Barrilito®, Derwent®, Esselte®, Five Star®, Foroni®, GBC®, Hilroy®, Kensington®, Leitz®, Mead®, PowerA®, Quartet®, Rapid®, Rexel®, Swingline®, Tilibra®, Wilson Jones®, and many others. Our products are sold in more than 100 countries around the world. More information about ACCO Brands, the Home of Great Brands Built by Great People, can be found at www.accobrands.com.

Christine Hanneman
Investor Relations
(847) 796-4320

Julie McEwan
Media Relations
(937) 974-8162

Source: ACCO Brands Corporation

Release – Esports Entertainment Group to Become LA Chargers Official Esports Tournament Platform Provider in a Multi-Year Deal

 


Esports Entertainment Group to Become LA Chargers’ Official Esports Tournament Platform Provider in a Multi-Year Deal

 

Chargers to become shareholders of EEG as a result of the transaction

Newark, New Jersey and Los Angeles, California–(Newsfile Corp. – August 5, 2021) – Esports Entertainment Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: GMBL) (NASDAQ: GMBLW) (or the “Company”) has signed a partnership agreement with the Los Angeles Chargers (“Chargers”) to be the NFL franchise’s official esports tournament platform provider. As part of the new multi-year agreement, the Company will operate co-branded esports tournaments annually for the Chargers utilizing its Esports Gaming League (“EGL”) platform. Additionally, the Chargers have taken an equity stake in Esports Entertainment Group.

“We continue to gain strong traction among top-tier professional sports franchises with our industry-leading tournament platform,” said Grant Johnson, CEO of Esports Entertainment Group. “We are delighted to expand our reach in the NFL through our partnership with the Chargers. Our robust tournament platform will help the Chargers strengthen connections with their fans, while providing new avenues for engagement.”

As a proud partner of the Chargers, the Company will leverage player imagery within the Chargers’ local market and will also work with the Chargers to promote the tournaments in extensive ongoing digital marketing efforts spanning social, email, mobile, and online channels.

“The popularity of esports amongst our fans provides a great opportunity for our team to create deeper connections and meaningful engagements,” said Chargers Chief Revenue Officer Jim Rushton. “We think the Chargers Gaming Tournaments will be very popular with our fans and a fun way to compete in an entertaining and social environment with gamers throughout our fan base.”

“Working with the Chargers and other top teams in the NFL, NHL, NBA, and more provide a strong validation of the quality of our robust platform and its ability to meet the demanding needs of large-scale, high-profile deployments,” said Magnus Leppäniemi, President of Esports at Esports Entertainment Group.

The Company enables live and online events and tournaments where gamers can compete and enjoy a wide range of content relating to esports and video games on a proprietary technology platform. Services include full turnkey esports events, live broadcast production, game launches, and online branded tournaments.

About Esports Entertainment Group

Esports Entertainment Group is a full stack esports and online gambling company fueled by the growth of video-gaming and the ascendance of esports with new generations. Our mission is to help connect the world at large with the future of sports entertainment in unique and enriching ways that bring fans and gamers together. Esports Entertainment Group and its affiliates are well-poised to help fans and players to stay connected and involved with their favorite esports. From traditional sports partnerships with professional NFL/NHL/NBA/FIFA teams, community-focused tournaments in a wide range of esports, and boots-on-the-ground LAN cafes, EEG has influence over the full-spectrum of esports and gaming at all levels. The Company maintains offices in New Jersey, the UK and Malta. For more information visit www.esportsentertainmentgroup.com.

About Los Angeles Chargers

Now in their 63rd season, the Chargers continue to stretch the imagination and put on the most exciting show in football. Behind the dramatic games, unforgettable highlights, beloved players, groundbreaking performances, idyllic Southern California setting and best uniforms in the NFL lies an uncompromising drive for success – one rooted in toughness, resilience and good old-fashioned hard work. A charter member of the American Football League, the franchise was established in Los Angeles in 1960 and called the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum home during its first year of existence. From 1961 to 2016, the team played in San Diego and advanced to five of the first six AFL Championship games ever played. The Chargers claimed the 1963 AFL title and later joined the National Football League when the two leagues merged in 1970. Since the merger, the Chargers have gone on to appear in Super Bowl XXIX and have captured an additional 10 division titles. The Chargers were purchased by construction leader, philanthropist and real estate developer Alex G. Spanos in 1984 and have been under the guidance of Spanos’ eldest son Dean, the team’s current Chairman of the Board, since 1994. Dean Spanos’ sons – A.G. Spanos, President of Business Operations, and John Spanos, President of Football Operations – oversee the day-to-day operations of the franchise. The Chargers returned to Los Angeles in 2017, began playing games in their new multi-billion-dollar SoFi Stadium home in 2020 and continue to redefine what an NFL franchise looks like in the 21st century. For more information, call 1-877-CHARGERS or visit chargers.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The information contained herein includes forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or to our future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects our current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. The safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 protects companies from liability for their forward-looking statements if they comply with the requirements of the Act.

Contact:

U.S. Investor Relations
RedChip Companies, Inc.
Dave Gentry
407-491-4498
dave@redchip.com

Media & Investor Relations Inquiries
Jeff@esportsentertainmentgroup.com

Esports Entertainment Group to Become LA Chargers’ Official Esports Tournament Platform Provider in a Multi-Year Deal

 


Esports Entertainment Group to Become LA Chargers’ Official Esports Tournament Platform Provider in a Multi-Year Deal

 

Chargers to become shareholders of EEG as a result of the transaction

Newark, New Jersey and Los Angeles, California–(Newsfile Corp. – August 5, 2021) – Esports Entertainment Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: GMBL) (NASDAQ: GMBLW) (or the “Company”) has signed a partnership agreement with the Los Angeles Chargers (“Chargers”) to be the NFL franchise’s official esports tournament platform provider. As part of the new multi-year agreement, the Company will operate co-branded esports tournaments annually for the Chargers utilizing its Esports Gaming League (“EGL”) platform. Additionally, the Chargers have taken an equity stake in Esports Entertainment Group.

“We continue to gain strong traction among top-tier professional sports franchises with our industry-leading tournament platform,” said Grant Johnson, CEO of Esports Entertainment Group. “We are delighted to expand our reach in the NFL through our partnership with the Chargers. Our robust tournament platform will help the Chargers strengthen connections with their fans, while providing new avenues for engagement.”

As a proud partner of the Chargers, the Company will leverage player imagery within the Chargers’ local market and will also work with the Chargers to promote the tournaments in extensive ongoing digital marketing efforts spanning social, email, mobile, and online channels.

“The popularity of esports amongst our fans provides a great opportunity for our team to create deeper connections and meaningful engagements,” said Chargers Chief Revenue Officer Jim Rushton. “We think the Chargers Gaming Tournaments will be very popular with our fans and a fun way to compete in an entertaining and social environment with gamers throughout our fan base.”

“Working with the Chargers and other top teams in the NFL, NHL, NBA, and more provide a strong validation of the quality of our robust platform and its ability to meet the demanding needs of large-scale, high-profile deployments,” said Magnus Leppäniemi, President of Esports at Esports Entertainment Group.

The Company enables live and online events and tournaments where gamers can compete and enjoy a wide range of content relating to esports and video games on a proprietary technology platform. Services include full turnkey esports events, live broadcast production, game launches, and online branded tournaments.

About Esports Entertainment Group

Esports Entertainment Group is a full stack esports and online gambling company fueled by the growth of video-gaming and the ascendance of esports with new generations. Our mission is to help connect the world at large with the future of sports entertainment in unique and enriching ways that bring fans and gamers together. Esports Entertainment Group and its affiliates are well-poised to help fans and players to stay connected and involved with their favorite esports. From traditional sports partnerships with professional NFL/NHL/NBA/FIFA teams, community-focused tournaments in a wide range of esports, and boots-on-the-ground LAN cafes, EEG has influence over the full-spectrum of esports and gaming at all levels. The Company maintains offices in New Jersey, the UK and Malta. For more information visit www.esportsentertainmentgroup.com.

About Los Angeles Chargers

Now in their 63rd season, the Chargers continue to stretch the imagination and put on the most exciting show in football. Behind the dramatic games, unforgettable highlights, beloved players, groundbreaking performances, idyllic Southern California setting and best uniforms in the NFL lies an uncompromising drive for success – one rooted in toughness, resilience and good old-fashioned hard work. A charter member of the American Football League, the franchise was established in Los Angeles in 1960 and called the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum home during its first year of existence. From 1961 to 2016, the team played in San Diego and advanced to five of the first six AFL Championship games ever played. The Chargers claimed the 1963 AFL title and later joined the National Football League when the two leagues merged in 1970. Since the merger, the Chargers have gone on to appear in Super Bowl XXIX and have captured an additional 10 division titles. The Chargers were purchased by construction leader, philanthropist and real estate developer Alex G. Spanos in 1984 and have been under the guidance of Spanos’ eldest son Dean, the team’s current Chairman of the Board, since 1994. Dean Spanos’ sons – A.G. Spanos, President of Business Operations, and John Spanos, President of Football Operations – oversee the day-to-day operations of the franchise. The Chargers returned to Los Angeles in 2017, began playing games in their new multi-billion-dollar SoFi Stadium home in 2020 and continue to redefine what an NFL franchise looks like in the 21st century. For more information, call 1-877-CHARGERS or visit chargers.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The information contained herein includes forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or to our future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects our current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. The safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 protects companies from liability for their forward-looking statements if they comply with the requirements of the Act.

Contact:

U.S. Investor Relations
RedChip Companies, Inc.
Dave Gentry
407-491-4498
dave@redchip.com

Media & Investor Relations Inquiries
Jeff@esportsentertainmentgroup.com

Release – Esports Entertainment Group Co-Producing 24th Annual East Coast Gaming Congress in Atlantic City on October 25-26

 


Esports Entertainment Group Co-Producing 24th Annual East Coast Gaming Congress in Atlantic City on October 25-26

 

Newark, New Jersey–(Newsfile Corp. – August 4, 2021) – Esports Entertainment Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: GMBL) (NASDAQ: GMBLW) (or the “Company”), an esports entertainment and online gambling company, today announced the Company will co-produce and participate in the 24th Annual East Coast Gaming Congress and NexGen Gaming Forum in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on October 25-26, 2021. EEG is expected to be the only esports operator participating in the conference.

“This is a great opportunity to showcase our evolving brand and comprehensive B2B esports solution set with leaders from across the casino industry,” said Grant Johnson, CEO of Esports Entertainment Group.

The East Coast Gaming Congress has been an institution in the gaming world, providing a forum to discuss issues that are central to the future of the industry for nearly a quarter century.

“This conference takes pride in looking ahead and being a forum in which the best ideas spring to life. The emergence of esports will be pivotal to the future of gaming and in the development of the East Coast Gaming Congress,” commented ECCG co-founders Lloyd Levenson and Michael Pollock.

In addition to EEG, the East Coast Gaming Congress and NexGen Gaming Forum is organized and produced by Spectrum Gaming Group, an independent research and regulatory consulting firm, Cooper Levenson, Attorneys at Law, and SI Sports.

About Esports Entertainment Group

Esports Entertainment Group is a full stack esports and online gambling company fueled by the growth of video-gaming and the ascendance of esports with new generations. Our mission is to help connect the world at large with the future of sports entertainment in unique and enriching ways that bring fans and gamers together. Esports Entertainment Group and its affiliates are well-poised to help fans and players to stay connected and involved with their favorite esports. From traditional sports partnerships with professional NFL/NHL/NBA/FIFA teams, community-focused tournaments in a wide range of esports, and boots-on-the-ground LAN cafes, EEG has influence over the full-spectrum of esports and gaming at all levels. The Company maintains offices in New Jersey, the UK and Malta. For more information visit www.esportsentertainmentgroup.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The information contained herein includes forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or to our future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects our current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. The safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 protects companies from liability for their forward-looking statements if they comply with the requirements of the Act.

Contact:

U.S. Investor Relations
RedChip Companies, Inc.
Dave Gentry
407-491-4498
dave@redchip.com

Media & Investor Relations Inquiries
Jeff@esportsentertainmentgroup.com

Service Sector Activity Hits Record High in July



Activity in the Service Industries Breaks Record

 

The U.S. services industry activity grew for the 14th month in a row and reached a record high in July. The Institute for Supply Management (ISM Report) survey released on Wednesday (Aug. 4) also showed a rebound in employment last month within the services industry sector.  Credit for the gains is given to the shift in spending from hard goods to services.   This follows last year’s sharp loss of service-related economic activity; by this measure, the sector has since staged an almost complete rebound.

The Numbers

The Institute for Supply Management reported U.S. non-manufacturing activity hit 64.1 in July from a June level of 60.1. This is the highest level reported since it began releasing survey results in 2008. The output is designed to show growth or retrenchment in the sector.  A reading above 50 indicates growth within the services sector; below 50 indicates a contraction. This index is important to market participants as services account for two-thirds of the U.S. economy. All industries surveyed in July reported growth. Nationally individuals allowed themselves more travel, restaurant visits, live casino gambling, sporting events, etc.. Demand for services grew. There is also an added bump from those returning to the office and relying more on the service sector for meals and other conveniences.

The numbers are in line with the second-quarter GDP report last week, which showed an acceleration in spending on services in the second quarter. Those figures were higher than the pre-covid fourth quarter 2019 GDP numbers.

The ISM survey’s measure of new orders received by services businesses increased to a reading of 63.7 from 62.1 in June. Further gains are likely in the months ahead, with inventories lean and inventory sentiment among customers poor. Businesses depleted inventories at a rapid pace in the second quarter. Stocks at retailers are well below normal levels.

 

 

Supply Constraints

The ISM report also indicates there are supply strains due to increasing demand (the survey doesn’t measure strains based on supply chain problems).
The ISM measures deliveries by suppliers which rose to 72.0 from a reading of 68.5 in June. A reading above 50 indicates slower deliveries. During the month, there were examples of businesses complaining about the scarcity of appliances, laptops, and rental cars.  Replacement heating and air conditioning units experienced longer than normal lead times from order to delivery. 

With bottlenecks in the supply chain persisting, a measure of prices paid by services industries surged to 82.3, the highest reading in nearly 16 years, from 79.5 in June.

 

New Hires

Services industries hired more workers in July, though labor shortages lingered, especially in the accommodation and food services sector. A measure of services industry employment rebounded to a reading of 53.8 from 49.3 in June.

 

Take-Away

The ISM Services Index measures growth and contraction in a sector that comprises two-thirds of the U.S. economy. The most recent report for July shows that activity is higher than ever reported. This bodes well for leisure, hospitality, education, consulting, etc.

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Sources:

https://www.ismworld.org/supply-management-news-and-reports/reports/ism-report-on-business/pmi/july/

https://www.ismworld.org/supply-management-news-and-reports/reports/ism-report-on-business/services/july/

 

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