Genius Sports Reports Strong Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Results

April 28, 2021
  • FY20 Group revenue increased 31% year-over-year to $150m
  • FY20 Group adj. EBITDA increased to $18m from ($6m)

Genius Sports Limited (NYSE:GENI) (“Genius” or “GSL” or the “Group”), the official data, technology and commercial partner that powers the global ecosystem connecting sports, betting and media, today announced financial results for its fiscal 2020 fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2020.

“2020 was a landmark year for Genius, with outstanding performance amidst the challenges presented by the global pandemic,” said Mark Locke, GSL Co-Founder and CEO. “We have entered 2021 with great momentum, bolstered by our recently-completed merger with dMY II and NYSE listing, as well as our exclusive partnership with the NFL. I am more confident than ever about the opportunities ahead as we continue to leverage our unique technology and scale to grow alongside the rapidly expanding global sports, betting and media ecosystem.”

$ in thousands

4Q20

4Q19

%

FY20

FY19

%

Group Revenue

47,017

 

36,847

 

27.6%

 

149,739

 

114,620

 

30.6%

Betting Technology, Content & Services

35,265

 

28,580

 

23.4%

 

110,618

 

88,370

 

25.2%

Sports Technology & Services

4,258

 

4,333

 

(1.7%)

 

16,066

 

14,367

 

11.8%

Media Technology, Content & Services

7,494

 

3,934

 

90.5%

 

23,055

 

11,883

 

94.0%

Group Adj. EBITDA

4,034

 

(1,214)

 

nm

 

17,510

 

(6,208)

 

nm

Group Adj. EBITDA Margin

8.6%

 

nm

 

nm

 

11.7%

 

nm

 

nm

nm = not meaningful

4Q 2020 Financial Highlights

  • Group Revenue: Group revenue increased 27.6% year-over-year to $47.0 million. On a constant currency basis, revenue increased $9.3 million, or 24.8% year-over-year.
    • Betting Technology, Content & Services: Revenue increased 23.4% year-over-year to $35.3 million, driven by growth in customer utilization of Genius’ event content and new customer acquisitions. Growth was also supported by price increases powered by Genius’ official data rights strategy, expansion of value-add services, and new service offerings.
    • Sports Technology & Services: Revenue declined by (1.7%) year-over-year to $4.3 million.
    • Media Technology, Content & Services: Revenue increased 90.5% year-over-year to $7.5 million, driven by the acquisition of new customers in the Americas and Europe, primarily for programmatic advertising services.
  • Group Adj. EBITDA: Group adjusted (non-GAAP) EBITDA increased to $4.0 million from ($1.2) million.
    • Group adjusted EBITDA margin was 8.6% in the quarter.

Full Year 2020 Financial Highlights

  • Group Revenue: Group revenue increased 30.6% year-over-year to $149.7 million, with strong growth across all product lines. On a constant currency basis, revenue increased $34.5 million, or 30% year-over-year.
    • Betting Technology, Content & Services: Revenue increased 25.2% year-over-year to $110.6 million, primarily driven by growth in business with existing customers resulting from Genius’ official data rights strategy, expansion of value-add services, and new service offerings. Growth was also supported by new customer acquisitions and increased utilization of Genius’ available event content.
    • Sports Technology & Services:Revenue increased 11.8% year-over-year to $16.1 million, driven by expanded services provided to existing sports league and federation customers across all tiers of sport.
    • Media Technology, Content & Services: Revenue increased 94.0% year-over-year to $23.1 million, driven by the acquisition of new customers in the Americas and Europe primarily for programmatic advertising services.
  • Group Adj. EBITDA: Group adjusted (non-GAAP) EBITDA increased to $17.5 million from ($6.2) million, driven by strict cost controls and reduced sales and marketing expenses in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, offsetting increased data rights costs.
    • Group adjusted EBITDA margin was 11.7% for the year.

Business Highlights

  • After the reporting period, announced a six-year strategic partnership with the National Football League (NFL), through which GSL will be the NFL’s exclusive distributor of real-time official play-by-play statistics, proprietary Next Gen Stats (NGS) data, and the NFL’s official sports betting data feed to media companies and sports betting operators globally.
  • Acquired Sportzcast Inc., a leading U.S. manufacturer of sports scoreboard data distribution systems, deepening GSL’s reach with sports leagues and federations to drive growth across data, streaming and media.
  • Genius is now permitted to supply in thirteen U.S. states after launching operations in Michigan and Virginia in January 2021. Genius also has permission to supply in three tribal jurisdictions in the United States.
  • Extended official data partnership with the National Basketball Association (NBA), granting GSL non-exclusive rights to distribute NBA and WNBA betting data to licensed sports betting operators in the U.S.
  • Entered into a two-year marketing partnership with FanDuel to deliver data-driven, targeted advertisements in U.S. states where the company operates.
  • Announced exclusive sports betting data and betting streaming partnership with Major League Rugby to help grow the league’s presence in sportsbooks around the globe.

Financial Outlook

GSL anticipates revising its full-year 2021 projections in its first quarter earnings, to be reported in the weeks ahead.

Financial Statements & Reconciliation Tables

The following table summarizes Genius’ consolidated results of operations for the periods indicated.

 

Maven Topco Limited
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operation
(In thousands)

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

Three Months Ended December 31,

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

(Unaudited)

Revenue

$

149,739

 

$

114,620

 

$

47,017

 

$

36,847

Cost of revenue

 

114,066

 

 

89,311

 

 

37,024

 

 

28,988

Gross profit

 

35,673

 

 

25,309

 

 

9,993

 

 

7,859

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales and marketing

 

13,176

 

 

17,711

 

 

3,152

 

 

7,055

Research and development

 

11,240

 

 

13,290

 

 

3,006

 

 

1,724

General and administrative

 

31,623

 

 

29,492

 

 

10,281

 

 

8,968

Transaction expenses

 

672

 

 

1,005

 

 

619

 

 

499

Total operating expense

 

56,711

 

 

61,498

 

 

17,058

 

 

18,246

Income (loss) from operations

 

(21,038)

 

 

(36,189)

 

 

(7,065)

 

 

(10,387)

Interest income (expense), net

 

(7,874)

 

 

(6,840)

 

 

(2,075)

 

 

(1,728)

Loss on disposal of assets

 

(8)

 

 

(7)

 

 

(8)

 

 

(10)

Gain on fair value remeasurement of contingent consideration

 

271

 

 

-

 

 

271

 

 

-

Gain (loss) on foreign currency

 

114

 

 

(2,537)

 

 

356

 

 

(1,555)

Total other income (expenses)

 

(7,497)

 

 

(9,384)

 

 

(1,456)

 

 

(3,293)

Loss before income taxes

 

(28,535)

 

 

(45,573)

 

 

(8,521)

 

 

(13,680)

Income tax benefit

 

(1,813)

 

 

5,366

 

 

(4,984)

 

 

3,898

Net loss

$

(30,348)

 

$

(40,207)

 

$

(13,505)

 

$

(9,782)

 

Maven Topco Limited

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share data)

 
 

December 31,

 

2020

 

2019

ASSETS

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

11,781

$

8,228

Accounts receivable, net

 

24,776

 

18,376

Contract assets

 

10,088

 

5,654

Prepaid expenses

 

4,107

 

3,207

Other current assets

 

10,584

 

3,276

Total current assets

 

61,336

 

38,741

 

Property and equipment, net

 

5,002

 

4,882

Intangible assets, net

 

114,542

 

126,440

Goodwill

 

200,624

 

192,980

Deferred tax asset

 

5

 

173

Other assets

 

9,496

 

12,080

Total assets

$

391,005

$

375,296

 

LIABILITIES, TEMPORARY EQUITY AND SHAREHOLDERS' DEFICIT

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable

$

10,106

$

13,292

Accrued expenses

 

35,220

 

21,861

Deferred revenue

 

26,036

 

16,015

Current debt

 

10,272

 

25

Other current liabilities

 

3,714

 

3,461

Total current liabilities

 

85,348

 

54,654

 

Long-term debt – less current portion

 

82,723

 

73,166

Deferred tax liability

 

8,097

 

6,223

Other liabilities

 

3,589

 

3,810

Total liabilities

 

179,757

 

137,853

 

Temporary equity:

 

Preference shares, $0.0001 par value, 218,561,319 shares

authorized, 218,561,319 and 218,561,319 issued and outstanding

at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively

 

350,675

 

318,805

Total temporary equity

 

350,675

 

318,805

 

Shareholders' deficit

 

Common shares, $0.01 par value (A1 Ordinary Shares –

1,568,702 shares authorized, 1,568,702 and 1,568,702 issued and

outstanding; A2 Ordinary Shares – 158,778 authorized, 158,778

and 158,778 issued and outstanding; A3 Ordinary Shares –

145,943 authorized, 145,943 and 145,943 issued and outstanding

at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively)

 

24

 

24

Additional paid-in capital

 

2,393

 

2,393

Accumulated deficit

 

(153,237)

 

(91,019)

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

11,393

 

7,240

Total shareholders' deficit

 

(139,427)

 

(81,362)

Total liabilities, temporary equity and shareholders' deficit

$

391,005

$

375,296

 

Note: Maven Topco Limited is a non-cellular company limited by shares incorporated in Guernsey on July 18, 2018 (“Maven Topco”) in connection with the investment by Apax Funds in Genius Sports Group Limited (the “Apax Investment”). Maven Topco and its wholly-owned subsidiaries are collectively referred to as the “Group”. Genius Sports Group Limited, is a private company incorporated on July 28, 2015, and headquartered in London, England (“Genius Sports”). In connection with the Apax Investment, on September 7, 2018, Genius Sports and its wholly-owned subsidiaries became wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company.

 

Maven Topco Limited
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

2020

 

2019

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

Net loss

$

(30,348)

$

(40,207)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

35,043

 

27,974

Loss on disposal of assets

 

8

 

7

Gain on fair value remeasurement of contingent consideration

 

(271)

 

-

Non-cash interest expense (income), net

 

6,835

 

6,440

Amortization of contract costs

 

538

 

231

Deferred income taxes

 

1,304

 

(5,480)

Loss on foreign currency remeasurement

 

464

 

2,023

Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effect of Business Combinations

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

(5,046)

 

(7,408)

Contract assets

 

(4,030)

 

(1,872)

Prepaid expenses

 

(749)

 

(537)

Other current assets

 

(6,682)

 

(1,728)

Other assets

 

2,321

 

(4,413)

Accounts payable

 

(3,384)

 

7,136

Accrued expenses

 

11,930

 

10,164

Deferred revenue

 

9,021

 

8,598

Other current liabilities

 

520

 

1,189

Other liabilities

 

(401)

 

375

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

17,073

 

2,492

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

Purchases of property and equipment

 

(1,464)

 

(3,217)

Capitalization of internally developed software costs

 

(15,920)

 

(20,756)

Purchases of intangible assets

 

(1,389)

 

(279)

Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired

 

(3,934)

 

(470)

Proceeds from disposal of assets

 

51

 

99

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(22,656)

 

(24,623)

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

Proceeds from issuance of common shares

 

-

 

79

Proceeds from issuance of preference shares

 

-

 

6,079

Proceeds from deposits on incentive securities

 

93

 

66

Proceeds from borrowings

 

10,024

 

1,394

Repayment of loans and mortgage

 

(21)

 

(21)

Payment of contingent consideration

 

-

 

(666)

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

10,096

 

6,931

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

 

(960)

 

(408)

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

3,553

 

(15,608)

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

 

8,228

 

23,836

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

$

11,781

$

8,228

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash activities:

 

Cash paid (received) during the period for interest

$

1,039

$

400

Cash paid (received) during the period for income taxes

 

891

 

876

Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:

 

Preference share accretion

$

31,870

$

28,322

Deferred offering costs included in other current assets and accrued expenses

$

2,093

$

-

Contingent consideration for acquisition of business included in other liabilities

$

-

$

2,385

 

Note: Maven Topco Limited is a non-cellular company limited by shares incorporated in Guernsey on July 18, 2018 (“Maven Topco”) in connection with the investment by Apax Funds in Genius Sports Group Limited (the “Apax Investment”). Maven Topco and its wholly-owned subsidiaries are collectively referred to as the “Group”. Genius Sports Group Limited, is a private company incorporated on July 28, 2015, and headquartered in London, England (“Genius Sports”). In connection with the Apax Investment, on September 7, 2018, Genius Sports and its wholly-owned subsidiaries became wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company.

The following table presents a reconciliation of Group adjusted EBITDA to its net loss for the periods indicated.

 

Maven Topco Limited
Reconciliation of GAAP Net loss to Adjusted EBITDA
(In thousands)
Unaudited

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

Three Months Ended December 31,

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

Consolidated net loss

$

(30,348)

 

$

(40,207)

 

$

(13,505)

 

$

(9,782)

Adjusted for:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net, interest expense

 

7,874

 

 

6,840

 

 

2,075

 

 

1,728

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

1,813

 

 

(5,366)

 

 

4,984

 

 

(3,898)

Amortization of acquired intangibles (1)

 

21,571

 

 

21,412

 

 

5,626

 

 

5,443

Other depreciation and amortization (2)

 

14,010

 

 

6,793

 

 

4,105

 

 

2,593

Transaction expenses

 

672

 

 

1,005

 

 

618

 

 

499

Litigation and related costs (3)

 

2,295

 

 

516

 

 

750

 

 

383

Other (4)

 

(377)

 

 

2,799

 

 

(619)

 

 

1,820

Adjusted EBITDA

$

17,510

 

$

(6,208)

 

$

4,034

 

$

(1,214)

(1)

Includes amortization of intangible assets generated through business acquisitions, inclusive of amortization for data rights, marketing products, and acquired technology.

 
(2)

Includes depreciation of Genius’ property and equipment, amortization of contract cost, and amortization of internally developed software and other intangible assets. Excludes amortization of intangible assets generated through business acquisitions.

 
(3)

​Includes mainly legal and related costs in connection with non-routine litigation matters including Sportradar litigation, BetConstruct litigation, and litigation settlement with Couchmans LLP and Couchmans Data Services limited.

 
(4)

Includes gain/losses on disposal of assets, gain/losses on foreign currency, gain on fair value remeasurement of contingent consideration and other restructuring costs.

 

About Genius Sports

Genius Sports is the official data, technology and commercial partner that powers the global ecosystem connecting sports, betting and media. We are a global leader in digital sports content, technology and integrity services. Our technology is used in over 150 countries worldwide, empowering sports to capture, manage and distribute their live data and video, driving their digital transformation and enhancing their relationships with fans.

We are the trusted partner to over 400 sports organizations globally, including many of the world’s largest leagues and federations such as the NFL, NBA, EPL, FIBA, NCAA, NASCAR, AFA and PGA.

Genius Sports is uniquely placed through cutting-edge technology, scale and global reach to support our partners. We are more than just a technology company, we build long-term relationships with sports at all levels, helping them to control and maximize the value of their content while providing technical expertise and round-the-clock support.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures not presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

Adjusted EBITDA

We present Group adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP performance measure, to supplement our results presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Group adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, income tax, depreciation and amortization and other items that are unusual or not related to our revenue-generating operations.

Group adjusted EBITDA is used by management to evaluate our core operating performance on a comparable basis and to make strategic decisions. We believe Group adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors for the same reasons as well as in evaluating our operating performance against competitors, which commonly disclose similar performance measures. However, our calculation of Group adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to other similarly titled performance measures of other companies. Group adjusted EBITDA is not intended to be a substitute for any U.S. GAAP financial measure.

Constant Currency

Certain income statement items in this press release are discussed on a constant currency basis. Our results between periods may not be comparable due to foreign currency translation effects. We present certain income statement items on a constant currency basis, as if GBP:USD exchange rate had remained constant period-over-period, to enhance the comparability of our results. We calculate income statement constant currency amounts by taking the relevant average GBP:USD exchange rate used in the preparation of our income statement for the more recent comparative period and apply it to the actual GBP amount used in the preparation of our income statement for the prior comparative period.

Constant currency amounts only adjust for the impact related to the translation of our consolidated financial statements from GBP to USD. Constant currency amounts do not adjust for any other translation effects, such as the translation of results of subsidiaries whose functional currency is other than GBP or USD, as such effects have not been material to date.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that involve significant risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include information about our possible or assumed future results of operations or our performance. Words such as “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward looking statements. Although we believe that the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on reasonable assumptions, you should be aware that many factors could affect our actual financial results or results of operations and could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: the effect of COVID-19 on our business, risks related to our reliance on relationships with sports organizations and the potential loss of such relationships or failure to renew or expand existing relationships; fraud, corruption or negligence related to sports events, or by our employees or contracted statisticians; risks related to changes in domestic and foreign laws and regulations or their interpretation; compliance with applicable data protection and privacy laws; pending litigation and investigations; the failure to protect or enforce our proprietary and intellectual property rights; claims for intellectual property infringement; our reliance on information technology; risks related to our ability to achieve the anticipated benefits from the business combination with dMY Technology Group, Inc. II; and other factors included under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on April 28, 2021.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein, to reflect any change in our expectations with respect to such statements or any change in events, conditions or circumstances upon which any statement is based.

Media

Chris Dougan, Chief Communications Officer
+1 (202)-766-4430
chris.dougan@geniussports.com

Tristan Peniston-Bird, The One Nine Three Group
+44 7772 031 886
tristan.peniston-bird@the193.com

Investors

Brandon Bukstel, Investor Relations Manager
+1 (954)-554-7932
brandon.bukstel@geniussports.com

Source: Genius Sports Limited