Eterna Therapeutics Inc. - Quarter Report: 2014 September (Form 10-Q)

 UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES

EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2014

Commission file number 001-11460

 NTN Buzztime, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(760) 438-7400

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    YES  x    NO  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every interactive data file required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes   x     No   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    YES  ¨    NO  x

As of November 5, 2014 the registrant had outstanding 92,297,145 shares of common stock, $.005 par value per share.

NTN BUZZTIME, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

FORM 10-Q

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I

Item 1. Financial Statements.

NTN BUZZTIME, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except par value amount)

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

NTN BUZZTIME, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

NTN BUZZTIME, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

NTN BUZZTIME, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

(1) BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Description of Business

NTN Buzztime, Inc. (the “Company”), provides an entertainment and marketing services platform for hospitality venues that offer games, events, and entertainment experiences to their consumers. The Company’s interactive entertainment network helps its network subscribers to acquire, engage and retain their consumers. The Company generates revenues by charging subscription fees for its service to its network subscribers, leasing equipment (including tablets used in its Buzztime Entertainment on Demand, or BEOND, line and the cases and charging trays for such tablets) to certain network subscribers, hosting live trivia events, and from selling advertising aired on in-venue screens and as part of customized games. In 2014, the Company began generating revenue directly from the consumers of a small number of network subscribers by piloting premium products via the BEOND platform in addition to offering the games that the Company has historically provided to consumers for free. The amount of such revenue has been minimal to date. The pilot program is continuing with a small number of network subscribers, and the Company expects that revenue from premium products will increase as more network subscribers are introduced into the pilot program and as the program is deployed throughout the network. Currently, over 3,000 venues in the U.S. and Canada subscribe to the Company’s interactive entertainment network.

The Company was incorporated in Delaware in 1984 as Alroy Industries and changed its name to NTN Communications, Inc. in 1985. The Company changed its name to NTN Buzztime, Inc. in 2005 to better reflect the growing role of the Buzztime consumer brand.

Basis of Accounting Presentation

The accompanying unaudited interim condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) for interim financial statements and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 8 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments that are necessary, which are of a normal and recurring nature, for a fair presentation for the periods presented of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries: IWN, Inc., IWN, L.P., Buzztime Entertainment, Inc., NTN Wireless Communications, Inc., NTN Software Solutions, Inc., NTN Canada, Inc., and NTN Buzztime, Ltd., all of which, other than NTN Canada, Inc., are dormant subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013. The accompanying condensed balance sheet as of December 31, 2013 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be anticipated for the entire year ending December 31, 2014, or any other period.

The United States dollar is the Company’s functional currency, except for its operations in Canada where the functional currency is the Canadian dollar. The financial position and results of operations of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are measured using the foreign subsidiary’s local currency as the functional currency. In accordance with ASC No. 830, Foreign Currency Matters, revenues and expenses of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries have been translated into U.S. dollars at weighted average exchange rates prevailing during the period. Assets and liabilities have been translated at the rates of exchange on the balance sheet date. The resulting translation gain and loss adjustments are recorded as a separate component of shareholders’ equity, unless there is a sale or complete liquidation of the underlying foreign investments. Transaction gains and losses that arise from exchange rate fluctuations on transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are included in the results of operations as incurred. For the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, the Company recorded $31,000 in foreign currency gains and $8,000 in foreign currency losses, respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, the Company recorded $27,000 and $7,000 in foreign currency gains, respectively, due to settlements of intercompany transactions, re-measurement of intercompany balances with the Company’s Canadian subsidiary and other non-functional currency denominated transactions, which are included in other income, net in the accompanying statements of operations. Exchange rate fluctuations between the United States dollar and Canadian dollar may affect the Company’s results of operations and period-to-period comparisons of its operating results. The Company does not currently engage in hedging or similar transactions to reduce these risks. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, the net impact to the Company’s results of operations from the effect of exchange rate fluctuations was immaterial.

Reclassifications

The Company reclassified the consolidated statement of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013 and the consolidated statement of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 to conform to the 2014 presentation.

(2) Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Common Share

The Company computes basic and diluted earnings per common share in accordance with the provisions of ASC No. 260, Earnings per Share. Basic earnings per share excludes the dilutive effects of options, warrants and other convertible securities. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution of securities that could share in the Company’s earnings. The total number of shares of the Company’s common stock subject to options, warrants, convertible preferred stock and restricted stock units that were excluded from computing diluted net loss per common share was approximately 14,140,000 and 7,567,000 shares as of September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, as their effect was anti-dilutive.

(3) GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Goodwill

The Company’s goodwill balance relates to the purchase of NTN Canada. The Company performed its quarterly qualitative assessment of goodwill impairment for NTN Canada as of September 30, 2014 and determined that there were no indications of impairment.

Other Intangible Assets

The Company has other intangible assets comprised predominantly of developed technology, trivia databases, trademarks, and acquired customer relationships. All intangible assets are amortized on a straight line basis. The useful lives of the assets reflect the estimated period of time and method by which the underlying intangible asset benefits will be realized. Amortization expense relating to all intangible assets totaled $44,000 and $104,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $156,000 and $319,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

(4) SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT COSTS

The Company capitalizes costs related to the development of certain of its software products in accordance with ASC No. 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other. Amortization expense relating to capitalized software development costs totaled $243,000 and $198,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $697,000 and $648,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, approximately $475,000 and $934,000, respectively, of capitalized software costs were not subject to amortization as the development of various software projects was not complete.

The Company performed its quarterly review of software development projects to determine if any were deemed to no longer be a current strategic fit or if the marketability of the content had decreased due to obtaining additional information regarding the specific purpose for which the content was intended. The Company recognized no impairment losses for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and impairment losses of $661,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. The Company recognized impairment losses of $23,000 and $115,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively.

(5) FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

ASC No. 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, applies to certain assets and liabilities that are being measured and reported on a fair value basis.  Broadly, the ASC No. 820 framework requires fair value to be determined based on the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants.  ASC No. 820 also establishes a fair value hierarchy for ranking the quality and reliability of the information used to determine fair values. This hierarchy is as follows:

Level 1: Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2: Observable market based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data.

Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data.

Assets and Liabilities that are Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis:

The Company does not have assets or liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

Assets and Liabilities that are Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis:

Certain assets are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis and are subject to fair value adjustments only in certain circumstances. Included in this category are goodwill written down to fair value when determined to be impaired, acquired assets and long-lived assets including capitalized software that are written down to fair value when they are held for sale or determined to be impaired.  The valuation methods for goodwill, assets and liabilities resulting from acquisitions, and long-lived assets involve assumptions concerning interest and discount rates, growth projections, and/or other assumptions of future business conditions.  As all of the assumptions employed to measure these assets and liabilities on a nonrecurring basis are based on management’s judgment using internal and external data, these fair value determinations are classified in Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy.

There were no transfers between fair value measurement levels during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014.

(6) STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

The Company’s stock-based compensation plans include the NTN Buzztime, Inc. 2004 Performance Incentive Plan, the NTN Buzztime, Inc. 2010 Performance Incentive Plan and the NTN Buzztime, Inc. 2014 Inducement Plan. In September 2009, the NTN Buzztime, Inc. 2004 Performance Incentive Plan expired. From and after the date it expired, no awards could be granted under that plan and all awards that had been granted under that plan before it expired are governed by that plan until they are exercised or expire in accordance with that plan’s terms. The 2010 Performance Incentive Plan provides for the grant of up to 6,000,000 share-based awards and expires in February 2020. The 2014 Inducement Plan, which provides for the grant of up to 4,250,000 share-based awards to new employees as an inducement material to the new employee entering into employment with the Company, was approved by the Nominating and Corporate Governance/Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Committee”) in September 2014 in connection with the appointment of Ram Krishnan as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. As of September 30, 2014, approximately 1,296,000 and 750,000 of share-based awards are available to be issued under the 2010 Performance Incentive Plan and the 2014 Inducement Plan, respectively. The Company’s stock-based compensation plans are administered by the Committee, which selects persons to receive awards and determines the number of shares subject to each award and the terms, conditions, performance measures and other provisions of the award.

The Company records stock-based compensation in accordance with ASC No. 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation and ASC No. 505-50, Equity – Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employees. The Company estimates the fair value of stock options using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The fair value of stock options granted is recognized as expense over the requisite service period. Stock-based compensation expense for share-based payment awards to employees is recognized using the straight-line single-option method. Stock-based compensation expense for share-based payment awards to non-employees is recorded at its fair value on the grant date and is periodically re-measured as the underlying awards vest.

The Company uses the historical stock price volatility as an input to value its stock options under ASC No. 718. The expected term of stock options represents the period of time options are expected to be outstanding and is based on observed historical exercise patterns of the Company, which the Company believes are indicative of future exercise behavior. For the risk-free interest rate, the Company uses the observed interest rates appropriate for the term of time options are expected to be outstanding. The dividend yield assumption is based on the Company’s history and expectation of dividend payouts.

The following weighted-average assumptions were used for grants issued during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 under the ASC No. 718 requirements.

ASC No. 718 requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised if necessary in subsequent periods if actual forfeiture rates differ from those estimates. Forfeitures were estimated based on historical activity for the Company. Stock-based compensation expense for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 was $68,000 and $34,000, respectively, and $180,000 and $87,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and is included in selling, general and administrative expenses and credited to additional paid-in-capital. The Company granted stock options to purchase 3,828,000 and 127,000 shares of common stock during the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and stock options to purchase 5,328,000 and 1,255,000 shares of common stock during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 was approximately $20,000 and $60,000, respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company received approximately $22,000 and $44,000, respectively, in cash payments for the exercise of options to purchase approximately 87,000 and 185,000 shares, respectively. The total intrinsic value of options exercised was $2,000 and $4,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013. Pursuant to the Company’s 2004 and 2010 Performance Incentive Plans, stock option exercises may be made on a net-exercise arrangement, where shares of common stock are withheld in the amount of the exercise price as payment of the exercise price instead of cash. Under such net-exercise arrangements, for the three months ended September 30, 2013, options to purchase approximately 10,000 shares of common stock were exercised and approximately 6,000 shares of common stock were issued. For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, options to purchase approximately 25,000 shares of common stock were exercised and approximately 12,000 shares of common stock were issued under such net-exercise arrangements.

(7) NOTES PAYABLE

In May 2013, the Company entered into a financing agreement with a lender under which the Company may borrow up to $500,000 to purchase certain equipment. Over time, the lender has increased the maximum amount the Company may borrow, and as of September 30, 2014, the maximum amount was $7,853,000. The Company may borrow up to the maximum amount in tranches as needed. Each tranche bears interest at 8.32% per annum. With respect to the first $1,000,000 in the aggregate borrowed, principal and interest payments are due in 36 equal monthly installments. With respect to amounts borrowed in excess of the first $1,000,000 in the aggregate, the first monthly payment will be equal to 24% of the principal amount outstanding, and the remaining principal and interest due are payable in 35 equal monthly installments. The Company granted the lender a first security interest in the equipment purchased with the funds borrowed. Through September 30, 2014, the Company borrowed approximately $5,920,000 of the $7,853,000 maximum amount available. As of September 30, 2014, $4,463,000 remained outstanding, which reflects payments made through September 30, 2014.

In July 2011, the Company entered into an equipment financing agreement with a bank in the amount of $123,000 plus 5.85% interest per annum, which was recorded in short-term and long-term notes payable on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. The amounts borrowed were used to finance certain equipment purchases and other services related to the relocation of the Company’s Carlsbad, California office. The amount was collateralized by a first priority security interest in the equipment purchased. The amount borrowed was payable over a 36 month period in equal payments of $3,705, which included interest, until fully paid in August 2014. As of September 30, 2014, this note payable was paid in full.

(8) COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

From time to time, state tax authorities will make inquiries as to whether or not a portion of the Company’s services require the collection of sales and use taxes from customers in those states. Many states have expanded their interpretation of their sales and use tax statutes to subject more activities to tax. The Company evaluates such inquiries on a case-by-case basis and has favorably resolved the majority of these tax issues in the past without any material adverse consequences.

The Company is involved in ongoing sales tax inquiries with certain states and provinces. As a result of those inquiries, the Company recorded a total net liability of $26,000 and $27,000 as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, which is included in the sales taxes payable balance in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

(9) ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Accumulated other comprehensive income includes the accumulated gains or losses from foreign currency translation adjustments. The Company translated the assets and liabilities of its Canadian statement of financial position into U.S. dollars using the period end exchange rate. Revenue and expenses were translated using the weighted-average exchange rates for the reporting period. As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, $553,000 and $631,000 of foreign currency translation adjustments were recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income, respectively.

(10) RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In August 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-15, Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40): Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. This update provides guidance about management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures. Specifically, the amendments (1) provide a definition of the term “substantial doubt,” (2) require an evaluation every reporting period, (3) provide principles for considering the mitigating effect of management’s plans, (4) require certain disclosures when substantial doubt is alleviated as a result of consideration of management’s plans, (5) require an express statement and other disclosures when substantial doubt is not alleviated, and (6) require an assessment for a period of one year after the date that financial statements are issued. This update is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2016, which for the Company is December 31, 2016, and for annual periods and interim periods thereafter. The Company does not anticipate that the adoption of this update will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-12, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide that a Performance Target Could be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period. This update requires that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition. As such, the performance target should not be reflected in estimating the grant date fair value of the award. This update further clarifies that compensation cost should be recognized in the period in which it becomes probable that the performance target will be achieved and should represent the compensation cost attributable to the periods for which the requisite service has already been rendered. This update is effective for annual reporting periods (including interim reporting periods within those periods) beginning after December 15, 2015, which for the Company is January 1, 2016; early adoption is permitted. Entities may apply the amendments in this update either (a) prospectively to all awards granted or modified after the effective date or (b) retrospectively to all awards with performance targets that are outstanding as of the beginning of the earliest annual period presented in the financial statements and to all new or modified awards thereafter. The Company does not anticipate that the adoption of this update will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). This update outlines a new, single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. This new revenue recognition model provides a five-step analysis in determining when and how revenue is recognized. The new model will require revenue recognition to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration a company expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. This new guidance is effective for annual reporting periods (including interim reporting periods within those periods) beginning after December 15, 2016, which for the Company is January 1, 2017; early adoption is not permitted. Entities have the option of using either a full retrospective or a modified approach to adopting the guidance. The Company has not yet selected a transition approach and is currently assessing the impact that adopting this new accounting guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-08, Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360). This update provides guidance on recognizing and disclosing discontinued operations. The update is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2014, which for the Company is January 1, 2015. The Company does not anticipate that adopting this update will have a material impact to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

(11) CONCENTRATIONS OF RISK

Significant Customer

The Company generated approximately $2,409,000 and $1,544,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and approximately $8,155,000 and $4,886,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, of total revenue from Buffalo Wild Wings company-owned restaurants and Buffalo Wild Wings franchised restaurants combined. The Company generates such revenue through orders submitted by each of the individual restaurants. As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, approximately $332,000 and $99,000, respectively, was included in accounts receivable from Buffalo Wild Wings company-owned restaurants and Buffalo Wild Wings franchised restaurants.

Equipment Suppliers

The tablet used in the Company’s BEOND product line is manufactured by one unaffiliated third party. The Company currently purchases the BEOND tablets from an unaffiliated third party. The Company also currently purchases each piece of the tablet playmaker equipment (consisting of cases and charging trays for the tablet playmaker) from a different unaffiliated third party with respect to each piece of equipment. The Company currently purchases its Classic playmakers from an unaffiliated manufacturer located in Taiwan pursuant to a supply agreement, the term of which automatically renews for one year periods unless the agreement is terminated in advance of the automatic renewal by either party. The Company currently does not have an alternative manufacturer of the tablet or an alternative device to the tablet or alternative manufacturing sources for its tablet playmaker equipment or Classic playmakers. The Company does not currently expect to purchase additional Classic playmakers.

As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, approximately $68,000 and $32,000, respectively, were included in accounts payable or accrued expenses for equipment suppliers.

(12) GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Geographic breakdown of the Company’s revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 is as follows:

Geographic breakdown of the Company’s long-term tangible assets as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 is as follows:

(13) PUBLIC OFFERING OF COMMON STOCK

In April 2014, the Company entered into an underwriting agreement with Roth Capital Partners, LLC, as representative of several underwriters, relating to the issuance and sale of 11,100,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at a public offering price of $0.55 per share.

Under the terms of the underwriting agreement, the underwriters agreed to purchase the common stock at a discounted price of $0.5115 per share, representing a 7% discount to the public offering price. The Company also granted the underwriters a 30-day over-allotment option to purchase up to an additional 1,665,000 shares of common stock at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts, to cover over-allotments, if any, made in connection with the offering.

The offering closed in April 2014 and the underwriters exercised their over-allotment option in full. In the aggregate, the Company issued 12,765,000 shares of common stock and received gross proceeds of $7,020,750. The net proceeds to the Company were approximately $6,369,000, after deducting underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses payable by the Company.

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

CAUTION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (including, but not limited to, the following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations) and the documents incorporated herein by reference contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements reflect future events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities, including statements related to our strategic plans and targets, revenue generation, product availability and offerings, capital needs, capital expenditures, industry trends and our financial position. Forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to us, on our current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about the industries in which we operate and on the beliefs and assumptions of management. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “could,” “targets,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “may,” “will,” “would,” variations of such words, and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements which refer to projections of our future financial performance, our anticipated growth and trends in our business, and other characterizations of future events or circumstances, are forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Therefore, actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, under the section entitled “Risk Factors,” and in other reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Readers are urged not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this report or incorporated by reference herein, which speak only as of the date of this report. Except as required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking statement to reflect future events or circumstances.

You should read the following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes to those statements included elsewhere in this report.

OVERVIEW

We provide an entertainment and marketing services platform for hospitality venues that offer games, events, and entertainment experiences to their consumers. Our interactive entertainment network helps our network subscribers to acquire, engage and retain their consumers. Built on an extended network platform, this entertainment system has historically allowed multiple players to interact at the venue, but also enables competition between different venues, referred to as massively multiplayer gaming. We have been embarking on a complete change of our network architecture, technology platform and player engagement paradigms, which we currently refer to as Buzztime Entertainment on Demand, or BEOND. We continue to support our legacy network product line, which we refer to as Classic.

We currently generate revenue by charging subscription fees for our service to our network subscribers, leasing equipment to certain network subscribers, hosting live trivia events, and selling advertising aired on in-venue screens and part of customized games. In 2014, we began generating revenue directly from the consumers of a small number of network subscribers by piloting premium products via our BEOND platform in addition to offering the games that we have historically provided to consumers for free. The amount of such revenue has been minimal to date. The pilot program is continuing with a small number of network subscribers, and we expect that revenue from premium products will increase as more network subscribers are introduced into the pilot program and as the program is deployed throughout the network.

Currently, over 3,000 venues in the U.S. and Canada subscribe to our interactive entertainment network, where we estimate it is available on approximately 10,000-15,000 screens daily. We currently have over five million player registrations, and over 50 million of our games are played each year. Additionally, our mobile application has been installed on over one million consumer mobile devices. Approximately 44% of our network subscriber venues are related to national and regional restaurants and include Buffalo Wild Wings, Old Chicago, Beef O’Brady’s, Buffalo Wings & Rings, Native New Yorker, Houlihan’s, Boston Pizza and Black Angus.

We own several trademarks and consider the Buzztime®, Playmaker®, Mobile Playmaker, BEOND Powered by Buzztime and Play Along trademarks to be among our most valuable assets. These and our other registered and unregistered trademarks used in this document are our property. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

In April 2014, we completed an underwritten public offering in which we issued a total of 12,765,000 shares of our common stock (including shares issued upon exercise of an over-allotment option). The public offering price for each share of common stock was $0.55, and we received $7,020,750 in gross proceeds from the offering. The net proceeds from the offering were approximately $6,369,000, after deducting underwriting discounts of 7% and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based on our condensed consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP). The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to deferred costs and revenues, depreciation of broadcast equipment, the provision for income taxes including the valuation allowance, stock-based compensation, bad debts, investments, purchase price allocations related to acquisitions, including any earnout liability, impairment of software development costs, goodwill, broadcast equipment, intangible assets and contingencies, including the reserve for sales tax inquiries. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. Critical accounting policies and estimates are defined as those that are both most important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results and require management’s most subjective judgments.

There have been no material changes in our critical accounting policies, estimates and judgments during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 from those described in the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Three months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2013

We generated a net loss of $1,315,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 compared to a net loss of $234,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2013.

Revenue

Revenue increased $479,000, or 9%, to $6,005,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 from $5,526,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2013 due to increased equipment lease revenue under sales-type lease arrangements of $832,000 and to a lesser extent, due to increased other revenue of $125,000 related to advertising and our hosted live trivia events. The increased revenue was offset by decreased subscription revenue of $478,000 resulting from lower average site count of our Buzztime network subscribers as well as lower average revenue per site. Equipment lease revenue (which has lower margins due to the cost we incur to purchase the equipment) is recognized when we lease BEOND equipment to certain network subscribers. The equipment lease revenue is a one-time payment that covers the lease of the equipment for three-years, after which the party may purchase the equipment for a nominal fee or lease new equipment. Accordingly, we expect this type of equipment lease revenue to fluctuate from period to period as certain network subscribers convert their locations from using the Classic playmakers to the BEOND tablets, and to decrease thereafter.

Comparative site count information for the Buzztime Network is as follows:

Direct Costs and Gross Margin

A comparison of direct costs and gross margin for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 is show in the table below:

Gross margin as a percentage of revenue decreased to 62% for the three months ended September 30, 2014 from 72% for the three months ended September 30, 2013. The decrease in gross margin was primarily related to lower margin sales-type lease arrangements. Direct costs increased $724,000, or 47%, to $2,256,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 from $1,532,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2013. The increase in direct costs was due primarily to increased equipment expense of $587,000, and to a lesser extent due to increased service provider fees resulting from existing customers converting to the BEOND platform and increased technical service calls, increased freight expense, increased revenue share expense and increased depreciation and amortization expense. The equipment expense, which is recognized as a one-time expense, primarily relates to BEOND equipment that we purchased to lease to certain network subscribers for approximately three years. We expect this type of equipment expense to fluctuate from period to period as certain network subscribers convert their locations from using the Classic playmakers to the BEOND tablets, and to decrease thereafter.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $833,000, or 21%, to $4,863,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 from $4,030,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2013. The increase was primarily due to higher payroll and related expense of $681,000 resulting from increased headcount and severance expense, increased professional fees of $91,000, increased travel and entertainment expense of $48,000 and increased bad debt expense of $40,000.

Impairment of Capitalized Software

There was no impairment of capitalized software expense for the three months ended September 30, 2014. Impairment of capitalized software expense for the three months ended September 30, 2013 was $23,000 as a result of abandoning certain capitalized software development projects that we concluded were no longer a current strategic fit or for which we determined that the marketability of the content had decreased due to obtaining additional information regarding the specific purpose for which the content was intended.

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

Depreciation and amortization expense (excluding depreciation and amortization included in direct operating costs) decreased $16,000, or 9%, to $161,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2014 from $177,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2013, primarily due to assets becoming fully depreciated or amortized.

Other (Expense) Income, Net

We had other expense, net of $19,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2014, compared to other income, net of $5,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2013. This $24,000 increase in expense was primarily due to increased interest expense due to higher notes payable balances outstanding, offset by foreign currency exchange gains related to the operations of our Canadian subsidiary.

Income Taxes

We expect to incur state income tax liability in 2014 related to our U.S. operations. We also expect to pay income taxes in Canada due to profitability of our Canadian subsidiary. For the three months ended September 30, 2014, we recorded a tax provision of $21,000 compared to a tax provision of $3,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2013. We have established a full valuation allowance for substantially all deferred tax assets, including our net operating loss carryforwards, since we could not conclude that we were more likely than not able to generate future taxable income to realize these assets.

EBITDA

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, is not intended to represent a measure of performance in accordance with GAAP. Nor should EBITDA be considered as an alternative to statements of cash flows as a measure of liquidity. EBITDA is included herein because we believe it is a measure of operating performance that financial analysts, lenders, investors and other interested parties find to be a useful tool for analyzing companies like us that carry significant levels of non-cash depreciation and amortization charges in comparison to their net income or loss calculation in accordance with GAAP.

The reconciliation of our consolidated net loss calculated in accordance with GAAP to EBITDA for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 is shown in the table below. EBITDA should not be considered as substitutes for, or superior to, net loss calculated in accordance with GAAP.

Nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2013

We generated a net loss of $3,312,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to a net loss of $702,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.

Revenue

Revenue increased $2,122,000, or 12%, to $19,296,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 from $17,174,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 due primarily to increased equipment lease revenue under sales-type lease arrangements of $3,119,000, and to a lesser extent due to increased other revenue of $433,000 related to advertising and our hosted live trivia events. The increased revenue was offset by decreased subscription revenue of $1,430,000 resulting from lower average site count of our Buzztime network subscribers. Equipment lease revenue (which has lower margins due to the cost we incur to purchase the equipment) is recognized when we lease BEOND equipment to certain network subscribers. The equipment lease revenue is a one-time payment that covers the lease of the equipment for three-years, after which the party may purchase the equipment for a nominal fee or lease new equipment. Accordingly, we expect this type of equipment lease revenue to fluctuate from period to period as certain network subscribers convert their locations from using the Classic playmakers to the BEOND tablets, and to decrease thereafter.

Direct Costs and Gross Margin

A comparison of direct costs and gross margin for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 is show in the table below:

Gross margin as a percentage of revenue decreased to 61% for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 from 71% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The decrease in gross margin was primarily related to lower margin sales-type lease arrangements. Direct costs increased $2,575,000, or 51%, to $7,592,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 from $5,017,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The increase in direct costs was primarily due to increased equipment expense of $2,425,000, and to a lesser extent due to increased revenue share expense, increased service provider fees resulting from existing customers converting to the BEOND platform and increased technical service calls. The equipment expense, which is recognized as a one-time expense, primarily relates to BEOND equipment that we purchased to lease to certain network subscribers for approximately three years. We expect this type of equipment expense to fluctuate from period to period as certain network subscribers convert their locations from using the Classic playmakers to the BEOND tablets, and to decrease thereafter.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $1,605,000, or 13%, to $13,808,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 from $12,203,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The increase was due primarily to higher payroll and related expense of $1,130,000 resulting from increased headcount, increased severance expense, capitalizing less salary expense for software development activities and increased stock compensation expense. To a lesser extent, the increase was also due to increased professional fees of $334,000 and increased travel and entertainment expense of $127,000.

Impairment of Capitalized Software

Impairment of capitalized software increased $546,000 to $661,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 from $115,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 as a result of abandoning certain capitalized software development projects that we concluded were no longer a current strategic fit or for which we determined that the marketability of the content had decreased due to obtaining additional information regarding the specific purpose for which the content was intended.

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

Depreciation and amortization expense (excluding depreciation and amortization included in direct operating costs) decreased $92,000, or 17%, to $464,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 from $556,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, primarily due to assets becoming fully depreciated or amortized.

Other (Expense) Income, Net

We had $55,000 of other expense, net for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, compared to other income, net of $31,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. This $86,000 increase in expense was primarily due to increased interest expense due to higher notes payable balances outstanding, offset by increased foreign currency exchange gains related to the operations of our Canadian subsidiary.

Income Taxes

For the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, we recorded a tax provision of $28,000 and $16,000, respectively.

EBITDA

EBITDA is not intended to represent a measure of performance in accordance with GAAP, nor should EBITDA be considered as an alternative to statements of cash flows as a measure of liquidity. EBITDA is included herein because we believe it is a measure of operating performance that financial analysts, lenders, investors and other interested parties find to be a useful tool for analyzing companies like us that carry significant levels of non-cash depreciation and amortization charges in comparison to their GAAP earnings or loss.

The following table reconciles our consolidated net loss per GAAP to EBITDA for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

As of September 30, 2014, we had cash and cash equivalents of $9,840,000 compared to cash and cash equivalents of $5,455,000 as of December 31, 2013.

In April 2014, we completed an underwritten public offering in which we issued a total of 12,765,000 shares of our common stock (including shares issued upon exercise of an over-allotment option). The public offering price for each share of common stock was $0.55, and we received approximately $7,021,000 in gross proceeds from the offering. The net proceeds from the offering were approximately $6,369,000, after deducting underwriting discounts of 7% and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

In November 2013, we completed a private placement of units (consisting of shares of common stock and warrants to purchase shares of common stock) to accredited investors. The purchase price of each unit was $0.40 for gross proceeds of $2,400,000. In the aggregate, we issued 6,000,000 shares of common stock and warrants to purchase 3,600,000 shares. The warrants have an exercise price of $0.40 per share and are exercisable beginning on the six-month anniversary of the issuance date and expire on the five-year anniversary of the issuance date.

We have a credit facility under which we may borrow up to $7,853,000 for the purchase of certain capital equipment. Through September 30, 2014, we borrowed approximately $5,920,000. As of September 30, 2014, $4,463,000 remained outstanding, which reflects payments made through September 30, 2014.

We believe our existing cash and cash equivalents and the remaining availability on our credit facility will be sufficient to meet our operating cash requirements and to fulfill our debt obligations for at least the next twelve months. If our cash and cash equivalents are not sufficient to meet future cash requirements, we may be required to reduce planned capital expenses, reduce operational cash uses, sell assets, or seek financing. Any actions we may undertake to reduce planned capital purchases, reduce expenses, or generate proceeds from the sale of assets may be insufficient to cover shortfalls in available funds. If we require additional capital, we may be unable to secure additional financing on terms that are acceptable to us, or at all.

Working Capital

As of September 30, 2014, we had working capital (current assets in excess of current liabilities) of $9,248,000 compared to working capital of $4,310,000 as of December 31, 2013. The following table shows the change in our working capital from December 31, 2013 to September 30, 2014.

Cash Flows

Cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities, as reflected in the accompanying consolidated statements of cash flows, are summarized as follows:

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities. Net cash used in operating activities was $3,436,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $972,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The $4,408,000 increase in cash used in operations was primarily due to an increase of net loss of $1,775,000, after giving effect to adjustments made for non-cash transactions and an increase in cash used in operating assets and liabilities of $2,633,000 primarily due to BEOND equipment purchases classified as a prepaid asset not yet deployed to customer locations during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2013.

Our largest use of cash is payroll and related costs. Cash used for payroll and related costs increased $597,000 to $7,945,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 from $7,348,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2013, due primarily to increased headcount. Our primary source of cash is cash we generate from customers. Cash received from customers increased $3,066,000 to $20,547,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 from $17,481,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2013, primarily as a result of increased revenue and deferred revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2013.

Net cash used in investing activities. We used $1,376,000 in cash for investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 compared to a use of $1,646,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The $270,000 decrease was primarily due to a decrease in capitalized software development activities of $615,000, offset by an increase in capital expenditures of $195,000 related to field equipment purchases.

Net cash provided by financing activities. Net cash provided by financing activities increased $9,086,000 to $9,231,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $145,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The change is primarily attributable to approximately $6,369,000 of net proceeds received from our public offering completed in April 2014, an increase in proceeds received from notes payable of $4,031,000, decreased payments on capital lease obligations of $75,000, and proceeds received from the exercise of stock options of $44,000. These increases in cash provided by financing activities were offset by increased uses of cash for payments on our notes payable of $1,410,000 and an increase in tax withholdings of $23,000 related to net-share settlements of restricted stock units.

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

Refer to Note 10 of the condensed consolidated financial statements, “Recent Accounting Pronouncements.”

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

Under SEC rules and regulations, as a smaller reporting company we are not required to provide the information otherwise required by this item. 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this report, our management evaluated our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act) as to whether such disclosure controls and procedures were effective in providing reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms and ensuring that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on our evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that such disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting during our most recently completed fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

None

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

An investment in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should consider carefully the risks and uncertainties described under Item 1A of Part I of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 and under Item 1A of Part II of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2014 together with all other information contained or incorporated by reference in this report before you decide to invest in our common stock. If any of the risks described in our annual report occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations and our future growth prospects could be materially and adversely affected. Under these circumstances, the trading price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment. As of the date of this report, we do not believe that there have been any material changes to the risk factors previously disclosed in our annual report or in our previously filed quarterly report.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

None

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

None

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

Not Applicable

Item 5. Other Information.

None

Item 6. Exhibits.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.