WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT, LLC - Quarter Report: 2021 September (Form 10-Q)

wwe-20210930x10q

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, 2021
or
	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ______ to ______

Commission File Number: 001-16131

WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware	04-2693383
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

1241 East Main Street

Stamford, CT 06902

(203) 352-8600

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,

of Registrant’s principal executive offices)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:


Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share	WWE	New York Stock Exchange

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  No 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes  No 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):


Large Accelerated Filer x	Accelerated Filer ¨	Non-Accelerated Filer ¨	Smaller Reporting Company ¨			Emerging Growth Company ¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) 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 

At November 2, 2021, the number of shares outstanding of the Registrant’s Class A common stock, par value $.01 per share, was 44,718,070 and the number of shares outstanding of the Registrant’s Class B common stock, par value $.01 per share, was 31,099,011.

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS


	Page #
Part I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)	2
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020	2
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020	3
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020	4
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020	5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020	7
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	8
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	31
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk	44
Item 4. Controls and Procedures	44
Part II – OTHER INFORMATION	45
Item 1. Legal Proceedings	45
Item 1A. Risk Factors	45
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	45
Item 6. Exhibits	45
Signatures	46

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WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)



	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
Net revenues	$	255,853	$	221,595	$	784,917	$	736,009
Operating expenses		139,039		107,999		437,192		400,783
Marketing and selling expenses		17,776		14,513		52,702		54,687
General and administrative expenses		24,941		25,144		87,835		75,891
Depreciation and amortization		10,161		10,557		31,845		32,225
Operating income		63,936		63,382		175,343		172,423
Interest expense		8,508		9,147		25,508		26,477
Other income, net		340		7,003		770		5,066
Income before income taxes		55,768		61,238		150,605		151,012
Provision for income taxes		12,282		12,960		34,086		32,772
Net income	$	43,486	$	48,278	$	116,519	$	118,240
Earnings per share: basic	$	0.57	$	0.62	$	1.52	$	1.53
Earnings per share: diluted	$	0.52	$	0.57	$	1.37	$	1.40
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic		76,058		77,705		76,559		77,487
Diluted		84,264		84,125		85,156		84,397
Dividends declared per common share (Class A and B)	$	0.12	$	0.12	$	0.36	$	0.36

‎

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
Net income	$	43,486	$	48,278	$	116,519	$	118,240
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments		(113)		181		(164)		(13)
Net unrealized holding (losses) gains on available-for-sale debt securities (net of tax (benefit) expense of $(45) and $8, and $(15) and $38, respectively)		(23)		26		(48)		120
Total other comprehensive (loss) income		(136)		207		(212)		107
Comprehensive income	$	43,350	$	48,485	$	116,307	$	118,347

‎

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)



	As of
	September 30,		December 31,
	2021		2020
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	271,034	$	462,102
Short-term investments, net		177,732		131,295
Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts and returns of $5,409 and $4,050, respectively)		125,448		52,007
Inventory, net		7,314		8,386
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		28,501		73,062
Total current assets		610,029		726,852
Property and equipment, net		160,726		161,545
Finance lease right-of-use assets, net		297,273		310,844
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net		10,403		13,476
Content production assets, net		10,071		15,425
Investment securities		11,278		11,148
Deferred income tax assets, net		19,819		10,052
Other assets, net		47,014		47,980
Total assets	$	1,166,613	$	1,297,322
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt	$	425	$	100,412
Finance lease liabilities		9,283		9,587
Operating lease liabilities		4,952		3,963
Convertible debt		199,448		194,683
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		115,333		124,742
Deferred income		57,709		62,887
Total current liabilities		387,150		496,274
Long-term debt		21,390		21,700
Finance lease liabilities		372,034		379,894
Operating lease liabilities		6,127		9,723
Other non-current liabilities		7,149		937
Total liabilities		793,850		908,528
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Class A common stock: ($0.01 par value; 180,000,000 shares authorized; 44,713,333 and 46,694,963 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)		447		467
Class B convertible common stock: ($0.01 par value; 60,000,000 shares authorized; 31,099,011 and 31,099,011 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)		311		311
Additional paid-in capital		415,054		424,758
Accumulated other comprehensive income		2,773		2,985
Accumulated deficit		(45,822)		(39,727)
Total stockholders’ equity		372,763		388,794
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	1,166,613	$	1,297,322

‎

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended September 30, 2021
									Accumulated
	Common Stock						Additional		Other
	Class A			Class B			Paid - in		Comprehensive		Accumulated
	Shares	Amount		Shares	Amount		Capital		Income		Deficit		Total
Balance, June 30, 2021	44,928	$	450	31,099	$	311	$	419,239	$	2,909	$	(61,970)	$	360,939
Net income	—		—	—		—		—		—		43,486		43,486
Other comprehensive loss	—		—	—		—		—		(136)		—		(136)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	(432)		(5)	—		—		(4,028)		—		(17,847)		(21,880)
Stock issuances, net	217		2	—		—		1,004		—		—		1,006
Taxes paid related to net settlement upon vesting of equity awards	—		—	—		—		(4,904)		—		—		(4,904)
Cash dividends declared	—		—	—		—		386		—		(9,491)		(9,105)
Stock-based compensation	—		—	—		—		3,357		—		—		3,357
Balance, September 30, 2021	44,713	$	447	31,099	$	311	$	415,054	$	2,773	$	(45,822)	$	372,763

	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021
									Accumulated
	Common Stock						Additional		Other
	Class A			Class B			Paid - in		Comprehensive		Accumulated
	Shares	Amount		Shares	Amount		Capital		Income		Deficit		Total
Balance, December 31, 2020	46,695	$	467	31,099	$	311	$	424,758	$	2,985	$	(39,727)	$	388,794
Net income	—		—	—		—		—		—		116,519		116,519
Other comprehensive loss	—		—	—		—		—		(212)		—		(212)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	(2,266)		(23)	—		—		(20,773)		—		(94,834)		(115,630)
Stock issuances and other, net	284		3	—		—		2,970		—		—		2,973
Taxes paid related to net settlement upon vesting of equity awards	—		—	—		—		(5,609)		—		—		(5,609)
Cash dividends declared	—		—	—		—		386		—		(27,780)		(27,394)
Stock-based compensation	—		—	—		—		13,322		—		—		13,322
Balance, September 30, 2021	44,713	$	447	31,099	$	311	$	415,054	$	2,773	$	(45,822)	$	372,763

‎

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)



	Three Months Ended September 30, 2020
									Accumulated
	Common Stock						Additional		Other
	Class A			Class B			Paid - in		Comprehensive		Accumulated
	Shares	Amount		Shares	Amount		Capital		Income		Deficit		Total
Balance, June 30, 2020	46,318	$	463	31,099	$	311	$	424,202	$	2,764	$	(82,285)	$	345,455
Net income	—		—	—		—		—		—		48,278		48,278
Other comprehensive income	—		—	—		—		—		207		—		207
Stock issuances, net	370		4	—		—		1,215		—		—		1,219
Taxes paid related to net settlement upon vesting of equity awards	—		—	—		—		(8,420)		—		—		(8,420)
Cash dividends declared	—		—	—		—		581		—		(9,916)		(9,335)
Stock-based compensation	—		—	—		—		4,819		—		—		4,819
Balance, September 30, 2020	46,688	$	467	31,099	$	311	$	422,397	$	2,971	$	(43,923)	$	382,223

	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020
									Accumulated
	Common Stock						Additional		Other
	Class A			Class B			Paid - in		Comprehensive		Accumulated
	Shares	Amount		Shares	Amount		Capital		Income		Deficit		Total
Balance, December 31, 2019	46,181	$	462	31,099	$	311	$	405,353	$	2,864	$	(133,664)	$	275,326
Net income	—		—	—		—		—		—		118,240		118,240
Other comprehensive loss	—		—	—		—		—		107		—		107
Stock issuances, net	507		5	—		—		2,626		—		—		2,631
Taxes paid related to net settlement upon vesting of equity awards	—		—	—		—		(11,040)		—		—		(11,040)
Cash dividends declared	—		—	—		—		585		—		(28,499)		(27,914)
Stock-based compensation	—		—	—		—		24,873		—		—		24,873
Balance, September 30, 2020	46,688	$	467	31,099	$	311	$	422,397	$	2,971	$	(43,923)	$	382,223

‎

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)



	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,
	2021		2020
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$	116,519	$	118,240
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Amortization and impairments of content production assets		18,213		14,903
Depreciation and amortization		37,533		36,437
Other amortization		13,860		13,585
Loss (gain) on equity investments, net		808		(2,882)
Stock-based compensation		14,634		24,873
(Benefit from) provision for deferred income taxes		(9,813)		10,181
Other non-cash adjustments		818		15,464
Cash provided by (used in) changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		(74,898)		54,187
Inventory		2,194		(1,629)
Prepaid expenses and other assets		6,278		(21,859)
Content production assets		(12,587)		(19,499)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities		28,002		8,057
Deferred income		(5,207)		7,488
Net cash provided by operating activities		136,354		257,546
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property and equipment and other assets		(24,400)		(21,435)
Purchases of short-term investments		(225,280)		(64,290)
Proceeds from sales and maturities of short-term investments		177,318		105,416
Purchase of investment securities		(1,130)		(200)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities		(73,492)		19,491
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Repayment of long-term debt		(100,297)		(3,503)
Repayment of finance leases		(7,973)		(8,197)
Dividends paid		(27,394)		(27,914)
Proceeds from borrowings under Revolving Credit Facility		—		200,000
Taxes paid related to net settlement upon vesting of equity awards		(5,609)		(11,040)
Proceeds from issuance of stock and other		2,973		2,631
Repurchase and retirement of common stock		(115,630)		—
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities		(253,930)		151,977
NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS		(191,068)		429,014
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD		462,102		90,447
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD	$	271,034	$	519,461
NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING TRANSACTIONS:
Purchases of property and equipment recorded in accounts payable ‎and accrued expenses (See Note 12)	$	10,899	$	2,658

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

1. Basis of Presentation and Business Description

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of WWE. “WWE” refers to World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. and its subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise requires. References to “we,” “us,” “our” and the “Company” refer to WWE.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires our management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements are unaudited. All adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation of financial position, results of operations, and cash flows at the dates and for the periods presented have been included. The results of operations of any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for the full year. All intercompany balances are eliminated in consolidation.

Certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements have been condensed or omitted from these interim financial statements; these financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.

We are an integrated media and entertainment company, principally engaged in the production and distribution of wrestling entertainment content through various channels, including our premium over-the-top network (“WWE Network”) monetized through license arrangements or through direct-to-consumer subscriptions, content rights agreements, pay-per-view event programming, filmed entertainment, live events, licensing of various WWE themed products, and the sale of consumer products featuring our brands. Our operations are organized around the following principal activities:

Media:

The Media segment reflects the production and monetization of long-form and short-form video content across various platforms, including WWE Network, broadcast and pay television, digital and social media, as well as filmed entertainment. Across these platforms, revenues principally consist of content rights fees, subscriptions to WWE Network, and advertising and sponsorships. Effective March 18, 2021, the domestic monetization of WWE Network is generated from content license fees and certain shared sponsorship revenues from NBC Universal (“NBCU”). Media segment revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 include the upfront revenue recognition related to the delivery of certain intellectual property rights under this agreement.

Live Events:

Live events provide ongoing content for our media platforms. Live Event segment revenues consist primarily of ticket sales, including primary and secondary distribution, revenues from events for which we receive a fixed fee, as well as the sale of travel packages associated with the Company’s global live events. As a result of the global spread of the coronavirus pandemic (“COVID-19”), these revenues had been greatly limited from March 2020 through the first half of 2021. We held our annual WrestleMania events on April 10 and 11, 2021 with a ticketed audience, and on July 16, 2021, we resumed our domestic and international live event touring schedules.

Consumer Products:

The Consumer Products segment engages in the merchandising of WWE branded products, such as video games, toys and apparel, through licensing arrangements and direct-to-consumer sales. Revenues principally consist of royalties and licensee fees related to WWE branded products, and sales of merchandise distributed at our live events and through eCommerce platforms.

Note on the COVID-19 Pandemic

The global spread of COVID-19 and the various attempts to contain it resulted in restrictions, postponements and cancellations of various sports and other events and required us to cancel, postpone or relocate certain of our live events since March 2020. While restrictions have lessened and we have resumed our domestic and international live event touring schedules, COVID-19 and its variants continue to create significant uncertainty and the full extent of the impact will depend on numerous evolving factors that we can neither predict nor control, including the pandemic’s duration and severity and the governmental, business and individual responses to it. We

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WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

will continue to actively monitor the issues raised by the COVID-19 pandemic and may take further actions that alter our business operations that are required by applicable governmental authorities and/or that we determine to be in the best interests of our employees, talent, customers, partners and stockholders. Any of the foregoing could have a material negative effect on our business and results of operations.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

Our significant accounting policies are detailed in Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements within our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses consist of our production costs associated with developing our content, costs associated with operating WWE Network, venue rental and related costs associated with the staging of our live events, compensation costs for our talent, and material and related costs associated with our consumer product merchandise sales. In addition, operating expenses include the operating costs associated with talent development, data analytics, data engineering, business strategy and real estate and facilities functions.

Included within Operating expenses are the following:



	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
Amortization and impairment of content production assets	$	2,193	$	2,933	$	18,213	$	14,903
Depreciation and amortization of WWE Network content delivery and technology assets		1,909		1,490		5,443		4,002
Amortization of right-of-use assets - finance leases of equipment		2,226		3,016		6,926		8,401
Depreciation on equipment used directly to support operations		157		141		453		417
Total depreciation and amortization included in operating expenses	$	6,485	$	7,580	$	31,035	$	27,723

Costs to produce our live event programming are expensed when the event is first broadcast, and are not included in the amortization table noted above.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2020-06, “Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity” (ASU 2020-06). The new guidance eliminates two of the three models in ASC 470-20, “Debt with Conversion and Other Options”, that require separating embedded conversion features from convertible instruments. Specifically, the ASU removes the separation models for convertible debt with a cash conversion feature or convertible instruments with a beneficial conversion feature. The Company's existing 3.375% convertible senior notes due December 2023 ("Convertible Notes") are currently accounted for under the cash conversion feature model, which is one of the models being eliminated. As a result, after adopting the new guidance, the Company will no longer separately present in stockholders’ equity an embedded conversion feature of such debt. Instead, the Company will account for a convertible debt instrument wholly as debt unless (i) a convertible debt instrument contains features that require bifurcation as a derivative or (ii) a convertible debt instrument was issued at a substantial premium. Additionally, the ASU revises the scope exception from derivative accounting in ASC 815-40 for freestanding financial instruments (e.g., warrants) and embedded features (e.g., conversion features) that are both indexed to the issuer’s own stock and classified in stockholders’ equity, by removing certain criteria required for equity classification. The new guidance also requires the use of the if-converted method when calculating diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) for convertible instruments and the treasury stock method should no longer be used. Under the new guidance, convertible instruments that may be settled in cash or shares (e.g., the Company’s Convertible Notes) are to be included in the calculation of diluted EPS if the effect is more dilutive, with no option for rebutting the presumption of share settlement based on stated policy or past experience. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021 (fiscal year 2022 for the Company) and can be adopted on either a fully retrospective or modified retrospective basis. The Company intends to adopt the ASU using the modified retrospective approach. The adoption of the ASU will result in a reclassification of certain conversion feature-related balance sheet amounts from stockholders’ equity to liabilities related to the Company’s Convertible Notes. Subsequent to the adoption date, the ASU is expected to reduce reported interest expense and correspondingly, increase net income due to the elimination of non-cash interest amortization associated with the debt discount that was created under the prior cash conversion feature separation model. The Company will continue to evaluate the overall impact of the ASU on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

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WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

3. Segment Information

The Company currently classifies its operations into three reportable segments: Media, Live Events and Consumer Products. Segment information is prepared on the same basis that our chief operating decision maker manages the segments, evaluates financial results, and makes key operating decisions.

Unallocated corporate general and administrative expenses largely relate to corporate functions such as finance, legal, human resources, facilities and information technology. These unallocated corporate general and administrative expenses will be shown, as applicable, as a reconciling item in tables where segment and consolidated results are both shown. Revenues from transactions between our operating segments are not material.

The Company presents Adjusted OIBDA as the primary measure of segment profit (loss). The Company defines Adjusted OIBDA as operating income before depreciation and amortization, excluding stock-based compensation, certain impairment charges and other non-recurring material items. Adjusted OIBDA includes depreciation and amortization expenses directly related to supporting the operations of our segments, including content production asset amortization, depreciation and amortization of costs related to content delivery and technology assets utilized for WWE Network, as well as amortization of right-of-use assets related to finance leases of equipment used to produce and broadcast our live events. The Company believes the presentation of Adjusted OIBDA is relevant and useful for investors because it allows investors to view our segment performance in the same manner as the primary method used by management to evaluate segment performance and make decisions about allocating resources. Additionally, we believe that Adjusted OIBDA is a primary measure used by media investors, analysts and peers for comparative purposes.

We do not disclose assets by segment information. We do not provide assets by segment information to our chief operating decision maker, as that information is not typically used in the determination of resource allocation and assessing business performance of each reportable segment.

The following tables present summarized financial information for each of the Company’s reportable segments:



	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
Net revenues:
Media	$	202,758	$	200,969	$	678,575	$	657,693
Live Events		28,045		703		37,756		19,215
Consumer Products		25,050		19,923		68,586		59,101
Total net revenues	$	255,853	$	221,595	$	784,917	$	736,009

Adjusted OIBDA:
Media	$	85,665	$	101,739	$	278,461	$	294,829
Live Events		9,238		(4,116)		6,080		(10,928)
Consumer Products		7,531		5,605		22,610		17,523
Corporate		(24,538)		(18,931)		(77,222)		(66,364)
Total Adjusted OIBDA	$	77,896	$	84,297	$	229,929	$	235,060

Reconciliation of Total Operating Income to Total Adjusted OIBDA



	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
Total operating income	$	63,936	$	63,382	$	175,343	$	172,423
Depreciation and amortization		10,161		10,557		31,845		32,225
Stock-based compensation		3,799		4,819		14,634		24,873
Other adjustments (1)		—		5,539		8,107		5,539
Total Adjusted OIBDA	$	77,896	$	84,297	$	229,929	$	235,060

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WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

(1)Other adjustments for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 include severance expenses primarily associated with the combination of WWE’s television, digital and studios teams into one organization. Other adjustments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 include severance expenses associated with a reduction in our workforce as a result of COVID-19.

4. Revenues

Revenues are generally recognized when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to our customers either at a point in time or over time, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. Most of our contracts have one performance obligation and all consideration is allocated to that performance obligation. For certain contracts involving multiple performance obligations, the transaction (i.e., selling) price is allocated based on relative standalone selling prices of the goods or services. If a standalone selling price is not directly observable, it is estimated using acceptable methods such as the adjusted-market-assessment approach or cost plus a margin approach. Our revenues do not include material amounts of variable consideration. The variable consideration contained in our contracts relate primarily to sales or usage-based royalties associated with our consumer product licensing contracts. The variability related to these sales or usage-based royalties will be resolved in the periods when the licensee generates sales related to the intellectual property license. As it relates to our Consumer Products segment, the Company accounts for shipping and handling activities as fulfillment activities.

We derive our revenues principally from the following sources: (i) content rights fees associated with the distribution of WWE’s media content, (ii) content license fees and subscriptions for WWE Network, (iii) fees for viewing our pay-per-view programming, (iv) feature film distribution, (v) advertising and sponsorship sales, (vi) live event ticket sales, (vii) consumer product licensing royalties from the sale by third-party licensees of WWE branded merchandise, (viii) direct-to-consumer sales of merchandise at our live event venues, and (ix) direct-to-consumer sales of our merchandise through eCommerce platforms.

Disaggregated Revenues

The following table presents our revenues disaggregated by primary revenue sources. Sales and usage-based taxes are excluded from revenues.



	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
Net revenues:
Media Segment:
Network (including pay-per-view) (1)	$	43,112	$	47,767	$	183,996	$	140,651
Core content rights fees (2)		141,327		132,363		422,831		398,464
Advertising and sponsorships (3)		16,127		18,060		50,363		48,751
Other (4)		2,192		2,779		21,385		69,827
Total Media Segment net revenues		202,758		200,969		678,575		657,693
Live Events Segment:
North American ticket sales		23,839		—		30,531		15,206
International ticket sales		2,433		—		2,433		210
Advertising and sponsorships (5)		399		—		746		371
Other (6)		1,374		703		4,046		3,428
Total Live Events Segment net revenues		28,045		703		37,756		19,215
Consumer Products Segment:
Consumer product licensing		11,510		10,809		33,847		28,187
eCommerce		8,218		9,114		28,122		27,715
Venue merchandise		5,322		—		6,617		3,199
Total Consumer Products Segment net revenues		25,050		19,923		68,586		59,101
Total net revenues	$	255,853	$	221,595	$	784,917	$	736,009

(1)Network revenues consist of subscription fees from customers of WWE Network and license fees associated with our international licensed partner agreements, as well as revenues related to the distribution of our pay-per-view broadcasts. Effective March 18, 2021, network revenues include content license fees associated with the domestic monetization of WWE Network. Network revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 include the upfront revenue recognition related to the delivery of certain WWE Network intellectual property rights.

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WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

(2)Core content rights fees consist primarily of licensing revenues from the distribution of our flagship programs, RAW and SmackDown, as well as our NXT programming, through global broadcast, pay television and digital platforms.

(3)Advertising and sponsorships revenues within our Media segment consist primarily of advertising revenues from the Company’s content on third-party social media platforms and sponsorship fees from sponsors who promote their products utilizing the Company’s media platforms, including promotion on the Company’s digital websites and on-air promotional media spots.

(4)Other revenues within our Media segment reflect revenues from the distribution of other WWE content, including, but not limited to, certain live in-ring programming content in international markets, scripted, reality and other programming, as well as theatrical and direct-to-home video releases.

(5)Advertising and sponsorships revenues within our Live Events segment primarily consists of fees from advertisers and sponsors who promote their products utilizing the Company’s live events (i.e., presenting sponsor of fan engagement events and advertising signage at the event).

(6)Other revenues within our Live Events segment primarily consists of the sale of travel packages associated with the Company’s global live events and commissions earned through secondary ticketing, as well as revenues from events for which the Company receives a fixed fee.

WWE Network subscriptions revenues for international subscribers, and domestic subscribers through March 17, 2021, are recorded over time during the subscription term, and our consumer product licensing revenues are recorded over time during the licensing period. Other revenue streams identified in the table above are generally recognized at a point-in-time when the performance obligations are satisfied.

Payment Terms and Other

Our revenues do not include material amounts of variable consideration, other than the sale or usage-based royalties related to our consumer product licensing and certain other content rights contracts. Our payment terms vary by the type of products or services offered, and may be subject to contractual payment terms, which may include advance payment requirements. The time between invoicing and when payment is due is not significant, generally within 30 to 60 days. We have elected the practical expedient to not adjust the total consideration within a contract to reflect a financing component when the duration of the financing is one year or less. Our contracts do not generally include a significant financing component. Our contracts with customers do not generally result in significant obligations associated with returns, refunds or warranties.

Remaining Performance Obligations

As of September 30, 2021, for contracts greater than one year, the aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations is $3,559,406, comprised of our multi-year content distribution, consumer product licensing and sponsorship contracts. We will recognize rights fees related to our multi-year content distribution contracts as content is delivered to the distributors during the periods 2021 through 2028. We will recognize the revenues associated with the minimum guarantees on our multi-year consumer product licensing arrangements by the end of the licensing periods, which range from 2021 through 2025. For our multi-year sponsorship arrangements, we will recognize sponsorship revenues as the sponsorship obligations are satisfied during the periods 2021 through 2028. The transaction price related to these future obligations do not include any variable consideration, which generally consists of sales or usage-based royalties related to our consumer product licensing and certain other content rights contracts. The variability related to these sales or usage-based royalties will be resolved in the periods when the licensee generates sales related to the intellectual property license.

Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities (Deferred Revenues)

A contract asset results when goods or services have been transferred to the customer, but payment is contingent upon a future event, other than the passage of time. The Company does not have any material contract assets, only accounts receivable as disclosed on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

We record deferred revenues (also referred to as contract liabilities under ASC Topic 606) when cash payments are received or due in advance of our performance. Our deferred revenue balance primarily relates to advance payments received related to our content distribution rights agreements, our consumer product licensing agreements, and our sponsorship and advertising arrangements. The Company’s deferred revenue (i.e., contract liabilities) as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 was $57,737 and $62,943, respectively, and are included within Deferred income and Other non-current liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

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WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

Contract Costs (Costs of Obtaining a Contract)

Except for certain multi-year television content arrangements, we generally expense sales commissions when incurred because the amortization period would have been one year or less. These costs are recorded within Marketing and selling expenses within our Consolidated Statements of Operations. Capitalized commission fees of $650 and $725 at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, relate primarily to incremental costs of obtaining our long-term television content arrangements and these costs are being amortized over the duration of the underlying content agreements on a straight-line basis to marketing and selling expense. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, the amount of amortization was $25 and $75, respectively, in both periods, and there was no impairment in relation to the costs capitalized.

5. Earnings Per Share

For purposes of calculating basic and diluted earnings per share, we used the following weighted average common shares outstanding (in thousands):



	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
Net income	$	43,486	$	48,278	$	116,519	$	118,240

Weighted average basic common shares outstanding		76,058		77,705		76,559		77,487
Dilutive effect of restricted and performance stock units		373		372		454		556
Dilutive effect of convertible debt instruments		7,833		6,048		8,140		6,350
Dilutive effect of employee share purchase plan		—		—		3		4
Weighted average dilutive common shares outstanding		84,264		84,125		85,156		84,397

Earnings per share:
Basic	$	0.57	$	0.62	$	1.52	$	1.53
Diluted	$	0.52	$	0.57	$	1.37	$	1.40

Anti-dilutive shares (excluded from per-share calculations):
Net shares received on purchased call of convertible debt hedge		4,496		3,713		4,630		3,845

Effect of Convertible Notes and Related Convertible Note Hedge and Warrants

In connection with the issuance of the Convertible Notes, the Company entered into Convertible Note Hedge and Warrant transactions as described further in Note 13, Convertible Debt. The collective impact of the Convertible Note Hedge and Warrants effectively eliminates any economic dilution that may occur from the actual conversion of the Convertible Notes between the conversion price of $24.91 per share and the strike price of the Warrants of $31.89 per share.

For reporting periods with net income, the denominator of our diluted earnings per share calculation includes the effect of additional shares issued using the treasury stock method since the average price of our common stock exceeded the conversion price of the Convertible Notes of $24.91 per share. In addition, the denominator also includes the additional shares issued related to the Warrants using the treasury stock method since the average price of our common stock exceeded the strike price of the Warrants of $31.89 per share. The dilution from the Convertible Notes had a $0.05 and $0.04, and $0.15 and $0.11 impact on diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Prior to actual conversion, the Convertible Note Hedges are not considered for purposes of the calculation of diluted earnings per share, as their effect would be anti-dilutive.

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WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

6. Stock-based Compensation

Our 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2016 Plan”) provides for the grant of incentive or non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, other stock-based awards and performance awards to eligible participants as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. Awards may be granted as incentives and rewards to encourage officers, employees, consultants, advisors and independent contractors of the Company and its affiliates and to non-employee directors of the Company to participate in our long-term success.

Stock-based compensation costs, which includes costs related to RSUs, PSUs, PSU-TSRs, the Company’s qualified employee stock purchase plan and shares issued to the Company’s Board of Directors, totaled $3,799 and $4,819, and $14,634 and $24,873, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Restricted Stock Units

The Company grants restricted stock units (“RSUs”) to officers and employees under the 2016 Plan. Stock-based compensation costs associated with our RSUs are determined using the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant. These costs are recognized over the requisite service period using the graded vesting method, net of estimated forfeitures. RSUs have a service requirement typically over a 3.5 year vesting schedule and vest in equal annual installments. We estimate forfeitures based on historical trends when recognizing compensation expense and adjust the estimate of forfeitures when they are expected to differ or as forfeitures occur. Unvested RSUs accrue dividend equivalents at the same rate as are paid on our shares of Class A common stock. The dividend equivalents are subject to the same vesting schedule as the underlying RSUs.

During the first quarter of 2021, the Compensation Committee approved the grant of RSUs to certain eligible employees for an aggregate value of $1,666. These awards vary from the typical RSU grant in that the awards vested immediately upon grant. The units associated with these awards are included in the table below.

The following table summarizes the RSU activity during the nine months ended September 30, 2021:



	Units	Weighted- Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Unvested at January 1, 2021	250,306	$	53.78
Granted	198,286	$	50.74
Vested	(130,173)	$	53.90
Forfeited (1)	(80,777)	$	52.01
Dividend equivalents	2,096	$	53.66
Unvested at September 30, 2021	239,738	$	53.29

(1)Of this amount, 38,266 shares were forfeited during the second quarter of 2021 as a result of certain terminations primarily associated with the combination of WWE’s television, digital and studios teams into one organization.

Performance Stock Units

The Company grants performance stock units (“PSUs”) to officers and employees under the 2016 Plan. Stock-based compensation costs associated with our PSUs are initially determined using the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date the awards are approved by our Compensation Committee (service inception date). The vesting of these PSUs are subject to certain performance conditions and a service requirement of typically 3.5 years. Until the performance conditions are met, stock compensation costs associated with these PSUs are re-measured each reporting period based upon the fair market value of the Company’s common stock and the estimated performance attainment on the reporting date. The ultimate number of PSUs that are issued to an employee is the result of the actual performance of the Company at the end of the performance period compared to the performance conditions. Stock compensation costs for our PSUs are recognized over the requisite service period using the graded vesting method, net of estimated forfeitures. We estimate forfeitures based on historical trends when recognizing compensation expense and adjust the estimate of forfeitures when they are expected to differ or as forfeitures occur. Unvested PSUs accrue dividend equivalents once the performance conditions are met at the same rate as are paid on our shares of Class A common stock. The dividend equivalents are subject to the same vesting schedule as the underlying PSUs.

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WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

During the third quarter of 2020, the Compensation Committee approved an agreement to grant PSUs to an executive management member for an aggregate value of $15,000. This award vests in two tranches of 40%, and 60%, during the years 2022 and 2025, respectively. The first award tranche of $6,000 has performance conditions tied to results through September 2022, and the second award of $9,000 has performance conditions tied to results through September 2025. The Company began expensing the second award of $9,000 concurrent with the first award beginning on the service inception date in August 2020. The Company accounts for the first award as an equity award since the target shares are known at inception, while the second award is classified as a liability award until the number of shares is determined upon settlement of the award. The liability and the corresponding expense are adjusted at the end of each reporting period until the date of settlement, considering the probability that the performance conditions will be satisfied. As of September 30, 2021, the liability portion of the award was $2,024, which is included in Other non-current liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. There are no units associated with the second award in the table below as of September 30, 2021 since the initial target number of shares will be determined by the Compensation Committee in 2022 based on the terms of the award.

The following table summarizes the PSU activity during the nine months ended September 30, 2021:



	Units	Weighted- Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Unvested at January 1, 2021	578,750	$	57.13
Granted	302,518	$	56.26
Achievement adjustment	(97,532)	$	56.00
Vested	(177,423)	$	73.39
Forfeited (1)	(152,047)	$	62.06
Dividend equivalents	2,027	$	62.40
Unvested at September 30, 2021	456,293	$	55.70

(1)Of this amount, 66,702 shares were forfeited during the second quarter of 2021 as a result of certain terminations primarily associated with the combination of WWE’s television, digital and studios teams into one organization.

During the year ended December 31, 2020, we granted 274,663 PSUs, which were subject to performance conditions related to the 2020 fiscal year. During the first quarter of 2021, it was determined that the performance conditions related to these PSUs were partially met, which resulted in an achievement adjustment decrease of 96,976 PSUs in 2021 relating to the initial 2020 PSU grant.

Performance Stock Units with a Market Condition Tied to Relative Total Shareholder Return

In March 2018, the Compensation Committee approved certain agreements to grant PSUs with a market condition (“PSU-TSRs”) where vesting is conditioned upon the total shareholder return performance of the Company’s stock relative to the performance of a peer group over five distinct performance periods from 2018 through 2024. The five distinct performance periods end in March from 2020 to 2024, with the awards for each performance period vesting in July of each year. The payout for each performance period can vest at between 50% and 175% of the target award based on the percentile ranking of WWE’s total shareholder return performance with vesting capped at 100% if WWE’s absolute total shareholder return is negative. The grant date fair value of the award was calculated using a Monte-Carlo simulation model which factors in the number of awards to be earned based on the achievement of the market condition. This model simulates the various stock price movements of the Company and peer group companies using certain assumptions, including the stock price of WWE and those of the peer group, stock price volatility, the risk-free interest rate, correlation coefficients, and expected dividend yield. The grant date fair value of the award is being amortized as compensation cost over the requisite service period using the graded vesting method.

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WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

The following table summarizes the PSU-TSR activity during the nine months ended September 30, 2021:



	Units	Weighted- Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Unvested at January 1, 2021	57,965	$	47.30
Granted	—	$	—
Achievement adjustment	5,319	$	47.28
Vested	(15,579)	$	46.97
Forfeited	—	$	—
Dividend equivalents	31	$	47.28
Unvested at September 30, 2021	47,736	$	47.28

During the first quarter of 2021, it was determined that the percentile ranking of WWE’s total shareholder return performance related to the second performance period were met, which resulted in an achievement adjustment increase of 5,319 PSU-TSRs in 2021 relating to the initial 2018 PSU-TSR grant.

7. Property and Equipment

Property and equipment consisted of the following:



	As of
	September 30,		December 31,
	2021		2020
Land, buildings and improvements	$	163,502	$	163,597
Equipment		152,570		145,243
Corporate aircraft		32,249		32,249
Vehicles		1,007		1,007
Projects in progress		29,988		17,681
		379,316		359,777
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization		(218,590)		(198,232)
Total	$	160,726	$	161,545

Depreciation expense for property and equipment totaled $9,642 and $9,599, and $29,972 and $28,876, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

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WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

8. Leases

Information about the Nature of WWE’s Lease Portfolio

As of September 30, 2021, the Company’s lease portfolio consists of operating and finance real estate leases for its sales offices, performance centers, warehouses and corporate related facilities. In addition, we have various live event production service arrangements that contain operating and finance equipment leases. With the exception of our new global headquarters lease that commenced on July 1, 2019 with an 18-month free rent period followed by an initial base term of 15 years with options to renew, our other real estate leases have remaining lease terms of approximately one year to eight years, some of which may also include options to extend the leases. Our equipment leases, which are included as part of various operating service arrangements, generally have remaining lease terms of approximately one year to six years. Generally, no covenants are imposed by our lease agreements.

As it relates to the Company’s new global headquarters lease, in November 2020 the landlord granted a rent deferral of $6,590 for a portion of the rental payments due during 2021. The rent deferral amount will be payable over a five year period from 2022 through 2026. The FASB has provided relief under ASC 842, “Leases,” related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Under this relief, companies can make an accounting policy election on how to treat lease concessions resulting directly from COVID-19, provided that the modified lease contract results in total cash flows that are substantially the same or less than the cash flows in the original lease contract. The Company has elected to account for the rent deferral resulting directly from COVID-19 as though the enforceable rights and obligations to the deferral existed in the original lease contract at lease inception, and will not account for the concession as a lease modification. In lieu of applying lease modification accounting, the Company will account for the rent deferral by accruing an accounts payable during the rent concession periods in 2021 and relieve the payable during 2022 through 2026 when the deferred rents are due. The amount of this deferral was $5,903 as of September 30, 2021, with $4,989 included as a component of Other non-current liabilities and $914 included as a component of Accounts payable and accrued expenses on our Consolidated Balance Sheet.

On October 26, 2021, the Company amended its Stamford headquarters lease to reduce the leased space by approximately 33,000 rentable square feet. The lease reduction will result in rental savings of approximately $31,000 over the remainder of the initial 15-year base term. The lease amendment requires a partial termination fee of $3,875 to be paid through June 30, 2023. No other material changes were made to the existing lease terms. The lease amendment will be accounted for as a lease modification, which will result in remeasurement of the lease liability and right-of-use asset with any gain or loss on the partial termination recorded in earnings. The Company is evaluating the lease modification accounting and will account for the lease modification during the fourth quarter of 2021.

Key Estimates and Judgments

Key estimates and judgments made in applying the lease accounting rules include how the Company determines (i) the discount rate it uses to discount the unpaid lease payments to present value, (ii) lease term and (iii) lease payments. ASC 842 requires a lessee to discount its unpaid lease payments using the interest rate implicit in the lease or, if that rate cannot be readily determined, its incremental borrowing rate. Generally, the Company cannot readily determine the interest rate implicit in the lease and therefore uses the incremental borrowing rate for its leases. The incremental borrowing rate reflects the rate of interest that the Company would pay on a collateralized basis to borrow an amount equal to the lease payments under similar terms. The incremental borrowing rates were generally determined by estimating the appropriate collateralized borrowing rates to be used for our leases and considered certain factors including, the lease term, economic environment and the assumed credit rating profile of the Company. The lease term for all of the Company’s lease arrangements include the noncancelable period of the lease plus, if applicable, any additional periods covered by an option to extend the lease that is reasonably certain to be exercised by the Company.

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WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

Quantitative Disclosures Related to Leases

The following table provides quantitative disclosure about the Company’s operating and financing leases for the periods presented:



	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
Lease costs
Finance lease costs:
Amortization of right-of-use assets	$	4,499	$	5,282	$	13,745	$	15,199
Interest on lease liabilities		4,706		4,620		14,118		13,622
Operating lease costs		1,594		1,371		4,738		4,335
Other short-term and variable lease costs		501		372		1,313		1,242
Sublease income (1)		(32)		—		(37)		(16)
Total lease costs	$	11,268	$	11,645	$	33,877	$	34,382

Other information
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows from finance leases	$	2,715	$	327	$	8,215	$	902
Operating cash flows from operating leases	$	1,428	$	1,147	$	4,171	$	3,694
Finance cash flows from finance leases	$	2,578	$	2,798	$	7,973	$	8,197
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new finance lease liabilities	$	—	$	7,026	$	174	$	40,212
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities	$	—	$	—	$	3,457	$	2,586

	As of
	September 30,
	2021		2020
Weighted-average remaining lease term - finance leases		27.1 years		28.6 years
Weighted-average remaining lease term - operating leases		3.0 years		4.4 years
Weighted-average discount rate - finance leases		4.9%		4.8%
Weighted-average discount rate - operating leases		3.5%		4.3%

(1)Sublease income excludes rental income from owned properties.

Maturity of lease liabilities as of September 30, 2021 were as follows:



	Operating		Finance
	Leases		Leases
2021	$	1,424	$	5,895
2022		4,941		28,941
2023		2,743		28,424
2024		1,185		26,330
2025		589		23,160
Thereafter		842		620,982
Total lease payment		11,724		733,732
Less: imputed interest		(645)		(352,415)
Total future minimum lease payments	$	11,079	$	381,317

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WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

9. Content Production Assets, Net

Content production assets consisted of the following:



	Predominantly Monetized Individually				Predominantly Monetized as a Film Group
	As of				As of
	September 30,		December 31,		September 30,		December 31,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
In release	$	3,864	$	6,608	$	221	$	173
In production		5,378		7,926		448		340
In development		160		378		—		—
Total	$	9,402	$	14,912	$	669	$	513

As of September 30, 2021, approximately 70% of the “in release” content assets monetized individually are estimated to be amortized over the next three years.

As of September 30, 2021, all of the “in release” content assets monetized as a film group are estimated to be amortized over the next 12 months.

Amortization and impairment of content production assets consisted of the following:



	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
Content production amortization expense - assets monetized individually	$	327	$	1,829	$	13,251	$	11,254
Content production amortization expense - assets monetized as a film group		1,445		732		4,479		2,856
Content production impairment charges (1)		149		250		149		671
Content production development write-offs (2)		272		122		334		122
Total amortization and impairment of content production assets	$	2,193	$	2,933	$	18,213	$	14,903

(1)Unamortized content production assets are evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the fair value of a film predominantly monetized on its own or a film group may be less than its unamortized costs. If conditions indicate a potential impairment, and the estimated future cash flows are not sufficient to recover the unamortized asset, the asset is written down to fair value. In addition, if we determine that content will not likely air, we will expense the remaining unamortized asset.

(2)Capitalized script development costs are evaluated at each reporting period for impairment and to determine if a project is deemed to be abandoned.

Amortization and impairment expenses related to content production assets are included in the Company’s Media segment, and as a component of Operating expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Costs to produce our live event programming are expensed immediately when the event is first broadcast and are not included in the content asset amortization amounts above.

10. Investment Securities and Short-Term Investments

Investment Securities

Included within Investment Securities are the following:



	As of
	September 30,		December 31,
	2021		2020
Equity method investments	$	—	$	1,000
Nonmarketable equity investments without readily determinable fair values		11,278		10,148
Total investment securities	$	11,278	$	11,148

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WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

Equity Method Investments

Our equity method investments related primarily to an investment in an apparel and lifestyle brand. To the extent the investees recorded income or losses, the Company recorded our share proportionate to our ownership percentage, and any dividends received reduced the carrying value amount of the investments. Net equity method earnings from our equity method investments are included as a component of Other income (expense), net on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Net dividends received from our equity method investments are reflected on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows within Net cash provided by operating activities.

We evaluate our equity method investments for impairment when events indicate that the fair value of the investments may be below the carrying value. When such a condition is deemed to be other than temporary, the carrying value of the investment is written down to its fair value. During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company exited its equity method investment in an apparel and lifestyle brand and recorded an impairment charge of $808 to write-down the carrying value of the investment to zero as a result of the settlement with the investee. During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $8,828 on our equity method investments for the excess of the carrying value over its estimated fair value as a result of our impairment evaluation. The impairment charges are included as a component of Other (expense) income, net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The following table presents the net equity method earnings from our equity method investments and net dividends received from our equity method investments for the periods presented:



	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
Net equity method earnings	$	—	$	181	$	445	$	607
Net dividends received		—		(621)		(638)		(796)
Equity in earnings of affiliate, net of dividends received	$	—	$	(440)	$	(193)	$	(189)

Nonmarketable Equity Investments Without Readily Determinable Fair Values

We evaluate our nonmarketable equity investments without readily determinable fair values for impairment if factors indicate that a significant decrease in value has occurred. The Company has elected to use the measurement alternative to fair value that will allow these investments to be recorded at cost, less impairment, and adjusted for subsequent observable price changes.

The Company did not record any impairment charges on these investments during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021. During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $2,715 on our investment in a themed attraction touring company for the excess of the carrying value over its estimated fair value as a result of our impairment evaluation. This impairment charge is included as a component of Other (expense) income, net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. In addition, there were no observable price change events that were completed during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020.

Short-Term Investments

Short-term investments consist of available-for-sale debt securities which are measured at fair value and consisted of the following:



	As of September 30, 2021								As of December 31, 2020
			Gross Unrealized								Gross Unrealized
	Amortized						Fair		Amortized						Fair
	Cost		Gain		(Loss)		Value		Cost		Gain		(Loss)		Value
U.S. Treasury securities	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	99,973	$	21	$	—	$	99,994
Corporate bonds		128,741		31		(35)		128,737		25,078		6		(1)		25,083
Government agency bonds		48,996		—		(1)		48,995		6,187		31		—		6,218
Total	$	177,737	$	31	$	(36)	$	177,732	$	131,238	$	58	$	(1)	$	131,295

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WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

The Company evaluates its individual available-for-sale debt securities that are in an unrealized loss position each reporting period and determines whether the decline in fair value below the amortized cost basis results from a credit loss or other factors. The amount of the decline related to credit losses are recorded as a credit loss expense in earnings with a corresponding allowance for credit losses and the amount of the decline not related to credit losses are recorded through other comprehensive income, net of tax. As of September 30, 2021 and 2020, the aggregate total amount of unrealized losses (that is, the amount by which amortized cost basis exceeds fair value) was insignificant. We did not record an allowance for credit losses on these securities. Accordingly, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, the entire amount of the decline in fair value below the amortized cost basis was recorded as an unrealized loss, net of tax, in other comprehensive loss in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Unrealized gains are also reflected, net of tax, as other comprehensive income (loss) in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

Our U.S. Treasury securities, corporate bonds, municipal bonds and government agency bonds are included in Short-term investments, net on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Realized gains and losses on investments are included in earnings and are derived using the specific identification method for determining the cost of securities sold.

As of September 30, 2021, contractual remaining maturities of these securities are as follows:



		Maturities
Corporate bonds		1 month - 2 years
Government agency bonds		2 months - 4 months

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, we recognized $93 and $270, and $278 and $1,683, respectively, of interest income on our short-term investments. Interest income is reflected as a component of Other income (expense), net within our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The following table summarizes the short-term investment activity:



	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
Proceeds from sales and maturities of short-term investments	$	34,313	$	37,731	$	177,318	$	105,416
Purchases of short-term investments	$	92,640	$	33,303	$	225,280	$	64,290

11. Fair Value Measurement

Fair value is determined based on the exchange price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

The accounting guidance establishes a three-level hierarchy that ranks the quality and reliability of information used in developing fair value estimates. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets and the lowest priority to unobservable data. In cases where two or more levels of inputs are used to determine fair value, a financial instrument’s level is determined based on the lowest level input that is considered significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The three input levels of the fair value hierarchy are summarized as follows:


Level 1-	Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
Level 2-	Inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for similar assets and liabilities that are directly or indirectly observable; or
Level 3-	Unobservable inputs, such as discounted cash flow models or valuations, in which little or no market data exists.

Certain financial instruments are carried at cost on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, which approximates fair value due to their short-term, highly liquid nature. The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, money market accounts, accounts receivable, and accounts payable approximate fair value because of the short-term nature of such instruments.

We have classified our investment in U.S. Treasury securities, corporate bonds, municipal bonds and government agency bonds, which collectively are investments in available-for-sale debt securities, within Level 2, as their valuation requires quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active and/or model-

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WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

based valuation techniques for which all significant inputs are observable in the market or can be corroborated by observable market data. The U.S. Treasury securities, corporate bonds, municipal bonds and government agency bonds are valued based on model-driven valuations. A third-party service provider assists the Company with compiling market prices from a variety of industry standard data sources, security master files from large financial institutions and other third-party sources that are used to value our corporate bond, U.S. Treasury securities, municipal bond and government agency bond investments. The Company did not have any transfers between Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 fair value investments during the periods presented.

The fair value measurements of our equity investments without readily determinable fair values and our equity method investments are classified within Level 3 as significant unobservable inputs are used as part of the determination of fair value. Significant unobservable inputs may include variables such as near-term prospects of the investees, recent financing activities of the investees, and the investees' capital structure, as well as other economic variables, which reflect assumptions market participants would use in pricing these assets. For our equity investments without readily determinable fair values, the Company has elected to use the measurement alternative to fair value that will allow these investments to be recorded at cost, less impairment, and adjusted for subsequent observable price changes. During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company recorded impairment charges of $808 on our equity method investments resulting from our impairment evaluations. During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company recorded impairment charges of $8,828 and $2,715 on our equity method investments and nonmarketable equity investments, respectively, as a result of our impairment evaluations. Refer to Note 10, Investment Securities and Short-Term Investments, for further discussion.

The Company’s long-lived property and equipment and content production assets are required to be measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis if it is determined that indicators of impairment exist. These assets are recorded at fair value only when an impairment is recognized. The Company did not record any impairment charges on long lived property and equipment during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020. The Company classifies these assets as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy due to significant unobservable inputs.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company recorded impairment charges of $149 and $671 on content production assets based upon fair value measurements of $192 and $772, respectively. Refer to Note 9, Content Production Assets, Net, for further discussion. The Company classifies these assets as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy due to significant unobservable inputs. The Company utilizes a discounted cash flows model to determine the fair value of content production assets where indicators of impairment exist.

The fair value of the Company’s debt, consisting of a mortgage loan assumed in connection with a building purchase, is estimated based upon quoted price estimates for similar debt arrangements. At September 30, 2021, the carrying amount of the mortgage loan approximates its fair value.

The convertible debt is not marked to fair value at the end of each reporting period, but instead is reported at amortized cost. As of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the calculation of the fair value of the debt component of the Company’s convertible debt required the use of Level 3 inputs, and was determined by calculating the fair value of similar debt without the associated conversion feature based on market conditions at that time:



	September 30, 2021				December 31, 2020
	Fair Value		Carrying Value (1)		Fair Value		Carrying Value (1)
Convertible senior notes	$	209,478	$	201,609	$	208,437	$	197,475

(1)The carrying value of the convertible debt instrument presented in the table above represents the face value of the convertible note less unamortized debt discount.

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WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

12. Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses

Accounts payable and accrued expenses consisted of the following:



	As of
	September 30,		December 31,
	2021		2020
Trade related	$	17,307	$	7,274
Staff related (1)		20,830		17,682
Management incentive compensation		16,416		14,266
Talent related		9,434		4,605
Accrued WWE Network related expenses		9,893		4,253
Accrued event and television production		7,767		12,888
Accrued legal and professional		5,689		4,614
Accrued legal settlements (2)		—		39,000
Accrued purchases of property and equipment		10,899		4,365
Accrued film liability		80		6,100
Accrued income taxes (3)		5,967		—
Accrued other		11,051		9,695
Total	$	115,333	$	124,742

(1)Staff related includes accruals related to severance expenses primarily associated with the combination of WWE’s television, digital and studios teams into one organization during the second quarter of 2021.

(2)Accrued legal settlements as of December 31, 2020 included a settlement that was fully covered by an expected insurance recovery through the Company’s insurance carriers. Accordingly, an insurance loss recovery asset was recorded as a component of Prepaid expenses and other current assets on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2020.

(3)At December 31, 2020, income taxes had a refundable balance of $7,302 and was included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Accrued other includes accruals for our international and licensing business activities, as well as other miscellaneous accruals, none of which categories individually exceeds 5% of current liabilities.

13. Convertible Debt

In December 2016 and January 2017, we issued $215,000 aggregate principal amount of 3.375% convertible senior notes due 2023 (the “Convertible Notes”). The Convertible Notes are due December 15, 2023, unless earlier repurchased by us or converted. Interest is payable semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on June 15, 2017.

The Convertible Notes are governed by an Indenture between us, as issuer, and U.S. Bank, National Association, as trustee. The Convertible Notes will be our general unsecured obligations and will rank senior in right of payment to any of our indebtedness that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Convertible Notes; equal in right of payment to any of our unsecured indebtedness that is not so subordinated; effectively junior in right of payment to any of our secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness; and structurally junior to all indebtedness and other liabilities (including trade payables) of our subsidiaries. In the event of our bankruptcy, liquidation, reorganization or other winding up, our assets that secure secured debt will be available to pay obligations on the Convertible Notes only after all indebtedness under such secured debt has been repaid in full from such assets.

Upon conversion of the Convertible Notes, we will pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, shares of our Class A common stock or a combination of cash and shares of Class A common stock, at our election, at a conversion rate of approximately 40.1405 shares of common stock per $1 principal amount of the Convertible Notes, which corresponds to an initial conversion price of approximately $24.91 per share of our Class A common stock. At any time, prior to the close on the business day immediately preceding June 15, 2023, the Convertible Notes will be convertible under the following circumstances:

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WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

a)During any calendar quarter beginning after the calendar quarter ending on December 31, 2016 (and only during such calendar quarter), if the last reported sale price of our Class A common stock for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during a period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the immediately preceding quarter is greater than or equal to 130% of the conversion price on each applicable trading day;

b)During the 5 business day period after any 10 consecutive trading day period (the “measurement period”) in which the trading price per $1 principal amount of Convertible Notes for each trading day of the measurement period was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of our Class A common stock and the conversion rate on each such trading day;

c)Upon the occurrence of specified corporate events; or

d)On or after June 15, 2023 until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date, holders may convert all or any portion of their Convertible Notes, in multiples of $1 principal amount, at the option of the holder regardless of the foregoing circumstances.

Pursuant to item (a) noted above, the Convertible Notes have been convertible since April 1, 2018, and holders of the Convertible Notes have the right to convert their notes at any time through at least December 31, 2021. As of September 30, 2021, since the Convertible Notes are convertible at the option of the holders, the Convertible Notes are reflected in current liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. As of September 30, 2021, no actual conversions have occurred to date. See Note 5, Earnings Per Share, for a description of the dilutive nature of the Convertible Notes.

As a result of our cash conversion option, we separately accounted for the value of the embedded conversion option as a debt discount at its issuance date estimated fair value. The debt discount is amortized as additional non-cash interest expense over the term of the Convertible Notes using the effective interest method. The equity component is not remeasured as long as it continues to meet the conditions for equity classification. In accounting for the transaction costs related to the Note issuances, we allocated the total amount of offering costs incurred to the debt and equity components based on their relative values. Offering costs attributable to the debt component are amortized as non-cash interest expense over the term of the Convertible Notes. Offering costs attributable to the equity component were netted with the equity component in stockholders’ equity.

The Convertible Notes consisted of the following components:



	As of
	September 30,		December 31,
	2021		2020
Debt component:
Principal	$	215,000	$	215,000
Less: Unamortized debt discount		(13,391)		(17,525)
Less: Unamortized debt issuance costs		(2,161)		(2,792)
Net carrying amount	$	199,448	$	194,683

Equity component (1)	$	35,547	$	35,547

(1)Recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets within Additional paid-in capital.

The following table sets forth total interest expense recognized related to the Convertible Notes:



	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2021		2020		2021		2020
3.375% contractual coupon	$	1,814	$	1,814	$	5,442	$	5,442
Amortization of debt discount		1,399		1,313		4,134		3,878
Amortization of debt issuance costs		216		195		631		604
Interest expense	$	3,429	$	3,322	$	10,207	$	9,924

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WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

Convertible Note Hedge

In connection with the pricing of the Convertible Notes in December 2016 and January 2017, we entered into convertible note hedge transactions with respect to our Class A common stock (the “Note Hedge”). The Note Hedge transactions cover approximately 8.63 million shares of our Class A common stock and are exercisable upon conversion of the Convertible Notes. The Note Hedge will expire on December 15, 2023, unless earlier terminated. The Note Hedge transactions have been accounted for as part of additional paid-in capital.

Warrant Transactions

In connection with entering into the Note Hedge transactions described above, we also concurrently entered into separate warrant transactions (the “Warrants”), to sell warrants to acquire approximately 8.63 million shares of our Class A common stock in connection with the Note Hedge transactions at an initial strike price of approximately $31.89 per share, which represents a premium of approximately 60.0% over the last reported sale price of our Class A common stock of $19.93 on December 12, 2016 (initial issuance date of the Convertible Notes). The Warrants transactions have been accounted for as part of additional paid-in capital.

14. Long-Term Debt and Credit Facility

Included within Long-Term Debt are the following:



	As of
	September 30,		December 31,
	2021		2020
Current portion of long-term debt:
Revolving Credit Facility	$	—	$	100,000
Mortgage		425		412
Total current portion of long-term debt	$	425	$	100,412

Long-term debt:
Mortgage	$	21,390	$	21,700
Total long-term debt	$	21,390	$	21,700

Total	$	21,815	$	122,112

Revolving Credit Facility

In May 2019, the Company entered into an amended and restated $200,000 senior unsecured revolving credit facility with a syndicated group of banks, with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. acting as Administrative Agent (the “Revolving Credit Facility”). The Revolving Credit Facility has a maturity date of May 24, 2024. Applicable interest rates for the borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility are based on the Company’s current consolidated leverage ratio. As of September 30, 2021, the LIBOR-based rate plus margin was 1.13%, and the Company is required to pay a commitment fee calculated at a rate per annum of 0.15% on the average daily unused portion of the Revolving Credit Facility. Under the terms of the Revolving Credit Facility, the Company is subject to certain financial covenants and restrictions, including restrictions on our ability to pay dividends and limitations with respect to our indebtedness, liens, mergers and acquisitions, dispositions of assets, investments, capital expenditures and transactions with affiliates.

In April 2020, as a precautionary measure to further strengthen liquidity due to the impact of COVID-19, the Company borrowed $200,000 under its Revolving Credit Facility. In December 2020, the Company repaid $100,000 of the borrowings, and in January 2021, the Company repaid the remaining $100,000. As of September 30, 2021, the Company was in compliance with the terms of the Revolving Credit Facility and had available debt capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility of $200,000. As of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, there was $0 and $100,000 outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility, respectively.

Mortgage

In September 2016, the Company acquired real property and assumed future obligations under a loan agreement, dated June 8, 2015, in the principal amount of $23,000, which loan is secured by a mortgage on the property. The loan bears interest at the rate of 4.50% per annum and requires monthly interest only payments of $86 until June 2018 and interest and principal payments of $117 per month thereafter, with a balloon payment upon maturity on July 5, 2025. There is a significant yield maintenance premium for

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WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

prepayments. Pursuant to the loan agreement, since the assets of WWE Real Estate, a subsidiary of the Company, represent collateral for the underlying mortgage, these assets will not be available to satisfy debts and obligations due to any other creditors of the Company.

15. Concentration of Credit Risk

We continually monitor our position with, and the credit quality of, the financial institutions that are counterparties to our financial instruments. Our accounts receivable relates principally to a limited number of distributors, including WWE Network, television, pay-per-view distributors, and licensees. We closely monitor the status of receivables with these customers and maintain allowances for anticipated losses as deemed appropriate. We believe credit risk with respect to accounts receivable is limited due to the generally high credit quality of the Company’s major customers. At September 30, 2021 our largest receivable balance from customers was 42% of our gross accounts receivable. No other customers individually exceeded 10% of our gross accounts receivable balance. At December 31, 2020, there were no customers that individually exceeded 10% of our gross accounts receivable balance.

16. Income Taxes

As of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, we had $19,819 and $10,052, respectively, of deferred income tax assets, net, included in our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The Company considers all available evidence, both positive and negative, to determine whether, based on the weight of that evidence, a valuation allowance is required to reduce the net deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized in future periods. The Company believes that based on past performance, expected future taxable income and prudent and feasible tax planning strategies, it is more likely than not that the net deferred tax assets will be realized. Changes in these factors may cause us to increase our valuation allowance on deferred tax assets, which would impact our income tax expense in the period we determine that these factors have changed.

17. Content Production Incentives

The Company has access to various governmental programs that are designed to promote content production within the United States of America and certain international jurisdictions. Incentives earned with respect to expenditures on qualifying film production activities and capital projects are recorded as an offset to the related asset balances. Incentives earned with respect to television and other production activities are recorded as an offset to production expenses. The Company recognizes these benefits when we have reasonable assurance regarding the realizable amount of the incentives. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company recognized $13,141 and $18,367 of content production incentives related to television production activities.

18. Commitments and Contingencies

Our future commitments related to our operating and finance leases are separately disclosed in Note 8, Leases.

Legal Proceedings

On October 23, 2014, a lawsuit was filed in the U. S. District Court for the District of Oregon, entitled William Albert Haynes III, on behalf of himself and others similarly situated, v. World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. This complaint was amended on January 30, 2015 and alleged that the Company ignored, downplayed, and/or failed to disclose the risks associated with traumatic brain injuries suffered by WWE’s performers and sought class action status. On March 31, 2015, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the first amended class action complaint in its entirety or, if not dismissed, to transfer the lawsuit to the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. Without addressing the merits of the Company’s motion to dismiss, the Court transferred the case to Connecticut on June 25, 2015. The plaintiffs filed an objection to such transfer, which was denied on July 27, 2015. On January 16, 2015, a second lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, entitled Evan Singleton and Vito LoGrasso, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, v. World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., alleging many of the same allegations as Haynes. On February 27, 2015, the Company moved to transfer venue to the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut due to forum-selection clauses in the contracts between WWE and the plaintiffs and that motion was granted on March 23, 2015. The plaintiffs filed an amended complaint on May 22, 2015 and, following a scheduling conference in which the court ordered the plaintiffs to cure various pleading deficiencies, the plaintiffs filed a second amended complaint on June 15, 2015. On

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WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

June 29, 2015, WWE moved to dismiss the second amended complaint in its entirety. On April 9, 2015, a third lawsuit was filed in the U. S. District Court for the Central District of California, entitled Russ McCullough, a/k/a “Big Russ McCullough,” Ryan Sakoda, and Matthew R. Wiese a/k/a “Luther Reigns,” individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, v. World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., asserting similar allegations to Haynes. The Company again moved to transfer the lawsuit to Connecticut due to forum-selection clauses in the contracts between WWE and the plaintiffs, which the California court granted on July 10, 2015. On September 21, 2015, the plaintiffs amended this complaint, and, on November 16, 2015, the Company moved to dismiss the amended complaint. Each of these suits sought unspecified actual, compensatory and punitive damages and injunctive relief, including ordering medical monitoring. The Haynes and McCullough cases purported to be class actions. On February 18, 2015, a lawsuit was filed in Tennessee state court and subsequently removed to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, entitled Cassandra Frazier, individually and as next of kin to her deceased husband, Nelson Lee Frazier, Jr., and as personal representative of the Estate of Nelson Lee Frazier, Jr. Deceased, v. World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. A similar suit was filed in the U. S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas entitled Michelle James, as mother and next friend of Matthew Osborne, minor child, and Teagan Osborne, a minor child v. World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. These lawsuits contained many of the same allegations as the other lawsuits alleging traumatic brain injuries and further alleged that the injuries contributed to these former talents’ deaths. WWE moved to transfer the Frazier and Osborne lawsuits to the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut based on forum-selection clauses in the decedents’ contracts with WWE, which motions were granted by the respective courts. On November 23, 2015, amended complaints were filed in Frazier and Osborne, which the Company moved to dismiss on December 16, 2015 and December 21, 2015, respectively. On November 10, 2016, the Court granted the Company’s motions to dismiss the Frazier and Osborne lawsuits in their entirety. On June 29, 2015, the Company filed a declaratory judgment action in the U. S. District Court for the District of Connecticut entitled World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. v. Robert Windham, Thomas Billington, James Ware, Oreal Perras and various John and Jane Does seeking a declaration against these former performers that their threatened claims related to alleged traumatic brain injuries and/or other tort claims were time-barred. On September 21, 2015, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss this complaint, which the Company opposed. The Court previously ordered a stay of discovery in all cases pending decisions on the motions to dismiss. On January 15, 2016, the Court partially lifted the stay and permitted discovery only on three issues in the case involving Singleton and LoGrasso. Such discovery was completed by June 1, 2016. On March 21, 2016, the Court issued a memorandum of decision granting in part and denying in part the Company’s motions to dismiss the Haynes, Singleton/LoGrasso, and McCullough lawsuits. The Court granted the Company’s motions to dismiss the Haynes and McCullough lawsuits in their entirety and granted the Company’s motion to dismiss all claims in the Singleton/LoGrasso lawsuit except for the claim of fraud by omission. On March 22, 2016, the Court issued an order dismissing the Windham lawsuit based on the Court’s memorandum of decision on the motions to dismiss. On April 4, 2016, the Company filed a motion for reconsideration with respect to the Court’s decision not to dismiss the fraud by omission claim in the Singleton/LoGrasso lawsuit and, on April 5, 2016, the Company filed a motion for reconsideration with respect to the Court’s dismissal of the Windham lawsuit. On July 21, 2016, the Court denied the Company’s motion in the Singleton/LoGrasso lawsuit and granted in part the Company’s motion in the Windham lawsuit. On April 20, 2016, the plaintiffs filed notices of appeal of the Haynes and McCullough lawsuits. On April 27, 2016, the Company moved to dismiss the appeals for lack of appellate jurisdiction, which motions were granted, and the appeals were dismissed with leave to appeal upon the resolution of all of the consolidated cases. The Company filed a motion for summary judgment on the sole remaining claim in the Singleton/LoGrasso lawsuit, which was granted on March 28, 2018. The Company also filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings against the Windham defendants. Lastly, on July 18, 2016, a lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, entitled Joseph M. Laurinaitis, et al. vs. World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. and Vincent K. McMahon, individually and as the trustee of certain trusts. This lawsuit contains many of the same allegations as the other lawsuits alleging traumatic brain injuries and further alleges, among other things, that the plaintiffs were misclassified as independent contractors rather than employees denying them, among other things, rights and benefits under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), federal tax law, and various state Worker’s Compensation laws. This lawsuit also alleged that the booking contracts and other agreements between the plaintiffs and the Company were unconscionable and should be declared void, entitling the plaintiffs to certain damages relating to the Company’s use of their intellectual property. The lawsuit alleged claims for violation of RICO, unjust enrichment, and an accounting against Mr. McMahon. The Company and Mr. McMahon moved to dismiss and for sanctions with respect to this complaint on October 19, 2016. On November 9, 2016, the Laurinaitis plaintiffs filed an amended complaint. On December 23, 2016, the Company and Mr. McMahon moved to dismiss and for sanctions with respect to the amended complaint. On September 29, 2017, the Court issued an order on the motion to dismiss pending in the Laurinaitis case and on the motion for judgment on the pleadings pending in the Windham case. The Court reserved judgment on the pending motions and ordered that within thirty-five (35) days of the date of the order the Laurinaitis plaintiffs and the Windham defendants file amended pleadings that comply with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The Court further ordered that each of the Laurinaitis plaintiffs and the Windham defendants submit to the Court for in camera review affidavits signed and sworn under penalty of perjury setting forth facts within each plaintiff’s or declaratory judgment-defendant’s personal knowledge that form the factual basis of their claim or defense. On November 3, 2017, the Laurinaitis plaintiffs filed a second amended complaint. The Company and Mr. McMahon believed that the second amended complaint failed to comply with the Court’s September 29, 2017 order and otherwise remained legally defective for all of the reasons set forth in their motion to dismiss the amended complaint. Also on November 3, 2017,

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WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

the Windham defendants filed a second answer. On November 17, 2017, the Company and Mr. McMahon filed a response that, among other things, urged the Court to grant the motion for judgment on the pleadings against the Windham defendants and dismiss the Laurinaitis plaintiffs’ complaint with prejudice and award sanctions against the Laurinaitis plaintiffs’ counsel because the amended pleadings failed to comply with the Court’s September 29, 2017 order and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. On September 17, 2018, the Court granted the motion to dismiss filed by the Company and Mr. McMahon in the Laurinaitis case in its entirety, awarded sanctions against the Laurinaitis plaintiffs’ counsel, and granted the Company’s motion for judgment on the pleadings against the Windham defendants. The plaintiffs attempted to appeal these decisions. On November 16, 2018, the Company moved to dismiss all of the appeals, except for the appeal of the dismissal of the Laurinaitis case, for being filed untimely. On April 4, 2019, the Second Circuit issued an order referring the Company’s motions to dismiss to the panel that was going to determine the merits of the appeals. The plaintiffs-appellants’ opening brief was filed on July 8, 2019. The Company and Mr. McMahon filed their appellees’ brief on October 7, 2019. The plaintiffs-appellants filed a reply brief on October 28, 2019. The Second Circuit held oral argument on June 5, 2020. On September 9, 2020, the Second Circuit issued a summary order, dismissing the appeals of the sanctions orders and the merits appeals of the dismissal of all claims in the Haynes, McCullough, Frazier, and Singleton cases for lack of appellate jurisdiction and affirming the judgment of the district court on all other claims. On September 23, 2020, the plaintiffs-appellants filed a petition for rehearing/rehearing en banc, which was denied on October 15, 2020. On February 24, 2021, the plaintiffs-appellants filed a petition for writ of certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court. On March 26, 2021, the Company filed an opposition to the petition for writ of certiorari. On April 26, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the plaintiffs-appellants’ petition for writ of certiorari. On September 2, 2021, the magistrate judge recommended that fees be awarded to the Company in respect of the Company’s pending motions for sanctions in the amount of $312, and on September 30, 2021, the Court adopted that recommendation. The Company believes all claims and threatened claims against the Company in these various lawsuits were prompted by the same plaintiffs’ lawyer and that all are without merit.

On March 6, 2020, the Company along with its Chairman and CEO, Vince McMahon, and former-WWE officers and directors, Michelle Wilson and George Barrios (collectively, the “Individual Defendants”), were sued in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in a case captioned City of Warren Police and Fire Retirement System, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, v. World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., Vincent K. McMahon, George A. Barrios, and Michelle D. Wilson, No. 1:20-cv-02031-JSR. The complaint alleges that the Company and the Individual Defendants made materially false and misleading statements in violation of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 regarding WWE’s strategic relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Specifically, the complaint alleges that various public statements made by the Company and the Individual Defendants were false and misleading because they failed to disclose certain adverse facts regarding WWE’s strategic relationship with Saudi Arabia that supposedly was known by them and, as a result, the plaintiff class allegedly purchased WWE stock at artificially inflated prices. On March 12, 2020 a nearly-identical lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York captioned Paul Szaniawski, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, v. World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., Vincent K. McMahon, George A. Barrios, and Michelle D. Wilson, No. 1:20-cv-02223-JSR. This lawsuit was filed as related to the City of Warren case and was assigned to the same judge handling the City of Warren case. By Order dated May 12, 2020, the City of Warren and Szaniawski lawsuits were consolidated for all purposes. After multiple parties filed motions to be appointed lead plaintiff for the putative class in the consolidated action, on May 22, 2020, the Court issued a memorandum order selecting the Firefighters’ Pension System of the City of Kansas City, Missouri to be lead plaintiff and their attorneys, Labaton Sucharow LLP, to be lead counsel for the putative class. On May 26, 2020, the Company served Rule 11 motion for sanctions on the attorneys for the City of Warren Police and Fire Retirement System, the attorneys for Paul Szaniawski, and Labaton Sucharow LLP. The Rule 11 motion identified false allegations in the originally filed complaints and was supported by six declarations from Company executives and third-parties with direct first-hand knowledge of the matters at issue. Following service of the Rule 11 motion, the attorneys for the City of Warren Police and Fire Retirement System and the attorneys for Paul Szaniawski voluntarily dismissed their complaints before the expiration of the Rule 11 safe-harbor period. On June 8, 2020, the Firefighters’ Pension System of the City of Kansas City, Missouri filed a consolidated amended class action complaint. On June 26, 2020, the Company moved to dismiss the consolidated amended complaint in its entirety. The Court held oral argument on the Company’s motion to dismiss on July 30, 2020. On August 6, 2020, the Court denied the Company’s motion to dismiss. On November 18, 2020, the Company entered into a term sheet (the “Term Sheet”) to settle this action, subject to notice to the class and preliminary and final approval by the Court. The settlement includes a full release of all Defendants in connection with the allegations made in the lawsuit, and does not contain any admission of liability or admission as to the validity or truth of any or all allegations or claims by any of the Defendants. The Term Sheet provided for a settlement payment of $39,000 (inclusive of all Plaintiffs’ attorneys fees and expenses and settlement costs), which was paid by the Company’s insurance carriers. The Company believed that resolving the matter is the right business decision and that it is prudent to end the protracted and uncertain class action process. On December 23, 2020, lead plaintiff filed an unopposed motion for preliminary approval of settlement with the Court. On March 8, 2021, the Court granted preliminary approval of the class action settlement, and on July 1, 2021, the Court granted final approval of the class action settlement and entered final judgment.

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WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

Additionally, six purported shareholder derivative suits have been filed against the members of the Company’s Board of Directors and former-senior executives of the Company patterned after the securities class action complaints filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Merholz et al. v. Vincent K. McMahon et al, No. 3:20-cv-00557-VAB, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut and assigned to the Honorable Victor A. Bolden. On May 29, 2020, the Defendants served Merholz’s counsel with a Rule 11 motion that identified the false allegations in the complaint. On May 19, 2020, Merholz filed an amended complaint prior to the expiration of the Rule 11 safe-harbor period, which is substantially similar to the consolidated amended class action complaint filed in the securities class action. Because Merholz’s amended complaint continued to assert allegations that were proven to be false by the Defendants’ Rule 11 motion regarding the original complaint, the Defendants served Merholz’s counsel with a Rule 11 motion regarding the amended complaint on July 2, 2020. On July 28, 2020, Merholz filed a second amended complaint. Kooi et al. v. Vincent K. McMahon et al., No. 3:20-cv-00743-VAB, was originally filed in Connecticut Superior Court and was removed by the Defendants to the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut on June 1, 2020. The Kooi lawsuit was deemed to be related to the Merholz lawsuit and transferred to Judge Bolden. On June 8, 2020, Kooi filed a motion to remand the lawsuit to state court. The Defendants filed its opposition to the motion to remand on June 29, 2020. Following Kooi’s affirmation of the allegations of the complaint in federal court by filing the motion to remand, on June 12, 2020, the Defendants served Kooi’s counsel with a Rule 11 motion similar to that served on counsel in the Merholz lawsuit. On July 3, 2020, Kooi filed an amended complaint that withdrew the false allegations identified in the Defendants’ Rule 11 motion. Nordstrom et al. v. Vincent K. McMahon et al., No. 3:20-cv-00904-VAB, was originally filed in Connecticut Superior Court, and also removed by the Defendants to the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut on July 1, 2020. The Nordstrom lawsuit was deemed to be related to the Merholz and Kooi lawsuits and was also transferred to Judge Bolden. Following Nordstrom’s affirmation of the allegations of the complaint in federal court, on July 24, 2020, the Defendants served Nordstrom’s counsel with a Rule 11 motion similar to that served on counsel in the Merholz and Kooi lawsuits. On July 31, 2020, Nordstrom filed a motion to remand the lawsuit to state court, which the Defendants opposed. On August 14, 2020, Nordstrom filed an amended complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. On July 2, 2020, the Defendants moved to consolidate the Merholz, Kooi, and Nordstrom lawsuits for all purposes. Following a status conference held on July 24, 2020, on August 1, 2020, the Court denied the Defendants’ motion to consolidate without prejudice to renew following resolution of any motions to dismiss and motions to remand. The Defendants filed a consolidated motion to dismiss the complaints in the Merholz, Kooi, and Nordstrom lawsuits on August 28, 2020. Merholz, Kooi, and Nordstrom filed oppositions to the motion to dismiss on September 18, 2020 and the Defendants filed its reply on October 2, 2020. On October 23, 2020, another shareholder, Dennis Palkon, moved to intervene in the proceedings before Judge Bolden, to have his counsel appointed as lead counsel, to designate the proposed complaint that he filed with his motion to intervene as the operative complaint, and to deny as moot Defendants’ pending motions to dismiss in light of the newly-filed complaint. On November 7, 2020, the Court granted the Defendants’ motion to dismiss the Merholz, Kooi, and Nordstrom actions without prejudice, while reserving a determination on whether the dismissal would be with prejudice pending resolution of the motion to intervene. On November 20, 2020, the Defendants filed their Opposition to Palkon’s motion to intervene and Palkon filed his reply on December 4, 2020. On October 28, 2020, another shareholder, Bernard Leavy, filed a notice of joinder in Palkon’s motion to intervene, which the Defendants opposed. On May 13, 2021, Merholz, along with another shareholder, Nicholas Jiminez, filed a new complaint in Connecticut Superior Court containing substantially similar allegations to those in the Merholz federal action. Defendants removed the Merholz/Jiminez state court action to the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut on June 9, 2021, and it was transferred to Judge Bolden as a related case. Merholz/Jiminez moved to remand the case to state court on June 22, 2021. Defendants filed an opposition to the motion to remand on July 13, 2021. On June 16, 2021, Defendants moved to dismiss the new complaint in its entirety. Merholz/Jiminez filed an opposition to the motion to dismiss on July 7, 2021. On June 7, 2021, another shareholder, City of Pontiac Police and Fire Retirement System, filed a complaint in Connecticut Superior Court, asserting substantially similar allegations as in the other derivative actions. Defendants removed that action to the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut on July 7, 2021 and, the same day, filed a motion to dismiss that complaint in its entirety. The City of Pontiac lawsuit also was transferred to Judge Bolden as a related case. On June 10, 2021, another shareholder, Jesse Rezendez, filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, asserting substantially similar allegations as in the other derivative actions. On August 17, 2021, the parties in all of the shareholder derivative lawsuits pending in Connecticut and Delaware filed a joint notice that they had reached a settlement in principle. On August 18, 2021, the Court ordered all of the pending cases to be administratively closed in light of the parties’ settlement in principle. On September 17, 2021, the parties entered into a Stipulation and Agreement of Settlement. On September 20, 2021, the plaintiffs in all of the pending cases moved for preliminary approval of the parties’ settlement. On October 20, 2021, the Court preliminarily approved the parties’ settlement and authorized dissemination of the notice of settlement. The Court scheduled a settlement hearing for December 22, 2021. The Company believes that all claims in the derivative actions, just as the claims in the related securities class action, are without merit.

In addition to the foregoing, from time to time we become a party to other lawsuits and claims. By its nature, the outcome of litigation is not known, but the Company does not currently expect this ordinary course litigation to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

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WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

19. Stockholders’ Equity

In February 2019, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program of up to $500,000 of our common stock. Repurchases may be made from time to time at management’s discretion subject to certain pre-approved parameters and in accordance with all applicable securities and other laws and regulations. The stock repurchase program does not obligate the Company to repurchase any minimum dollar amount or number of shares and may be modified, suspended or discontinued at any time.

During the three months ended September 30, 2021, the Company repurchased 431,704 shares of common stock in the open market at an average price of $50.68 for an aggregate amount of $21,880. During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company repurchased 2,265,701 shares of common stock in the open market at an average price of $51.03 for an aggregate amount of $115,630. The Company did not repurchase any shares of common stock in the open market during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020. All share repurchases have been retired. As of September 30, 2021, $300,929 of common stock may be repurchased under the stock repurchase program announced in February 2019.

Stock repurchases are accounted for under the cost method. All shares repurchased to date have been retired by the Company with no unsettled share repurchases as of September 30, 2021. When the Company retires its own common stock, the excess of the repurchase price over par value is allocated between additional paid-in capital and retained earnings, with certain limitations. The portion allocated to additional paid-in capital is determined by applying a percentage, determined by dividing the number of shares to be retired by the number of shares issued and outstanding as of the retirement date, to the balance of additional paid-in capital as of the retirement date. Direct costs incurred to repurchase the common stock were not material and were expensed in the period incurred. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, $17,847 and $4,028, and $94,834 and $20,773, was deducted from retained earnings and additional paid-in capital, respectively, related to the common stock shares retired.

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

You should read the following discussion in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this report.

Our operations are organized around the following principal activities:

Media:

Live Events:

Consumer Products:

Results of Operation

Adjusted OIBDA is a non-GAAP financial measure and may be different than similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. A limitation of Adjusted OIBDA is that it excludes depreciation and amortization, which represents the periodic charge for certain fixed assets and intangible assets used in our business. Additionally, Adjusted OIBDA excludes stock-based compensation, a non-cash expense that may vary between periods with limited correlation to underlying operating performance, as well as other non-recurring material items. Adjusted OIBDA should not be regarded as an alternative to operating income or net income as an indicator of operating performance, or to the statement of cash flows as a measure of liquidity, nor should it be considered in isolation or as a substitute for financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. We believe that operating income is the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure to Adjusted OIBDA. See Note 3, Segment Information, in the accompanying consolidated financial statements for a reconciliation of Adjusted OIBDA to operating income for the periods presented.

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Summary

Three Months Ended September 30, 2021 compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2020

(dollars in millions, except where noted)

The following tables present our consolidated results followed by our Adjusted OIBDA results:



	Three Months Ended
	September 30,				Increase
	2021		2020		(decrease)
Net revenues
Media	$	202.7	$	201.0	1	%
Live Events		28.0		0.7	3,900	%
Consumer Products		25.1		19.9	26	%
Total net revenues (1)		255.8		221.6	15	%
Operating expenses
Media		105.4		89.7	18	%
Live Events		16.9		4.5	276	%
Consumer Products		16.7		13.8	21	%
Total operating expenses (2)		139.0		108.0	29	%
Marketing and selling expenses
Media		14.6		13.1	11	%
Live Events		2.0		0.6	233	%
Consumer Products		1.2		0.8	50	%
Total marketing and selling expenses		17.8		14.5	23	%
General and administrative expenses		24.9		25.2	(1)	%
Depreciation and amortization		10.1		10.5	(4)	%
Operating income		64.0		63.4	1	%
Interest expense		8.5		9.2	(8)	%
Other income, net		0.3		7.0	(96)	%
Income before income taxes		55.8		61.2	(9)	%
Provision for income taxes		12.3		13.0	(5)	%
Net income	$	43.5	$	48.2	(10)	%

(1)Our consolidated net revenues increased by $34.2 million, or 15%, in the current year quarter as compared to the prior year quarter. This increase was primarily driven by $31.5 million of higher ticket and merchandise sales from our live events, including our annual SummerSlam event, due to the return of ticketed audiences at our live events, coupled with additional revenues of $8.9 million associated with the contractual escalations of our key domestic distribution agreements for our flagship programs, RAW and SmackDown. These increases were partially offset by a decline in network revenues of $4.7 million due primarily to the timing of the revenue recognition of content license fees associated with the delivery of WWE Network content as compared to the prior year revenue recognition under a direct-to-consumer subscription basis. For further analysis, refer to Management’s Discussion and Analysis of our business segments.

(2)Our consolidated operating expenses increased by $31.0 million, or 29%, in the current year quarter as compared to the prior year quarter. This increase was primarily driven by $27.9 million of higher content creation and event related costs to produce our content due to resuming our domestic and international touring schedules. During the prior year quarter, we produced content at our training facility at a lower cost prior to transitioning our production to WWE ThunderDome on August 21, 2020. For further analysis, refer to Management’s Discussion and Analysis of our business segments.



	Three Months Ended
	September 30,
	2021				2020
Reconciliation of Operating Income to Adjusted OIBDA			% of Rev				% of Rev
Operating income	$	64.0	25	%	$	63.4	29	%
Depreciation and amortization		10.1	4	%		10.5	5	%
Stock-based compensation		3.8	1	%		4.9	2	%
Other adjustments (1)		—	—	%		5.5	2	%
Adjusted OIBDA	$	77.9	30	%	$	84.3	38	%

(1)Other adjustments in the prior year quarter include severance expenses associated with a reduction in our workforce as a result of COVID-19.

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	Three Months Ended
	September 30,				Increase
	2021		2020		(decrease)
Adjusted OIBDA
Media	$	85.6	$	101.7	(16)	%
Live Events		9.3		(4.1)	327	%
Consumer Products		7.5		5.6	34	%
Corporate		(24.5)		(18.9)	(30)	%
Total Adjusted OIBDA	$	77.9	$	84.3	(8)	%

Media

The following tables present the performance results and key drivers for our Media segment:



	Three Months Ended
	September 30,				Increase
	2021		2020		(decrease)
Net Revenues
Network (including pay-per-view) (1)	$	43.1	$	47.8	(10)	%
Core content rights fees (2)		141.3		132.4	7	%
Advertising and sponsorship (3)		16.1		18.1	(11)	%
Other (4)		2.2		2.7	(19)	%
Total net revenues	$	202.7	$	201.0	1	%



	Three Months Ended
	September 30,
	2021				2020
Reconciliation of Operating Income to Adjusted OIBDA			% of Rev				% of Rev
Operating income	$	79.2	39	%	$	94.5	47	%
Depreciation and amortization		3.5	2	%		3.7	2	%
Stock-based compensation		2.9	1	%		3.5	2	%
Other adjustments		—	—	%		—	—	%
Adjusted OIBDA	$	85.6	42	%	$	101.7	51	%

Media net revenues increased by $1.7 million, or 1%, in the current year quarter as compared to the prior year quarter. This increase was primarily driven by additionally core content rights fees of $8.9 million, or 7%, due to the contractual escalations of our key domestic distribution agreements for our flagship programs, RAW and SmackDown. This increase was partially offset by a decrease in Network revenues of $4.7 million, or 10%, primarily driven by the timing of the revenue recognition of content license fees associated with the delivery of WWE Network content as compared to the prior year revenue recognition under a direct-to-consumer subscription basis.

Media Adjusted OIBDA as a percentage of revenues decreased in the current year quarter as compared to the prior year quarter. This decrease was driven by increased content creation related costs of $13.3 million.

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Live Events

The following tables present the performance results and key drivers for our Live Events segment:



	Three Months Ended
	September 30,				Increase
	2021		2020		(decrease)
Net Revenues
North American ticket sales	$	23.8	$	—	NM
International ticket sales		2.4		—	NM
Advertising and sponsorship (1)		0.4		—	NM
Other (2)		1.4		0.7	100	%
Total net revenues	$	28.0	$	0.7	3,900	%

Operating Metrics (3)
Total live event attendance		346,000		—	NM
Number of North American events		38		—	NM
Average North American attendance		8,320		—	NM
Average North American ticket price (dollars)	$	75.13	$	—	NM
Number of international events		4		—	NM
Average international attendance		7,420		—	NM
Average international ticket price (dollars)	$	81.96	$	—	NM

(1)Advertising and sponsorships revenues within our Live Events segment primarily consists of fees from advertisers and sponsors who promote their products utilizing the Company’s live events (i.e., presenting sponsor of fan engagement events and advertising signage at the event).

(2)Other revenues within our Live Events segment primarily consists of the sale of travel packages associated with the Company’s global live events and commissions earned through secondary ticketing, as well as revenues from events for which the Company receives a fixed fee.



	Three Months Ended
	September 30,
	2021				2020
Reconciliation of Operating Income (Loss) to Adjusted OIBDA			% of Rev				% of Rev
Operating income (loss)	$	9.1	33	%	$	(4.4)	(629)	%
Depreciation and amortization		—	—	%		—	—	%
Stock-based compensation		0.2	1	%		0.3	43	%
Other adjustments		—	—	%		—	—	%
Adjusted OIBDA	$	9.3	33	%	$	(4.1)	(586)	%

Live Events net revenues, which include revenues from ticket sales and travel packages, increased by $27.3 million, or 3,900%, in the current year quarter as compared to the prior year quarter. Revenues from our ticket sales increased to $26.2 million due to impact of the return of ticketed events during the current year quarter. There were no ticket sales in the prior year quarter due to the cancellation of ticketed events as a result of COVID-19.

Live Events Adjusted OIBDA increased in the current year quarter as compared to the prior year quarter. This increase was driven by the impact of the return of ticketed events.

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Consumer Products

The following tables present the performance results and key drivers for our Consumer Products segment:



	Three Months Ended
	September 30,				Increase
	2021		2020		(decrease)
Net Revenues
Consumer product licensing	$	11.6	$	10.8	7	%
eCommerce		8.2		9.1	(10)	%
Venue merchandise		5.3		—	NM
Total net revenues	$	25.1	$	19.9	26	%

Operating Metrics
Average eCommerce revenue per order (dollars)	$	62.34	$	59.10	5	%
Number of eCommerce orders		130,100		153,200	(15)	%
Venue merchandise domestic per capita spending (dollars)	$	14.20	$	—	NM



	Three Months Ended
	September 30,
	2021				2020
Reconciliation of Operating Income to Adjusted OIBDA			% of Rev				% of Rev
Operating income	$	7.2	29	%	$	5.4	27	%
Depreciation and amortization		—	—	%		—	—	%
Stock-based compensation		0.3	1	%		0.2	1	%
Other adjustments		—	—	%		—	—	%
Adjusted OIBDA	$	7.5	30	%	$	5.6	28	%

Consumer Products net revenues increased by $5.2 million, or 26%, in the current year quarter as compared to the prior year quarter. This increase was primarily driven by $5.3 million of venue merchandise revenues resulting from the sale of merchandise at our ticketed events, including our annual SummerSlam event, in the current year. We did not hold any ticketed events in the prior year quarter as a result of COVID-19.

Consumer Products Adjusted OIBDA as a percentage of revenues increased in the current year quarter as compared to the prior year quarter. This increase was driven by increased revenues, as discussed above.

Corporate

Unallocated corporate general and administrative expenses largely relate to corporate administrative functions, including finance, investor relations, community relations, corporate communications, information technology, legal, human resources and our Board of Directors. The Company does not allocate these general and administrative expenses to its business segments.



	Three Months Ended
	September 30,
	2021				2020
Reconciliation of Operating Loss to Adjusted OIBDA			% of Rev				% of Rev
Operating loss	$	(31.5)	(12)	%	$	(32.1)	(14)	%
Depreciation and amortization		6.6	3	%		6.8	3	%
Stock-based compensation		0.4	0	%		0.9	0	%
Other adjustments (1)		—	—	%		5.5	2	%
Adjusted OIBDA	$	(24.5)	(10)	%	$	(18.9)	(9)	%

(1)Other adjustments in the prior year quarter include severance expenses associated with a reduction in our workforce as a result of COVID-19. Our policy is to record Company-wide severance expenses as unallocated corporate general and administrative expenses.

Corporate Adjusted OIBDA decreased by $5.6 million, or 30%, in the current year quarter as compared to the prior year quarter. This decrease was primarily driven by $2.1 million of additional staff related costs.

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Depreciation and Amortization



	Three Months Ended
	September 30,				Increase
	2021		2020		(decrease)
Depreciation and amortization	$	10.1	$	10.5	(4)	%

Depreciation and amortization expense was declined slightly in the current year quarter as compared to the prior year quarter.

Interest Expense



	Three Months Ended
	September 30,				Increase
	2021		2020		(decrease)
Interest expense	$	8.5	$	9.2	(8)	%

Interest expense, which relates primarily to interest and amortization associated with our convertible notes, our real estate and equipment finance leases, the revolving credit facility and mortgage, declined by $0.7 million in the current year quarter as compared to the prior year quarter. The prior year quarter includes additional expenses related to the outstanding amounts under our revolving credit facility.

Other Income, Net



	Three Months Ended
	September 30,				Increase
	2021		2020		(decrease)
Other income, net	$	0.3	$	7.0	(96)	%

Other income, net is comprised of interest income, gains and losses recorded on our equity investments, realized translation gains and losses, and rental income. In the prior year quarter, we recognized $6.6 million of unrealized holding gains resulting from valuation adjustments in our marketable equity investments.

Income Taxes



	Three Months Ended
	September 30,						Increase
	2021			2020			(decrease)
Provision for income taxes	$	12.3		$	13.0		(5)	%
Effective tax rate		22	%		21	%

The effective tax rate was essentially unchanged in the current year quarter as compared to the prior year quarter.

‎

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Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020

(dollars in millions, except where noted)

The following tables present our consolidated results followed by our Adjusted OIBDA results:



	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				Increase
	2021		2020		(decrease)
Net revenues
Media	$	678.6	$	657.7	3	%
Live Events		37.7		19.2	96	%
Consumer Products		68.6		59.1	16	%
Total net revenues (1)		784.9		736.0	7	%
Operating expenses
Media		363.8		333.3	9	%
Live Events		29.3		27.1	8	%
Consumer Products		44.1		40.4	9	%
Total operating expenses (2)		437.2		400.8	9	%
Marketing and selling expenses
Media		46.7		47.6	(2)	%
Live Events		2.9		4.3	(33)	%
Consumer Products		3.1		2.8	11	%
Total marketing and selling expenses		52.7		54.7	(4)	%
General and administrative expenses (3)		87.8		75.9	16	%
Depreciation and amortization		31.8		32.2	(1)	%
Operating income		175.4		172.4	2	%
Interest expense		25.5		26.5	(4)	%
Other income, net		0.7		5.1	(86)	%
Income before income taxes		150.6		151.0	(0)	%
Provision for income taxes		34.1		32.8	4	%
Net income	$	116.5	$	118.2	(1)	%

(1)Our consolidated net revenues increased by $48.9 million, or 7%, in the current year period as compared to the prior year period. This increase was driven by increased network revenues of $43.3 million, primarily driven by the upfront revenue recognition related to the delivery of certain WWE Network intellectual property rights, coupled with content license fees associated with the delivery of new WWE Network content. Additionally, the current year period includes $24.3 million in incremental revenues primarily associated with the contractual escalations of our key domestic distribution agreements for our flagship programs, RAW and SmackDown, coupled with $20.9 million of higher ticket and merchandise sales from our live events due to the return of ticketed events. These increases were partially offset by the absence of a large-scale international event. For further analysis, refer to Management’s Discussion and Analysis of our business segments.

(2)Our consolidated operating expenses increased by $36.4 million, or 9%, in the current year period as compared to the prior year period. This increase was driven by $54.8 million of higher content creation and event related costs primarily due to producing our content from WWE ThunderDome and our annual WrestleMania and SummerSlam events that were held in stadiums with ticketed audiences. During the prior year period, we produced content, including WrestleMania, primarily at our training facility at a lower cost. In August 2020, we began producing content, including SummerSlam, from the WWE ThunderDome without a ticketed audience. This increase was mostly offset by the absence of a large-scale international event during 2021. For further analysis, refer to Management’s Discussion and Analysis of our business segments.

(3)Our consolidated general and administrative expenses increased by $11.9 million, or 16%, in the current year period as compared to the prior year period. This increase was primarily driven by $6.8 million of additional staff related costs, including the impact of certain severance expenses. During the current year period, the Company incurred $8.1 million of severance expenses primarily associated with the combination of WWE’s television, digital and studios teams into one organization during the second quarter of 2021, as compared to $5.5 million of severance expenses in the prior year period associated with a reduction in our workforce as a result of COVID-19. For further analysis, refer to Management’s Discussion and Analysis of our business segments.

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	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,
	2021				2020
Reconciliation of Operating Income to Adjusted OIBDA			% of Rev				% of Rev
Operating income	$	175.4	22	%	$	172.4	23	%
Depreciation and amortization		31.8	4	%		32.2	4	%
Stock-based compensation		14.6	2	%		24.9	3	%
Other adjustments (1)		8.1	1	%		5.5	1	%
Adjusted OIBDA	$	229.9	29	%	$	235.0	32	%

(1)Other adjustments in the current year period include severance expenses primarily associated with the combination of WWE’s television, digital and studios teams into one organization. Other adjustments in the prior year period include severance expenses associated with a reduction in our workforce as a result of COVID-19.




	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				Increase
	2021		2020		(decrease)
Adjusted OIBDA
Media	$	278.4	$	294.8	(6)	%
Live Events		6.1		(10.9)	156	%
Consumer Products		22.6		17.5	29	%
Corporate		(77.2)		(66.4)	(16)	%
Total Adjusted OIBDA	$	229.9	$	235.0	(2)	%

Media

The following tables present the performance results and key drivers for our Media segment:



	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				Increase
	2021		2020		(decrease)
Net Revenues
Network (including pay-per-view) (1)	$	184.0	$	140.7	31	%
Core content rights fees (2)		422.8		398.5	6	%
Advertising and sponsorship (3)		50.4		48.8	3	%
Other (4)		21.4		69.7	(69)	%
Total net revenues	$	678.6	$	657.7	3	%



	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,
	2021				2020
Reconciliation of Operating Income to Adjusted OIBDA			% of Rev				% of Rev
Operating income	$	257.1	38	%	$	265.4	40	%
Depreciation and amortization		11.0	2	%		11.4	2	%
Stock-based compensation		10.3	2	%		18.0	3	%
Other adjustments		—	—	%		—	—	%
Adjusted OIBDA	$	278.4	41	%	$	294.8	45	%

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Media net revenues increased by $20.9 million, or 3%, in the current year period as compared to the prior year period. This increase was primarily driven by an increase in Network revenues of $43.3 million, or 31%, primarily driven by the upfront revenue recognition related to the delivery of certain WWE Network intellectual property rights, coupled with content license fees associated with the delivery of new WWE Network content. Additionally, our core content rights fees increased by $24.3 million, or 6%, driven primarily by the contractual escalations of our key domestic distribution agreements for our flagship programs, RAW and SmackDown. These increases were partially offset by a decline in Other revenues within the Media segment of $48.3 million, or 69%. This decline was primarily driven by the absence of a large-scale international event as a result of COVID-19.

Media Adjusted OIBDA as a percentage of revenues decreased in the current year period as compared to the prior year period. This decrease was primarily driven by $45.4 million of additional content creation related costs and the absence of a large-scale international event, partially offset by incremental network and core content rights fees revenues, as discussed above.

Live Events

The following tables present the performance results and key drivers for our Live Events segment:



	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				Increase
	2021		2020		(decrease)
Net Revenues
North American ticket sales	$	30.5	$	15.2	101	%
International ticket sales		2.4		0.2	1,100	%
Advertising and sponsorship (1)		0.7		0.4	75	%
Other (2)		4.1		3.4	21	%
Total net revenues	$	37.7	$	19.2	96	%

Operating Metrics (3)
Total live event attendance		386,400		259,000	49	%
Number of North American events		40		41	(2)	%
Average North American attendance		8,920		6,320	41	%
Average North American ticket price (dollars)	$	84.89	$	53.46	59	%
Number of international events		4		1	300	%
Average international attendance		7,420		—	NM
Average international ticket price (dollars)	$	81.96	$	—	NM

(3)Metrics exclude the events for our domestic and United Kingdom NXT brands. These are our developmental brands that typically conduct their events in smaller venues with lower ticket prices. We did not conduct any ticketed NXT events in the current year period. We conducted 44 events with paid attendance of 40,900 and average ticket prices of $37.36 in the prior year period.



	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,
	2021				2020
Reconciliation of Operating Loss to Adjusted OIBDA			% of Rev				% of Rev
Operating loss	$	5.5	15	%	$	(12.1)	(63)	%
Depreciation and amortization		—	—	%		—	—	%
Stock-based compensation		0.6	2	%		1.2	6	%
Other adjustments		—	—	%		—	—	%
Adjusted OIBDA	$	6.1	16	%	$	(10.9)	(57)	%

Live Events net revenues, which include revenues from ticket sales and travel packages, increased by $18.5 million, or 96%, in the current year period as compared to the prior year period. Revenues from our ticket sales increased by $17.5 million, or 114%, due to the return of ticketed events during the current year period. After resuming our domestic and international touring schedules, average ticket prices increased by 58% and average attendance increased by 42% as compared to the prior year period.

Live Events Adjusted OIBDA increased in the current year period as compared to the prior year period. This increase was driven by the impact of the return of ticketed events.

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Consumer Products

The following tables present the performance results and key drivers for our Consumer Products segment:



	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				Increase
	2021		2020		(decrease)
Net Revenues
Consumer product licensing	$	33.9	$	28.2	20	%
eCommerce		28.1		27.7	1	%
Venue merchandise		6.6		3.2	106	%
Total net revenues	$	68.6	$	59.1	16	%

Operating Metrics
Average eCommerce revenue per order (dollars)	$	65.93	$	56.41	17	%
Number of eCommerce orders		422,800		488,800	(14)	%
Venue merchandise domestic per capita spending (dollars)	$	16.22	$	10.41	56	%



	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,
	2021				2020
Reconciliation of Operating Income to Adjusted OIBDA			% of Rev				% of Rev
Operating income	$	21.3	31	%	$	15.9	27	%
Depreciation and amortization		0.1	0	%		—	—	%
Stock-based compensation		1.2	2	%		1.6	3	%
Other adjustments		—	—	%		—	—	%
Adjusted OIBDA	$	22.6	33	%	$	17.5	30	%

Consumer Products net revenues increased by $9.5 million, or 16%, in the current year period as compared to the prior year period. Consumer product licensing revenue increased by $5.7 million, or 20%, primarily due to higher sales of the Company’s licensed toys and collectibles. Venue merchandise revenues increased by $3.4 million, or 106%, primarily driven by the return of merchandise sales at our ticketed events in the current year.

Consumer Products Adjusted OIBDA as a percentage of revenues increased in the current year period as compared to the prior year period. This increase was driven by increased revenues, as discussed above.

Corporate



	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,
	2021				2020
Reconciliation of Operating Loss to Adjusted OIBDA			% of Rev				% of Rev
Operating loss	$	(108.5)	(14)	%	$	(96.8)	(13)	%
Depreciation and amortization		20.7	3	%		20.8	3	%
Stock-based compensation		2.5	0	%		4.1	1	%
Other adjustments (1)		8.1	1	%		5.5	1	%
Adjusted OIBDA	$	(77.2)	(10)	%	$	(66.4)	(9)	%

Corporate Adjusted OIBDA decreased by $10.8 million, or 16%, in the current year period as compared to the prior year period. This decrease was primarily driven by $5.7 million of additional staff related costs.

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Depreciation and Amortization



	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				Increase
	2021		2020		(decrease)
Depreciation and amortization	$	31.8	$	32.2	(1)	%

Depreciation and amortization expense declined slightly in the current year period as compared to the prior year period.

Interest Expense



	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				Increase
	2021		2020		(decrease)
Interest expense	$	25.5	$	26.5	(4)	%

Interest expense, which relates primarily to interest and amortization associated with our convertible notes, our real estate and equipment finance leases, the revolving credit facility and mortgage, declined by $1.0 million in the current year period as compared to the prior year period. The prior year period includes additional expenses related to the outstanding amounts under our revolving credit facility.

Other Income, Net



	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				Increase
	2021		2020		(decrease)
Other income, net	$	0.7	$	5.1	(86)	%

Other income, net is comprised of interest income, gains and losses recorded on our equity investments, realized translation gains and losses, and rental income. In the prior year period, we recognized $2.9 million of net unrealized holding gains resulting from valuation adjustments in our marketable equity investments.

Income Taxes



	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						Increase
	2021			2020			(decrease)
Provision for income taxes	$	34.1		$	32.8		4	%
Effective tax rate		23	%		22	%

The effective tax rate of 23% in the current year period approximates the Company’s currently projected annual effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2021, excluding the impact of any discrete, non-recurring tax items.

‎

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

We had cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of $448.8 million and $593.4 million as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. Our short-term investments consist primarily of U.S. Treasury securities, corporate bonds, municipal bonds, and government agency bonds. Our debt balance totaled $221.3 million and $316.8 million as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, and includes the carrying value of $199.4 million and $194.7 million related to our convertible senior notes due 2023 as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. Our debt balance as of December 31, 2020 also included $100.0 million of borrowings outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility (defined below).

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the global economy, disrupted business operations and created significant volatility and disruption to financial markets. Significant uncertainty remains as to the potential impact of COVID-19 and its variants on our operations, and on the global economy as a whole. While restrictions are easing in the United States during the summer of 2021, and we have resumed our domestic and international live event touring schedules, the extent and duration of the pandemic could continue to disrupt global markets and may affect our ability to generate cash from operations. Additionally, refer to the risk factors previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, which provides a discussion of risk factors related to COVID-19.

We believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents and short-term investment balances, along with cash generated from operations, will be sufficient to meet our ongoing operating requirements for at least the next twelve months, inclusive of dividend payments, debt service, content production activities, planned capital expenditures and for any discretionary repurchase of shares of our common stock under our approved share repurchase program (see below for further details). The Company also has available capacity of $200.0 million under its Revolving Credit Facility (defined below), which may be used, as needed, for general corporate purposes. In addition, beginning on March 18, 2021, we commenced a multi-year agreement to grant the exclusive domestic streaming and video-on-demand rights to WWE Network content via NBCU’s Peacock paid streaming service. We expect this agreement to provide future ongoing liquidity to the Company through the generation of enhanced content license fees.

In February 2019, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program of up to $500.0 million of our common stock. Repurchases may be made from time to time at management’s discretion subject to certain pre-approved parameters and in accordance with all applicable securities and other laws and regulations. The extent to which WWE repurchases its shares, and the timing of such repurchases, will depend upon a variety of factors, including liquidity, capital needs of the business, market conditions, regulatory requirements and other corporate considerations. Repurchases under this program may be funded by one or a combination of existing cash balances and free cash flow. The stock repurchase program does not obligate the Company to repurchase any minimum dollar amount or number of shares, and may be modified, suspended or discontinued at any time. We repurchased 431,704 and 2,265,701 shares of our common stock in the open market for an aggregate cost of $21.9 million and $115.6 million, respectively, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021.

As it relates to our Convertible Notes (defined below), which pursuant to the terms are currently convertible, we believe that if note holders elected to convert their notes within the next twelve months, the Company has sufficient means to settle the Convertible Notes using any combination of existing cash and cash equivalents and investment balances, borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility, cash generated from operations or through the issuance of shares.

Debt Summary and Borrowing Capacity

The Company has $215.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.375% convertible senior notes (the “Convertible Notes”) due December 15, 2023. See Note 13, Convertible Debt, and Note 5, Earnings Per Share, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on the Convertible Notes, including the dilutive nature of the Convertible Notes.

In May 2019, the Company entered into an amended and restated $200.0 million senior unsecured revolving credit facility with a syndicated group of banks, with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. acting as Administrative Agent (the “Revolving Credit Facility”). The Revolving Credit Facility has a maturity date of May 24, 2024. In April 2020, as a precautionary measure to further strengthen liquidity due to the impact of COVID-19, the Company borrowed $200.0 million under its Revolving Credit Facility. In December 2020, the Company repaid $100.0 million of the borrowings, and in January 2021, the Company repaid the remaining $100.0 million. As of September 30, 2021, the Company was in compliance with the provisions of our Revolving Credit Facility, there were no amounts outstanding, and the Company had available capacity under the terms of the facility of $200.0 million.

In September 2016, the Company acquired land and a building located in Stamford, Connecticut adjacent to our production facility. In connection with the acquisition, we assumed future obligations under a loan agreement, in the principal amount of $23.0 million, which loan is secured by a mortgage on the property. Pursuant to the loan agreement, the assets of WWE Real Estate, a subsidiary of the Company, represent collateral for the underlying mortgage, therefore these assets will not be available to satisfy debts and

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obligations due to any other creditors of the Company. As of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the amounts outstanding of the mortgage were $21.8 million and $22.1 million, respectively.

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Cash generated from operating activities was $136.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2021, as compared to $257.5 million for the corresponding period in the prior year. The $121.2 million decrease in the current year period was primarily driven by the timing of collections associated with WWE Network revenues and our large-scale international events.

In the current year period, we spent $12.6 million on content production activities, including WWE’s Most Wanted Treasures, A&E: Biography, WWE Evil, and various programs for WWE Network, as compared to $19.5 million in the prior year period. We anticipate spending approximately $5 million on content production activities during the remainder of the current year. We received content production incentives of $9.2 million in the current year period, as compared to $0.4 million received in the prior year period. We anticipate receiving approximately $10 million of content production related incentives during the remainder of the year.

Our accounts receivable represents a significant portion of our current assets and relate principally to a limited number of distributors and licensees. At September 30, 2021, our largest receivable balance from customers was 42% of our gross accounts receivable. Changes in the financial condition or operations of our distributors, customers or licensees may result in increased delayed payments or non-payments which would adversely impact our cash flows from operating activities and/or our results of operations. We believe credit risk with respect to accounts receivable is limited due to the generally high credit quality of the Company’s major customers.

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

Cash used in investing activities was $73.5 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2021, as compared to cash provided of $19.5 million in the prior year period. During the current year period, we purchased $225.3 million of new short-term investments and received proceeds from the maturities of these investments of $177.3 million, as compared to proceeds of $105.4 million and purchases of $64.3 million in the prior year period. Capital expenditures increased by $3.0 million in the current year period, as we have resumed the construction activity on the Company’s new global headquarters space in Stamford, Connecticut. Capital expenditures for the remainder of the current year are estimated to range between $35 million and $50 million, with a large portion of this spend associated with the Company’s new global headquarters. Our estimated range for capital expenditures during the fourth quarter of 2021 incorporates some potential for supply chain disruption and associated potential timing related changes in spending.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

Cash used in financing activities was $253.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, as compared to cash provided of $152.0 million for the prior year period. The Company paid $115.6 million for stock repurchases under its approved stock repurchase program and repaid $100.0 million from borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility during the current year period. The Company received proceeds of $200.0 million from borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility in the prior year period. The Company made dividend payments of $27.4 million and $27.9 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Additionally, the Company made employee payroll withholding tax payments of $5.6 million in the current year period as compared to $11.0 million in the prior year period related to the net settlement upon vesting of employee equity awards.

Contractual Obligations

Other than for obligations in the ordinary course of business, there have been no significant changes to our contractual obligations that were previously disclosed in our Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.

Application of Critical Accounting Policies

There have been no significant changes to our critical accounting policies that were previously disclosed in our Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 or in the methodology used in formulating these significant judgments and estimates that affect the application of these policies.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

The information set forth under Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements under the caption “Recent Accounting Pronouncements” is incorporated herein by reference.

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Cautionary Statement for Purposes of the “Safe Harbor” Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe harbor” for certain statements that are forward-looking and are not based on historical facts. When used in this Form 10-K and our other SEC filings, our press releases and comments made in earnings calls, investor presentations or otherwise to the public, the words “may,” “will,” “could,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “continue,” “project,” “intend,” “estimate,” “believe,” “expect” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such words. These statements relate to our future plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and are not historical facts and accordingly involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results or the performance by us to be materially different from future results or performance expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements made in this Form 10-K and our other SEC filings, in press releases, earnings calls and other statements made by our authorized officers: (i) risks relating to the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on our business, results of operations and financial condition; (ii) risks relating to entering, maintaining and renewing major distribution, licensing and event agreements; (iii) risks relating to a rapidly evolving media landscape; (iv) risks relating to WWE Network; (v) our need to continue to develop creative and entertaining programs and events; (vi) our need to retain or continue to recruit key performers; (vii) the risk of a decline in the popularity of our brand of sports entertainment, including as a result of changes in the social and political climate; (viii) the possible unexpected loss of the services of Vincent K. McMahon; (ix) possible adverse changes in the regulatory atmosphere and related private sector initiatives; (x) the highly competitive, rapidly changing and increasingly fragmented nature of the markets in which we operate and/or our inability to compete effectively, especially against competitors with greater financial resources or marketplace presence; (xi) uncertainties associated with international markets including possible disruptions and reputational risks; (xii) our difficulty or inability to promote and conduct our live events and/or other businesses if we do not comply with applicable regulations; (xiii) our dependence on our intellectual property rights, our need to protect those rights, and the risks of our infringement of others’ intellectual property rights; (xiv) risks relating to the complexity of our rights agreements across distribution mechanisms and geographical areas; (xv) the risk of substantial liability in the event of accidents or injuries occurring during our physically demanding events including, without limitation, claims alleging traumatic brain injury; (xvi) exposure to risks relating to large public events as well as travel to and from such events; (xvii) risks inherent in our feature film business; (xviii) a variety of risks as we expand into new or complementary businesses and/or make strategic investments and/or acquisitions; (xix) risks related to our computer systems and online operations; (xx) risks relating to privacy norms and regulations; (xxi) risks relating to a possible decline in general economic conditions and disruption in financial markets; (xxii) risks relating to our accounts receivable; (xxiii) risks relating to our indebtedness including our convertible notes; (xxiv) potential substantial liabilities if litigation is resolved unfavorably; (xxv) our potential failure to meet market expectations for our financial performance; (xxvi) through his beneficial ownership of a substantial majority of our Class B common stock, our controlling stockholder, Vincent K. McMahon, exercises control over our affairs, and his interests may conflict with the holders of our Class A common stock; (xxvii) a substantial number of shares are eligible for sale by Mr. McMahon and members of his family or trusts established for their benefit, and the sale, or the perception of possible sales, of those shares could lower our stock price; and (xxviii) risks related to the volatility of our Class A common stock. In addition, our dividend is dependent on a number of factors, including, among other things, our liquidity and historical and projected cash flow, strategic plan (including alternative uses of capital), our financial results and condition, contractual and legal restrictions on the payment of dividends (including under our revolving credit facility), general economic and competitive conditions and such other factors as our Board of Directors may consider relevant. Forward-looking statements made by the Company speak only as of the date made, are subject to change without any obligation on the part of the Company to update or revise them, and undue reliance should not be placed on these statements. For more information about risks and uncertainties associated with the Company’s business, please refer to the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Risk Factors” sections of this Form 10-Q and our other SEC filings, including, but not limited to, our annual report on Form 10-K.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

There have been no significant changes to our market risk factors that were previously disclosed in our Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, with the participation of our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, evaluated our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) or Rule 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). Based on that evaluation, our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2021.

Our management, including our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal controls will prevent all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how

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well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system’s objectives will be met. Further, because of inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2021, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

Information with respect to this item may be found in Note 18, Commitments and Contingencies, to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

We do not believe there have been any material changes to the risk factors previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.

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

The following table presents information with respect to purchases of common stock of the Company made during the three months ended September 30, 2021 pursuant to the Company’s authorized share repurchase program:



Period	Total Number of Shares Purchased	Average Price Paid Per Share		Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Program	Maximum Dollar Value that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Program ⁽¹⁾
July 1, 2021 to July 31, 2021	—		—	—	$	322,809,312
August 1, 2021 to August 31, 2021	282,269		49.60	282,269	$	308,808,114
September 1, 2021 to September 30, 2021	149,435		52.72	149,435	$	300,929,323
Total	431,704	$	50.68	431,704	$	300,929,323

(1)In February 2019, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program of up to $500.0 million of our common stock. Repurchases may be made from time to time at management’s discretion subject to certain pre-approved parameters and in accordance with all applicable securities and other laws and regulations. The stock repurchase program does not obligate the Company to repurchase any minimum dollar amount or number of shares and may be modified, suspended or discontinued at any time. The repurchased shares under the program in previous periods were subsequently retired.

Item 6. Exhibits

(a) Exhibits:



Exhibit ‎No.	Description of Exhibit
31.1	Certification by Vincent K. McMahon pursuant to Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).
31.2	Certification by Kristina Salen pursuant to Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).
32.1	Certification by Vincent K. McMahon and Kristina Salen pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).
101.INS	Inline XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)

* Indicates management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

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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, thereto duly authorized.


		World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (Registrant)

Dated:	November 4, 2021	By:	/s/ KRISTINA SALEN
			Kristina Salen
			Chief Financial Officer
			(principal financial officer and authorized
			signatory)



		By:	/s/ KAREN MULLANE
			Karen Mullane
			Chief Accounting Officer
			(principal accounting officer and authorized
			signatory)