10-Q: Collective Audience Inc. Reports Q3 2024 Results, Impacted by Goodwill Impairment and Business Combinations

Sentiment:

Quarterly Report


Collective Audience Inc.'s Q3 2024 results reveal a net loss driven by significant impairment charges and the impact of recent acquisitions.

Delay expectedThe company received notification from Nasdaq regarding non-compliance with listing requirements due to the failure to timely file its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for its fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2024.
Capital raiseThe company expects that it will need additional capital to satisfy its liquidity needs.DLQ, DLQ Parent, Abri, and the Sponsor have agreed that Sponsor shall be the exclusive financing source of capital up to $30 million, and will use commercially reasonable efforts to enter into a mutually acceptable agreement for that purpose.Absent the aforementioned $30 million financing from the Sponsor, and if the Sponsor is unable fund or secure financing up to $30 million, the Company could otherwise be under-capitalized and obliged to seek financing from alternative sources, which it may or may not be able to obtain.
Worse than expectedThe company's net loss was significantly worse than the same period last year due to impairment charges.Revenue was slightly lower than the same period last year.The company's auditors have raised substantial doubt about the company's ability to continue as a going concern.

Summary

  • Collective Audience Inc. reported its Q3 2024 financial results, showing a net loss of $10.57 million, or $0.65 per share, compared to a net loss of $1.70 million, or $0.15 per share, in Q3 2023.
  • Revenue for the quarter was $3.13 million, slightly down from $3.27 million in the same period last year.
  • The company experienced a significant loss from operations of $2.86 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024.
  • A major factor contributing to the net loss was a loss on impairments totaling $10.48 million.
  • The company completed acquisitions of DSL Digital LLC and BeOp during the quarter, impacting the balance sheet and operations.
  • As of September 30, 2024, the company's cash and cash equivalents stood at $568,607.
  • The company's intangible assets were significantly impacted by impairments, reducing their net value.
  • The company's auditors have raised substantial doubt about the company's ability to continue as a going concern.
  • The company is seeking additional capital to meet its liquidity needs, including potential financing from its Sponsor.

Sentiment

Score: 3

Explanation: The sentiment is negative due to the significant net loss, impairment charges, auditor's concerns about going concern, and Nasdaq delisting. While acquisitions offer potential, the current financial situation is precarious.

Positives

  • The company completed the acquisitions of DSL Digital LLC and BeOp, which are expected to provide strategic synergies.
  • The company is actively seeking additional capital to address its liquidity concerns.
  • The company has a plan to fund operations over a reasonable period of time, including exploring strategic alliances.

Negatives

  • The company reported a significant net loss of $10.57 million in Q3 2024.
  • The company experienced a decrease in revenue compared to the same period last year.
  • The company recorded a substantial impairment loss of $10.48 million.
  • The company's accumulated deficit has increased significantly.
  • The company's auditors have raised substantial doubt about the company's ability to continue as a going concern.
  • The company's working capital is deficient.

Risks

  • The company's ability to continue as a going concern is uncertain due to operating losses and negative cash flows.
  • The company's reliance on cloud-based hosting poses a risk if the relationship is disrupted or terminated.
  • The company's success is dependent on securing additional funding, which is not guaranteed.
  • The company faces risks related to legal proceedings and claims.
  • The company's Nasdaq delisting could negatively impact investor confidence and stock price.

Future Outlook

The company expects to need additional capital to satisfy its liquidity needs and is exploring financing options, including potential funding from its Sponsor. The company's future performance is dependent on its ability to secure additional funding and execute its business plan.

Industry Context

The company operates in the digital marketing and advertising technology industry, which is characterized by rapid technological advancements and evolving consumer behavior. The company's acquisitions of DSL Digital LLC and BeOp are aimed at strengthening its market position and expanding its service offerings in this competitive landscape.

Comparison to Industry Standards

  • It is difficult to compare Collective Audience's results directly to industry standards without more specific information on their competitive set.
  • Companies like Trade Desk, PubMatic, and Criteo are key players in the ad tech space, but their business models and scale differ significantly.
  • Collective Audience's focus on AI-driven conversational advertising through BeOp could be compared to emerging trends in personalized marketing.
  • However, the company's current financial challenges and Nasdaq delisting make it difficult to benchmark against industry leaders.

Legal Proceedings

  • The company is subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of business.
  • In August 2023, a creditor of Push Interactive, LLC, filed a complaint against Push in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles, claiming an unpaid principal amount of $48,879.00 were due.
  • On February 26, 2024, a former employee of DLQ, Inc. filed a AAA arbitration demand against the Company, Logiq, Inc. and DLQ, Inc. claiming breach of contract and statutory wage payment violations.

Related Party Transactions

  • On March 31, 2024, the Company entered into a simple promissory note with the Company's Chief Executive Officer, Peter Bordes, pursuant to which Mr. Bordes lent certain money to the Company.

Stakeholder Impact

  • Shareholders face potential losses due to the company's financial difficulties and Nasdaq delisting.
  • Employees may be affected by potential cost-cutting measures or restructuring.
  • Customers may experience changes in service offerings or pricing.
  • Suppliers and creditors face increased risk of non-payment.

Next Steps

  • The company will continue to seek additional capital to address its liquidity concerns.
  • The company will work to regain compliance with Nasdaq listing requirements.
  • The company will focus on integrating the acquired businesses and realizing synergies.

Key Dates

DateDescription
2020-01-08DLQ acquired substantially all of the assets of Push Holdings, Inc.
2022-03-31DLQ completed the acquisitions of certain customer contractual agreements of Battle Bridge Labs, LLC and Section 2383 LLC.
2022-09-09DLQ entered into a definitive merger agreement with Abri Merger Sub Inc.
2023-11-02The Business Combination between Abri and DLQ was completed.
2024-06-28The Company acquired DSL Digital LLC.
2024-08-01The Company entered into a Share Exchange Agreement to acquire BeOp.
2024-09-30End of the quarterly period.
2025-12-31Date for potential earnout payment to BeOp sellers.

Keywords

financial results, impairment, acquisition, net loss, revenue, liquidity, going concern, DSL Digital, BeOp, Collective Audience

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