FLNT Fluent Inc

1. Summary of significant accounting policies

2. Loss per share

Basic loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, in addition to restricted stock units ("RSUs") that are vested but not delivered. Diluted loss per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock are exercised or converted into common stock and is calculated using the treasury stock method for stock options, restricted stock units, restricted stock, warrants and deferred common stock. Stock equivalent shares are excluded from the calculation in loss periods, as their effects would be anti-dilutive.

For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, basic and diluted loss per share were as follows:

Based on exercise prices compared to the average stock prices for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, certain stock equivalents, including restricted stock units and stock options, have been excluded from the diluted weighted average share calculations due to their anti-dilutive nature.

3. Intangible assets, net

Intangible assets, net, other than goodwill, consist of the following: 

The gross amounts associated with software developed for internal use primarily represent capitalized costs of internally developed software. The amounts relating to acquired proprietary technology, customer relationships, trade names, domain names, databases, and non-competition agreements primarily represent the fair values of intangible assets acquired as a result of the acquisition of Fluent, LLC, effective December 8, 2015; the acquisition of Q Interactive, LLC, effective June 8, 2016; the acquisition of substantially all the assets of AdParlor Holdings, Inc. and certain of its affiliates, effective July 1, 2019 (the "AdParlor Acquisition"); the acquisition of a 50% interest in Winopoly, LLC, effective April 1, 2020; the acquisition of a 100% interest in True North Loyalty, LLC, (the "True North Acquisition"), effective January 1, 2022, and the consolidation of TAPP Influencers Corp. ("TAPP") effective January 9, 2023 (see Note 11, Variable Interest Entity).

Amortization expenses of $2,483 and $2,256 for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, are included in depreciation and amortization expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. As of March 31, 2024, intangible assets with a carrying amount of $688, included in the gross amount of software developed for internal use, have not commenced amortization, as they are not ready for their intended use.

As of March 31, 2024, estimated amortization expenses related to the Company's intangible assets for the remainder of 2024 and through 2029 and thereafter are as follows:

4. Goodwill

Goodwill represents the difference between the purchase price and the estimated fair value of net assets acquired, when accounted for by the acquisition method of accounting. As of March 31, 2024, the total balance of goodwill was $1,261, which represented no change from the balance as of  December 31, 2023. The remaining balance relates to the AdParlor Acquisition.

In accordance with ASC 350, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other, goodwill is assessed at least annually for impairment, or when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable, by assessing qualitative factors or performing a quantitative analysis in determining whether it is more likely than not that its fair value exceeds the carrying value. The measurement date of the Company's annual goodwill impairment test is set to October 1.

5. Long-term debt, net

Long-term debt, net of unamortized discount and financing costs, related to the Credit Facility (as defined herein) consisted of the following:

Citizens Credit Facility

On March 31, 2021, Fluent, LLC (the "Borrower") entered into a credit agreement (as amended, modified, extended, restated, replaced, or supplemented from time to time, the "Citizens Credit Agreement") with certain subsidiaries of the Borrower as guarantors, the lenders thereto, and Citizens Bank, N.A. ("Citizens Bank") as administrative agent, lead arranger and bookrunner. The original Citizens Credit Agreement provided for a term loan in the aggregate principal amount of $50,000 funded on the closing date (the "Term Loan"), along with an undrawn revolving credit facility of up to $15,000 (the "Revolving Loans," and together with the Term Loan, the "Credit Facility"). 

On May 15, 2023, the Borrower and Citizens Bank entered into a third amendment to the Citizens Credit Agreement, which amended certain provisions by adding an additional tier of applicable margin to the selected rates and providing for additional notice of certain material events and, for the remaining fiscal quarters of 2023, established certain terms and conditions under the Citizens Credit Agreement.

On August 21, 2023, the Borrower and Citizens Bank entered into a fourth amendment to the Citizens Credit Agreement (the "Fourth Amendment"), which adjusted certain financial covenants for the remaining fiscal quarters of 2023, required updated reporting requirements, including a business consultant to be retained at the Borrower's expense and required a $5,000 prepayment of the Term Loan and a reduction in the maximum amount of the Revolving Loans by the same amount to $10,000. The $5,000 prepayment amount was paid as of September 30, 2023, and in evaluating the amendments under ASC 470-50, Debt- Modifications and Extinguishments, the Company determined that the amendment should be treated as a debt modification with no gain or loss recognized.

On November 15, 2023, the Borrower and Citizens Bank entered into a Temporary Waiver under Credit Agreement (the "Initial Waiver"), pursuant to which Citizens Bank agreed to waive, through the termination date, its rights and remedies arising from the Company’s breach of the total leverage ratio covenant during the quarter ending September 30, 2023. On January 17, 2024, the Initial Waiver termination date was extended until January 26, 2024.

On January 26, 2024, the Borrower and Citizens Bank entered into a Third Temporary Waiver and Amendment to Credit agreement (the "Third Waiver"), pursuant to which Citizens Bank agreed to waive through the earlier of  April 30, 2024, an occurrence of any other event of default, or failure to comply with requirements of the Third Waiver and its rights and remedies arising from the Company’s breach of the total leverage covenant and fixed charge ratio during the quarters ending December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2024. Among other things, the Third Waiver required the Borrower to, by March 31, 2024, deliver one or more Transaction Commitments, defined as: (i) a third-party commitment to provide additional capital in exchange for equity or subordinated debt, (ii) a purchase agreement for the sale of a divested business, or (iii) a third-party commitment to refinance the Credit Agreement. One condition of the Transaction Commitments was that the Borrower provide for net proceeds, in the aggregate, to Fluent of not less than $10,000.

All obligations under the Citizens Credit Agreement were accelerated from the initial March 30, 2026 deadline to September 30, 2025, and interest was payable monthly. Scheduled principal amortization of the Term Loan was $1,250 per quarter, which commenced with the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2021. At March 31, 2024, the Company was in compliance with all of the financial covenants under the Citizens Credit Agreement, except for the total leverage ratio and fixed charge ratio covenants. As discussed above, these covenant breaches were waived through the termination date by the Third Waiver. 

Borrowings under the Citizens Credit Agreement bore interest at a rate per annum equal to the benchmark selected by the Borrower, which was based on the Alternative Base Rate (as defined in the Citizens Credit Agreement), LIBOR (as defined in the Citizens Credit Agreement) rate (subject to a floor of 0.25%) prior to the election as of December 31, 2022, or Term SOFR (as defined in the Citizens Credit Agreement) (subject to a floor of 0.00%) subsequent to the election, plus a margin applicable to the selected benchmark. The applicable margin was between 0.75% and 2.25% for borrowings based on the Alternative Base Rate and 1.75% and 3.25% for borrowings based on Term SOFR, depending upon the Borrower's total leverage ratio. The opening interest rate of the Credit Facility was 2.50% (LIBOR + 2.25%), which increased to 9.43% (Term SOFR + 0.1% + 4.00%) as of March 31, 2024.

The Citizens Credit Agreement also contains certain customary conditions applicable to extensions of credit, including that representations and warranties made in the Credit Agreement be materially true and correct at the time of such extension (once such extensions are no longer prohibited by the Fourth Amendment or a later amendment). 

On April 2, 2024, the Company repaid the $30,000 aggregate principal amount of the Term Loan, prior to maturity, resulting in a debt extinguishment loss of approximately $1,000, which will be recognized in the second quarter of 2024.

New Credit Facility

On April 2, 2024, Fluent, LLC, as Borrower, entered into a credit agreement (the "SLR Credit Agreement") with Fluent, Inc. and certain subsidiaries of the Borrower as guarantors, Crystal Financial LLC D/B/A SLR Credit Solutions, as administrative agent, lead arranger and bookrunner ("SLR") and each other lender from time to time party thereto.

The SLR Credit Agreement provides for a $20,000 term loan (the "SLR Term Loan") and a revolving credit facility of up to $30,000 (the "SLR Revolver" and together with the SLR Term Loan, the "SLR Credit Facility"). As of April 2, 2024, the SLR Credit Facility has an outstanding principal balance of $32,700 and matures on April 2, 2029.

The Company used a portion of the net proceeds of the SLR Credit Facility to repay its outstanding Term Loan under the Citizens Credit Agreement, dated March 31, 2021. 

There is no principal amortization prior to maturity under the SLR Credit Agreement except for certain mandatory prepayments to be made with the net cash proceeds of certain asset sales, casualty events, and other extraordinary receipts and upon the occurrence of certain other events, in each case, subject to certain reinvestment rights, thresholds and other exceptions. Unfunded commitments will be subject to an unused facility fee, which will be payable monthly in arrears, as of the month following the closing, at a rate of 0.50% per annum. All amounts owed under the Credit Facility are due and payable on the five-year anniversary of the closing date (the "Maturity Date"), or earlier following a change in control or an event of default, unless otherwise extended in accordance with the terms of the SLR Credit Agreement. Borrowings under the SLR Credit Agreement bear interest at a rate per annum equal to a 3-month term SOFR plus 0.26161%, subject to a 1.50% floor, plus 5.25% (the "Applicable Margin"). The Applicable Margin will be reduced to 5.0% when our fixed charge coverage ratio is greater than 1.10 to 1. The opening interest rate of the SLR Credit Facility was 10.81% [SOFR + CSA + 5.25%].

The Borrower's ability to draw on the SLR Revolver depends on its weekly borrowing base, which is calculated by adding specified percentages established by SLR of the Borrower's eligible accounts receivable and cash less reserves, subject to certain limitations.  

On May 15, 2024, the Borrower and SLR entered into a First Amendment to Credit Agreement, pursuant to which, among other things, SLR (1) waived any required prepayments on the SLR Revolver from the proceeds from the Company’s Private Placement; (2) required that the Credit Parties (as defined in the SLR Credit Agreement) retain a financial advisor; (3) increased the minimum excess availability covenant following the Private Placement; (4) amended the definition of borrowing base (as defined in the SLR Credit Agreement) and (5) amended certain post-closing obligations.

The SLR Credit Agreement contains restrictive covenants which impose limitations on the way the Company conducts business, including limitations on the amount of additional debt the Company is able to incur and its ability to make certain investments or other restricted payments. The SLR Credit Agreement is guaranteed by the Company and certain of its direct and indirect subsidiaries and is secured by substantially all of the Company's assets and those of its direct and indirect subsidiaries, including Fluent, LLC.

Note Payable

On March 17, 2024, Fluent, LLC entered into a junior secured promissory note (the "Note Payable") with Freedom Debt Relief, LLC in the principal amount of $2,000 in connection with the Berman Settlement Agreement (see Note 10, Contingencies). The Note Payable bears interest at a rate per annum equal to one-month CME Term SOFR (defined as the rate published by the CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited) plus 11.0%. The opening interest rate of the Note Payable is 16.32% [SOFR +11%].

A maximum of $1,000 of the borrowings under the Note Payable are secured by substantially all of the assets of Fluent, LLC. This security interest is subordinate to the security interest under the SLR Credit Agreement.

The Note Payable matures on March 31, 2026 and interest is payable quarterly. Scheduled principal amortization of the Note Payable is $250 per quarter, which will commence with the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2024.

Maturities

As of March 31, 2024, scheduled future maturities of the Citizens Credit Agreement and Note Payable are as follows, not reflective of the debt being accelerated as noted in Note 1:

6. Income taxes

The Company is subject to federal and state income taxes in the United States. The tax provision for interim periods is determined using an estimate of the Company's annual effective tax rate ("AETR"). The Company updates its estimated AETR on a quarterly basis and, if the estimate changes, a cumulative adjustment is made. 

As of  March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company recorded a full valuation allowance against net deferred tax assets and intends to continue maintaining a full valuation allowance on these net deferred tax assets until there is sufficient evidence to support the release of all or a portion of these allowances. Release of some or all of the valuation allowance would result in the recognition of certain deferred tax assets and an increase in deferred tax benefit for any period in which such a release may be recorded. However, the exact timing and amount of any valuation allowance release are subject to change, depending upon the level of profitability that the Company is able to achieve and the net deferred tax assets available.

For the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company's effective income tax expense rate of 16.9% differed from the statutory federal income tax rate of 21% primarily due to state and local tax expense, offset by the benefit of federal research and development credit. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company's effective income tax expense rate of 0.3% primarily represents the projected federal and state cash tax expense expected to result in taxable income for full-year 2023 after the impact of a non-deductible goodwill impairment against pre-tax year-to-date losses, offset by the benefit of federal research and development credits on expected federal cash tax expense. 

The Company assesses its income tax positions and records tax benefits for all years subject to examination based upon its evaluation of the facts, circumstances, and information available as of the reporting dates. For those tax positions where it is more-likely-than-not that a tax benefit will be sustained, the Company has recorded the largest amount of tax benefit with a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with a taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. For those income tax positions where it is not more-likely-than-not that a tax benefit will be sustained, no tax benefit has been recognized in the Company's financial statements.

As of  March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the balance of unrecognized tax benefits was $1,480. If the Company’s tax positions are ultimately sustained, the Company’s liability would be reduced by $1,480, all of which would impact the Company’s tax provision. As of March 31, 2024, the Company has not accrued any interest or penalties with respect to its uncertain tax positions.

The Company is reasonably certain that all of its uncertain tax positions will reverse within the next twelve months due to the closing of the statute of limitations.

7. Common stock and treasury stock

Common stock

Effective at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time on April 11, 2024, the Company effected a 1-for-6 (the "Reverse Stock Split Ratio") reverse split of the issued shares of the Company’s common stock (the "Reverse Stock Split") pursuant to a certificate of amendment to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on April 11, 2024. As a result of the Reverse Stock Split, every six shares of common stock issued and outstanding or held by the Company in treasury stock were combined and reclassified into one share of common stock. No fractional shares were issued as a result of the Reverse Stock Split. Stockholders who were otherwise entitled to receive a fractional share received an additional fraction of a share of common stock to round up to the next whole share. The Reverse Stock Split affected all stockholders uniformly and did not alter any stockholder’s percentage ownership interest or any stockholder’s proportionate voting power, except for immaterial adjustments that resulted from the treatment of fractional shares. The Reverse Stock Split did not change the number of authorized shares of common stock or the par value per share of the common stock.

The Reverse Stock Split reduced the number of issued and outstanding shares of common stock from 81,571,864 shares to 13,660,598 shares and reduced the issued shares of common stock held by the Company in treasury stock from 4,611,569 shares to 768,595 shares.

The common stock began trading on a reverse split-adjusted basis at the opening of trading on The Nasdaq Capital Market on April 12, 2024 under the same symbol (FLNT) with a new CUSIP number (34380C 201).

As of the effective time of the Reverse Stock Split, the number of shares available for issuance under the Company’s equity incentive plans and the number of shares issuable pursuant to each outstanding equity award immediately prior to the Reverse Stock Split were reduced proportionately at the Reverse Stock Split Ratio, and the exercise price for each outstanding stock option was increased in inverse proportion to the Reverse Stock Split Ratio.

As of  March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the number of issued shares of common stock was 14,429,193 and 14,384,936, respectively, which included shares of treasury stock of 768,595 and 768,595, respectively.

For the three months ended March 31, 2024, the change in the number of issued shares of common stock was the result of an aggregate 44,257 shares of common stock issued upon vesting of RSUs, in which no shares of common stock were withheld to cover statutory taxes upon such vesting.

Treasury stock

As of  March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company held shares of treasury stock of 768,595 and 768,595, respectively, with a cost of $11,407 and $11,407, respectively.

The Company's share-based incentive plans allow employees the option to either make cash payment or forfeit shares of common stock upon vesting to satisfy federal and state statutory tax withholding obligations associated with equity awards. The forfeited shares of common stock may be taken into treasury stock by the Company or sold on the open market. For the three months ended March 31, 2024, no shares of common stock were withheld to cover statutory taxes owed by certain employees for this purpose, all of which were taken into treasury stock. See Note 8, Share-based compensation.

8. Share-based compensation

On June 8, 2022, the stockholders of the Company approved the Fluent, Inc. 2022 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the "2022 Plan") that authorized for issuance 2,570,421 shares of the Company's common stock. As of March 31, 2024, the Company had 1,173,248 shares of common stock available for grants pursuant to the 2022 Plan, which includes 1,286,607 shares of common stock previously available for issuance under the 2018 Stock Incentive Plan. 

The primary purpose of the 2022 Plan and prior plans is to attract, retain, reward, and motivate certain individuals by providing them with opportunities to acquire or increase their ownership interests in the Company. In October 2022, the Company issued to certain of its senior officers and employees, RSUs (time-based vesting), long-term incentive grants (performance and time-based vesting RSUs), or performance share units ("PSUs") (achievement of performance targets settled in cash) under the 2022 Plan.

Stock options

The Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors approved the grant of stock options to certain Company executives, which were issued on February 1, 2019, December 20, 2019,  March 1, 2020, and March 1, 2021. Subject to continuing service, 50% of the shares subject to these stock options will vest if the Company's stock price remains above 125.00%, 133.33%, 133.33% and 133.33%, respectively, of the exercise price for 20 consecutive trading days, and the remaining 50% of the shares subject to these stock options will vest if the Company's stock price remains above 156.25%, 177.78%, 177.78% and 177.78%, respectively, of the exercise price for 20 consecutive trading days; provided, that no shares will vest prior to the first anniversary of the grant date. As of March 31, 2024, the first condition for the stock options issued on February 1, 2019, December 20, 2019 and March 1, 2020 had been met and the second condition for the stock options issued on December 20, 2019 and March 1, 2020 had been met. Any shares that remain unvested as of the fifth anniversary of the grant date will vest in full on such date. The fair value of the stock options granted was estimated at the trading day before the date of grant using a Monte Carlo simulation model. The key assumptions utilized to calculate the grant-date fair values for these awards are summarized below:

For the three months ended March 31, 2024, details of stock option activity were as follows:

The aggregate intrinsic value amounts in the table above represent the difference between the closing price of the Company's common stock at the end of the reporting period and the corresponding exercise prices, multiplied by the number of in-the-money stock options as of the same date.

For the three months ended March 31, 2024, the unvested balance of stock options was as follows:

Compensation expense recognized for stock options of $0 and $0 for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, was recorded in sales and marketing, product development, and general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. As of March 31, 2024, there was $0 of unrecognized share-based compensation with respect to outstanding stock options.

Restricted stock units and restricted stock

For the three months ended March 31, 2024, details of unvested RSU activity were as follows:

Compensation expense recognized for RSUs of $618 and $1,148 for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, was recorded in sales and marketing, product development and general and administrative in the consolidated statements of operations, and intangible assets, net in the consolidated balance sheets. The fair value of the RSUs and restricted stock was estimated using the closing prices of the Company's common stock on the dates of grant.

As of March 31, 2024, unrecognized share-based compensation expense associated with the granted RSUs and stock options amounted to $2,223, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.1 years.

For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, share-based compensation for the Company's stock options, RSUs, and common stock awards were allocated to the following accounts in the consolidated financial statements:

As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company recorded a liability of $22 and $22, respectively, related to PSUs that are to be settled in cash.

9. Segment information

The Company identifies operating segments as components of an entity for which discrete financial information is available and is regularly reviewed by the CODM, in making decisions regarding resource allocation and performance assessment. The profitability measure employed by CODM is earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization ("EBITDA"). As of March 31, 2024, the Company had two operating segments and two corresponding reporting units, "Fluent" and "All Other," and one reportable segment. "Fluent," for the purposes of segment reporting, represents the consolidated operating results of the Company excluding "All Other." "All Other" represents the operating results of AdParlor, LLC and is included for purposes of reconciliation of the respective balances below to the consolidated financial statements.

Summarized financial information concerning the Company's segments for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 are shown in the following tables below:

(1) Revenue aggregation is based upon location of the customer.

As of March 31, 2024, long-lived assets are all located in the United States.

For the three months ended  March 31, 2024, the Company identified an international customer within the Fluent segment with revenue in the amount of $6,669 which represents 10% of consolidated revenue. In addition, 23% of the Company’s revenue is earned from customers located in Israel.

10. Contingencies

In the ordinary course of business, the Company is subject to loss contingencies that cover a range of matters. An estimated loss from a loss contingency, such as a legal proceeding or claim, is accrued if it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. In determining whether a loss should be accrued, the Company evaluates, among other factors, the degree of probability and the ability to reasonably estimate the amount of any such loss. The Company does not accrue liabilities when the likelihood that the liability has been incurred is probable, but the amount cannot be reasonably estimated.

On January 28, 2020, Fluent received a Civil Investigative Demand from the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") regarding compliance with the FTC Act and the Telemarketing Sales Rule. On October 18, 2022, the FTC staff sent the Company a draft complaint and proposed consent order seeking injunctive relief and a civil monetary penalty. On January 12, 2023, the Company made an initial proposal of $5,000 for the civil monetary penalty contingent on successful negotiation of the remaining outstanding terms. The Company accrued the same amount for the year ending December 31, 2022. On  May 26, 2023, Fluent agreed to the terms of a Stipulated Order for Permanent Injunction, Monetary Judgment, Civil Penalty Judgment, and Other Relief (the "FTC Consent Order"). The FTC Consent Order imposed a civil penalty of $2,500, required additional changes to the Company’s employment opportunities marketplace and programmatic advertising business, and resulted in the implementation of compliance measures across the business. On July 17, 2023, the FTC filed its Complaint for Civil Penalties, Permanent Injunction, Monetary Relief, and Other Relief and, together with Fluent, filed a Joint Motion for Entry of Proposed Stipulated Order in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The FTC Consent Order was entered by the Court on August 11, 2023, and the escrow funds were released on August 15, 2023. The Company maintains insurance policies that cover certain legal costs, which include those incurred related to the FTC investigation.

On October 6, 2020, the Company received notice from the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General ("PAAG") that it was reviewing the Company’s business practices relating to telemarketing. After the Company and the PAAG were unable to reach agreement on a proposed Assurance of Voluntary Compliance, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania filed a complaint for permanent injunction, civil penalties, and other relief in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania on November 2, 2022. On May 18, 2023, the parties entered into a settlement and jointly filed a Consent Petition of Final Decree, wherein the Company agreed to injunctive relief and to pay the PAAG $250 for investigatory costs, all of which was paid as of June 30, 2023.

The Company had been involved in a Telephone Consumer Protection Act class action, Daniel Berman v. Freedom Financial Network, which was originally filed in 2018. On May 31, 2023, the parties entered into an Amended Class Action Settlement Agreement (the "Berman Settlement Agreement"), which included injunctive provisions and payment to plaintiffs of $9,750 for legal fees and a consumer redress fund, of which the Company was responsible for $3,100 due upon final approval of the settlement. That amount had been accrued as of December 31, 2022. On July 28, 2023, the Court preliminarily approved the Berman Settlement Agreement. The final approval of the Berman Settlement Agreement was filed on February 23, 2024. The Company made a cash payment of $1,100 on March 15, 2024 and entered into a $2,000 interest-bearing note provided by co-defendant, Freedom Financial Network, as discussed in Note 5, Long-term debt, net, to satisfy its obligations under the Berman Settlement Agreement.

11. Variable Interest Entity

A VIE is an entity that either (i) has insufficient equity to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support, or (ii) has equity investors who lack the characteristics of a controlling financial interest. The primary beneficiary is the party that has the power to direct activities that most significantly impact the operations of the VIE and has the obligation to absorb losses or the right to benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The Company assesses whether it is the primary beneficiary of a VIE at the inception of the arrangement and as of the reporting date.

On January 9, 2023, the Company entered into employment agreements with certain key employees of TAPP, an influencer-based business that uses as an application to utilize its relationship with influencers to bring consumers to advertising clients. The Company is also a customer of TAPP and accounts for the majority of TAPP’s revenues. By virtue of TAPP’s key employees being employed by the Company and the significance of the Company to TAPP’s financial performance, the Company determined that TAPP qualified as a VIE in which the Company has a variable interest and that the Company is the primary beneficiary as a result of its significant influence and control over certain activities that most significantly impact its economic performance. As a result, the Company consolidates the TAPP operations. As the Company does not have an equity interest in TAPP, 100% of the net assets and results of the operations of TAPP are attributable to non-controlling interests.

As the Company gained control of TAPP, in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations, it was then determined that TAPP constituted a business. The deemed fair value of the consideration was $4,165, which consisted of $1,250 of initial cash and $2,915 which was contingent based upon achievement of specified revenue and media margin targets over three years. The fair value of assets acquired, which excluded the immaterial net-working capital, were determined to be the publisher contracts of $1,100, which were valued using the 'with or without' method, a variation of the income approach, to be amortized over a period of one year and industry-based trade secrets of $1,510, which were valued using the excess earnings method, a variation of the income approach, to be amortized over a period of four years. The amount of the purchase price in excess of the fair value of the net assets acquired was recorded as goodwill in the amount of $1,555 and primarily represents workforce and expected cash flow generation for the TAPP business that does not qualify for separate recognition as intangible assets included within the Fluent operating segment. For tax purposes, the value of the acquisition payments is treated as ordinary compensation for services rendered, deductible when paid and included in the employees’ wages.

12. Subsequent Events 

Divestiture 

On May 1, 2024, the Company and Caspian Ventures, LLC (“Caspian”) entered into a membership interest purchase agreement pursuant to which the Company conveyed 100% of the membership interests of True North Loyalty, LLC and its direct and indirect subsidiaries (collectively, "True North") to Caspian. True North is a subscription-based business that utilizes call center operations and other media channels to market third-party recurring revenue services to consumers. The deemed fair value of the consideration to be received was approximately $1,100, which consisted of (i) the forgiveness of a $500 deferred payment owed by the Company in connection with the True North Acquisition on January 1, 2022, (ii) a share of the True North contribution margin after the closing until the Company has received an amount equal to the closing net working capital of approximately $130, and (iii) a continued share of the True North contribution margin of an additional amount of approximately $500. The True North founder who entered into an employment agreement in connection with the True North Acquisition will remain an employee of the Company after the closing. As of March 31, 2024, the Company determined that the True North sale did not meet the criteria of a discontinued operation under ASC 205-20, Discontinued operations nor was it considered held for sale under the guidance, and as a result, it was properly reflected in the results. The Company is in the process of evaluating any additional financial impacts of this transaction. 

Private Placement

On May 13, 2024, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreements (the “Purchase Agreements”) with certain accredited investors (the "Purchasers") to sell pre-funded warrants (the "Pre-Funded Warrants") to purchase up to 2,955,084 shares of the Company's common stock, at a purchase price of $3.384 per Pre-Funded Warrant. The Pre-Funded Warrants will have an exercise price of $0.005 per share of common stock, will be immediately exercisable after stockholder approval of the Private Placement and will terminate when exercised in full. The aggregate gross proceeds for the Private Placement are to total $10,000, before deducting offering expenses payable by the Company. The exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants is subject to stockholder approval expected in July. The Company will be obligated to use its reasonable best efforts to obtain stockholder approval of the exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants in accordance with the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market at a special meeting of the Company's’ stockholders. The Purchasers included, among others, three individuals who are officers and/or directors of the Company and a principal stockholder of the Company. No underwriting discounts or commissions were paid with respect to the Private Placement. The issuance of the Pre-Funded Warrants was made in reliance upon the exemption from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Rule 506 of Regulation D promulgated thereunder.

Support Agreements

In connection with the Private Placement, the Company entered into Support Agreements with certain principal stockholders of the Company on May 13, 2024 (the "Support Agreements"). Pursuant to the Support Agreements, the stockholders party thereto agreed to vote shares of the Company’s common stock beneficially owned by them in favor of certain actions subject to Stockholder Approval (as defined in the Purchase Agreements) at any meeting of stockholders of the Company and to vote against or decline to consent to  any proposal or any other corporate action or agreement that would result in a breach by the Company of the Purchase Agreements or impede, delay or otherwise adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreements or any similar agreements entered into by the Company and the party stockholders in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreements. Each of the parties to the Support Agreements is also a purchaser in the Private Placement.