Debt

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Debt

Note 11 – Debt

Long-term debt for the periods presented was as follows:

	December 31,		December 31,
	2023		2022
HPS term	$	382,911,682	$	335,342,705
HPS revolving loan		94,070,501		82,362,336
Notes due 2025		44,855,900		44,855,900
Film acquisition advances		29,105,770		27,837,565
MUFG Bank, LTD film financing facility		5,969,896		6,577,243
Other debt		5,477,912		3,204,255
Total gross debt		562,391,661		500,180,004
Less: debt issuance costs and discounts		(16,186,461)		(20,526,393)
Total debt, net		546,205,200		479,653,611
Less: current portion		(34,588,027)		(18,798,515)
Total long-term debt, net	$	511,617,173	$	460,855,096

HPS Credit Agreement

On August 11, 2022, concurrently with the consummation of the Redbox merger transaction described in Note 4, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (“HPS Credit Agreement”) by and among the Company, as primary borrower, Redbox Automated, as co-borrower, the Lenders named therein, and HPS Investment Partners LLC, as administrative agent, and collateral agent (“HPS”).

Pursuant to the terms of the HPS Credit Agreement, the Company obtained (i) a term loan facility consisting of the conversion, and assumption by us, of all “Senior Obligations” under (and as defined in) the HPS Credit Agreement (other than any outstanding Sixth Amendment Incremental Revolving Loans under (and as defined in) the credit agreement (the “Redbox Credit Agreement”), dated as of October 20, 2017, by and among Redwood Intermediate, LLC, Redbox Automated, Redwood Incentives LLC, the lenders party thereto and HPS, as amended from time to time thereafter, with the sixth amendment thereto occurring on April 15, 2022 (this last amendment being referred to as the “Sixth Amendment”) and (ii) an $80 million revolving credit facility (with any outstanding Sixth Amendment Incremental Revolving Loans under the Redbox Credit Agreement as amended by the Sixth Amendment being deemed, and assumed by us as, revolving loans thereunder), combined all together referred to as the “Senior Facilities”.

Interest is payable on the Senior Facilities entirely in cash or, for a period of up to 18 months, could be paid by increasing the principal amount of the Senior Facilities (PIK Interest), or through a combination of cash and PIK Interest. The applicable margin for borrowings under the HPS Term Loan and Revolving Credit Facility is 7.25% plus the greater of SOFR or 1.0% per annum. In addition, the loan contains an unused line fee of 3.625% per annum. Interest and fees on the loan are payable in arrears on the payment dates and on the maturity of the loan. The maturity of the revolving credit

facility is 30 months or February 11, 2025 and the term loan is 5 years or August 11, 2027. Beginning in August of 2024 the Company may be subject to quarterly payments based upon any excess cash flow.

At the closing, the Company assumed $357.5 million of debt ($325.8 million under a term loan and $31.7 million funded under an $80 million revolving credit facility) and drew down $25.9 million on the revolving credit facility, all at an interest rate of SOFR plus 7.25% (10.3%). On September 19, 2022, the Company made an additional draw under the revolving facility of $22.3 million with an interest rate of SOFR plus 7.25% (10.85%). Furthermore, the Company issued a warrant to HPS to acquire 4.5% of the fully diluted shares of the Company’s common stock (known as Class A common stock and Class B common stock as a single class) and paid closing costs of $1.2 million. The warrant was valued at $14.9 million and is included in debt issuance costs and is being amortized over the life of the debt.

Since August 11, 2022, the Company has elected to add PIK interest accrued on the outstanding debt, resulting in an increase to the Senior Facilities. As of December 31, 2023, the total outstanding debt had a net book value of $477.0 million ($382.9 million under the term loan and $94.1 million under the revolving credit facility) where the total PIK interest of approximately $71.2 million has been deferred and compounded and added to the principal balance including an additional $59.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2023.

Dividend Restrictions & Covenants

The Credit Agreement contains certain customary affirmative covenants and negative covenants, including a limitation on the Company’s ability to pay dividends on its Class A Common Stock or make other restricted payments. The covenant prohibiting dividends and other restricted payments has certain limited exceptions, including for customary overhead, legal, accounting and other professional fees and expenses; taxes; customary salary, bonus and other benefits.

We have entered into a term sheet providing for a mutual forbearance from prosecution of bilateral claims of default and rights by both our principal lender and our company pending consummation of certain refinancing and further capitalization transactions that, if successful, will result in settlement of all obligations to, and claims by and against, our principal lender, in the coming months. We are pressing forward expeditiously and assertively with documentation of these transactions, and pressing to finalize all documents necessary to make these transactions and resolutions happen. However, we cannot assure you that the underlying disputes will ultimately be resolved in a manner that is satisfactory to us or which does not cause us material harm. See Note 19 Subsequent Events under the section entitled “Proposed Mutual Forbearance Agreement & Strategic Initiatives” for additional information.

Prepayments & Collateral

The Senior Facilities require CSSE to prepay outstanding term loan borrowings, subject to certain exceptions, with:

●a certain percentage set forth in the Credit Agreement governing the Senior Facilities of CSSE’s annual excess cash flow, as defined under the Senior Facilities;

●a certain percentage of the net cash proceeds of certain non-ordinary course asset sales, other dispositions of property or certain casualty events, in each case subject to certain exceptions and reinvestment rights; and

●the net cash proceeds of any issuance or incurrence of debt, other than proceeds from debt permitted under the Senior Facilities.

CSSE may voluntarily repay outstanding loans that are funded solely by internally generated cash from business operations under the Senior Facilities at any time, without prepayment premium or penalty, except customary “breakage” costs with respect to SOFR rate loans.

All obligations under the Senior Facilities are unconditionally guaranteed by each of CSSE’s existing and future direct and indirect material, wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions. The obligations of the Company and its subsidiary guarantors under the HPS Credit Agreement are secured by a first priority lien in substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions.

Letters of Credit

Under the HPS Credit Agreement, the Company has a letter of credit arrangement to provide for the issuance of standby letters of credit. The arrangement supports the collateral requirements for insurance claims and is good for one year to be renewed annually if necessary. The letter of credit is cash-collateralized at 105% in the amount of $2.9 million as of December 31, 2023. Additionally, there was a letter of credit arrangement of $0.3 million during fiscal 2022 that served as a security deposit for leased warehouse space and was pledged by an equal amount of cash pledged as collateral which was no longer maintained in 2023. The Company’s letter of credit arrangements collateral is classified as restricted cash and reflects balances of $2.9 million and $3.4 million as of December 31, 2023, and 2022 respectively.

9.50% Notes Due 2025

On July 17, 2020, the Company completed a public offering of 9.50% Notes due 2025 (the “Notes”) in the aggregate principal amount of $21,000,000. On August 5, 2020, the Company sold an additional $1,100,000 of July Notes pursuant to the partial exercise of the overallotment option. The Notes bear interest at 9.50% per annum, payable every March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31, and at maturity. The Notes mature on July 31, 2025.

The sale of the Notes resulted in net proceeds of approximately $20,995,000 after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions of approximately $1,105,000. The Company used $13,333,333 of the net proceeds to repay the outstanding principal under the Commercial Loan.

On December 22, 2020, the Company completed a public offering of 9.50% Notes due 2025 (the “December Notes”) in the aggregate principal amount of $9,387,750. On December 29, 2020, the Company sold an additional $1,408,150 of December Notes pursuant to the partial exercise of the overallotment option. The stated principal of $25.00 per note was discounted 2% to the public offering price of $24.50 per note.

On April 20, 2022, the Company completed a public offering of 9.50% Notes due 2025 (the “Notes”) in the aggregate principal amount of $10,400,000. On May 5, 2022, the Company sold an additional $1,560,000 of Notes pursuant to the exercise of the overallotment option. The stated principal of $25.00 per note was discounted 2% to the public offering price of $24.85 per note. The sale of the Notes resulted in net proceeds of approximately $11,094,946 after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions of approximately $865,054.

The 9.50% Notes are not secured by any of our assets. As a result, the Notes are effectively subordinated to all of our existing and future secured indebtedness, such as any new loan facility or other indebtedness to which we grant a security interest, including our film acquisition advances and our MUFG Union Bank film financing facility.

Film Acquisition Advances: Great Point Media Limited

On August 27, 2020, the Company entered into a Film Acquisition Advance Agreement with Great Point Media Limited (“GPM”). GPM advanced to the Company $10.2 million of acquisition advances on August 28, 2020 (the “Acquisition Advance”) and may, directly, or through affiliated entities, fund additional acquisition advances in the future. Pursuant to the agreement, GPM has formed a US-based special purpose vehicle (the “SPV”), which has been assigned the territorial licenses and distribution rights in certain films and productions owned or to be acquired by Screen Media Ventures Inc., CSSE’s wholly owned subsidiary. The Company pays the SPV on a quarterly basis adjusted gross receipts generated on each of the assigned productions during the two-year term of the agreement, until the SPV has recouped the full Acquisition Advance for each of the productions together with interest and additional participation amounts on gross receipts generated by the productions. The Acquisition Advance bears interest at 10% per annum compounded monthly on the amount outstanding. In the event the SPV has not recouped the full Acquisition Advance from gross receipts generated within the two-year contractual term, the Company shall pay the remaining balance outstanding, if any, by no later than January 14, 2023. During 2023, the facility was amended such that the remaining balance is payable the later of when defined contractual receipts are collected or when loan is fully repaid by the Company. All other terms shall remain unaffected. As of December 31, 2023, and December 31, 2022, the outstanding balance was $6.4 million and $6.1 million, respectively. At December 31, 2023, the loan is past due and accruing interest at a default rate of 15%.

Film Acquisition Advances: Media Entertainment Partners

In January 2022, the Company began entering into individual film acquisition advance agreements with Media Entertainment Partners (“MEP”). Under the agreements, MEP financed the Company $26.9 million of acquisition advances and may, directly, or through affiliated entities, fund additional acquisition advances in the future. Pursuant to an arrangement, MEP has formed a US-based special purpose vehicle (the “SPV”), which has been assigned the territorial licenses and distribution rights in certain films and productions owned or to be acquired by Screen Media Ventures Inc., CSSE’s wholly owned subsidiary. Generally, the Company will pay the SPV on a quarterly basis over 30 months the advance plus interest at 12% per annum compounded monthly on the amount outstanding. Under the distribution agreement with the SPV, after Screen Media Venture’s recoupment, the SPV is entitled to receive a profit participation in the net receipts of the film and, provides Screen Media Venture a bargain purchase option to reacquire the film rights after 6 years. As of December 31, 2023, the outstanding balance was $22.7 million.

MidCap Revolving Loan

On May 21, 2021, the Company entered into a credit agreement with Midcap Financial Trust. The credit agreement provides the Company with a revolving loan in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $30,000,000 at any time outstanding. On the closing date, the Company made an initial draw down on the loan of $18,272,931 in connection with funding the SEI acquisition. The availability under the loan at any time is subject to the borrowing base, which is equal to 85% of the eligible accounts receivable minus the sum of all reserves and is adjusted monthly, as necessary.

The loan bears interest at 4% plus the greater of LIBOR or 0.75% per annum. In addition, the loan contains an unused line fee of 0.5% per annum and a collateral management fee of 0.504% per annum. Interest and fees on the loan are payable in arrears on the first day of each month and on the maturity of the loan.

The Credit Agreement and other loan documents contain customary representations and warranties and affirmative and negative covenants. Under the Credit Agreement, the Company is required to maintain minimum liquidity in the form of borrowing base availability or cash on hand in an aggregate amount of not less than $6,000,000. As of December 31, 2022, the Company paid off all of the outstanding balances and closed this loan.

MUFG Union Bank Film Financing Facility

On December 29, 2020, Redbox Entertainment, LLC entered into a four-year, $20 million film financing facility with MUFG Union Bank (formerly known as Union Bank) (the “Union Film Financing Facility”). The facility is used exclusively to pay for minimum guarantees, license fees and related distribution expenses for original content obtained under the Company’s Redbox Entertainment label. On April 15, 2022, Redbox agreed, pursuant to the Voting and Support Agreement, to (i) permanently reduce a portion of the Union Revolving Credit Facility in an amount equal to $10.6 million (and the Company made such reduction) and (ii) among other agreements, refrain from borrowing under the Union Film Financing Facility without the consent of Aspen and Redwood Holdco, LP (other than with respect to certain scheduled borrowings and borrowings to cover interest, fees and expenses). There is no additional availability under the Union Film Financing Facility as of December 31, 2023. Borrowings outstanding under the Union Film Financing Facility as of December 31, 2023, and December 31, 2022 were $5.9 million and $6.6 million, respectively.

Borrowings under the Union Film Financing Facility bear interest at either the alternate base rate or LIBOR (based on an interest period selected by the Company of one month, three months or six months) in each case plus a margin. The alternate base rate loans bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the greatest of (i) the base rate in effect on such date, (ii) the federal funds effective rate in effect on such day plus ½ of 1.0%, and (iii) daily one month LIBOR plus 1.0%. The film financing facility borrowings that are LIBOR loans bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the applicable LIBOR plus a margin of 0.50%. The borrowing interest rate for the Union Film Financing Facility was 8.2% and 7.1% as of December 31, 2023, and December 31, 2022, respectively. In addition to paying interest on outstanding principal under the Union Film Financing Facility, the Company is required to pay a commitment fee at 0.50% per annum to the lenders in respect of the unutilized commitments thereunder.

Debt Maturities

As of December 31, 2023, the expected aggregate maturities of debt for each of the next five years are as follows:

2024	$	34,588,016
2025		143,551,002
2026		1,100,753
2027		383,151,890
2028		-
Beyond		-
Total	$	562,391,661