Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

v3.23.1
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2023
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation Basis of Presentation and ConsolidationThe accompanying consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries.
Consolidation The Company consolidates the financial results and reports non-controlling interests representing the economic interests held by other equity holders of subsidiaries that are not 100% owned by the Company. The calculation of non-controlling interests excludes any net income / (loss) attributable directly to the Company. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates and assumptions reflected in the financial statements include revenue recognition, including the determination of gross versus net revenue reporting, allowance for credit losses, stock-based compensation, fair value of acquired intangible assets and goodwill, useful lives of acquired intangible assets and property and equipment, fair value of contingent earn-out considerations, incremental borrowing rates for right-of-use assets and lease liabilities, and tax valuation allowances. These estimates are based on information available as of the date of the financial statements; therefore, actual results could differ materially from management’s estimates using different assumptions or under different conditions.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue Recognition
The Company generates revenue from transactions for the purchase and sale of digital advertising inventory through our various platforms and service offerings. Our revenue is based on fixed CPM, CPI, or CPA arrangements or a percentage of the ad spend through our platforms. The Company recognizes revenue upon fulfillment of our performance obligation to our customers, which generally occurs at the point in time when an ad is rendered or an end consumer action, such as an app install, is completed.
ODS - Carriers and OEMs
The Company enters into contracts with OEMs for our On Device Solutions (“ODS”) segment to help the customer control, manage, and monetize the mobile device through the marketing of application slots or advertisement space/inventory to advertisers and delivering the applications or advertisements to the mobile device. The Company generally offers these services under a revenue share model. These agreements typically include the following services: the access to a SaaS platform, hosting, solution features, and general support and maintenance. The Company has concluded that each promised service is delivered concurrently, interdependently, and continuously with all other promised services over the contract term and, as such, has concluded these promises are a single performance obligation that is delivered to the customer over a series of distinct service periods over the contract term. The Company meets the criteria for overtime recognition because the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits provided by the Company's performance as the Company performs, and the same method would be used to measure progress over each distinct service period. The fees for such services are not known at contract inception, but are measurable during each distinct service period. The Company's contracts do not include advance non-refundable fees. The Company’s fees for these services are based upon a revenue-share arrangement with the carrier or OEM. Both parties have agreed to share the revenue earned from third-party advertisers, discussed below, for these services.
ODS - Application Media
The Company generally offers these services through CPI, cost-per-placement (“CPP”), and/or cost-per-action (“CPA”) arrangements with application developers and advertisers, generally in the form of insertion orders. The insertion orders specify the type of arrangement and additional terms such as advertising campaign budgets and timelines as well as any constraints on advertising types. These customer contracts can be open ended in regards to length of time and can renew automatically unless terminated; however, specific advertising campaigns are generally short-term in nature. Under these agreements, the Company delivers the customer’s applications to end user mobile devices, allowing for the application to be installed by the end user at their discretion. The Company gains access and control of application slots on wireless carrier and OEM mobile devices and markets those slots on their behalf to the Company’s customers.
The Company has concluded that the performance obligation within the contract is complete upon delivery of the application to the end user mobile device. Revenue recognition related to CPI and CPA arrangements is dependent upon an action of the end user. As a result, the transaction price is variable and is fully constrained until an install or action occurs. Revenue recognition related to CPP arrangements is dependent only upon the delivery of the application to the end user mobile device. As a result, revenue is recognized once delivery of the application has been completed as the Company’s performance obligation has been fulfilled.
ODS - Content Media
The Company generally offers programmatic advertising and targeted media content delivery services under CPM impression arrangements and page-view arrangements. Through its mobile phone first screen applications and mobile web portals, the Company markets ad space/inventory within its content products for display advertising. The ad space/inventory is allocated to the Company through arrangement with the carrier or OEM in the contracts discussed above. The Company controls this ad space/inventory and markets it on behalf of the carriers and OEMs to the advertisers. The Company’s advertising customers can bid on each individual display ad and the highest bid wins the right to fill each ad impression. Advertising agencies acting on the behalf of advertisers bid on the ad placement via the Company’s advertising exchange customers. When the bid is won, the ad will be received and placed on the mobile device by the Company. The entire process happens almost instantaneously and on a continuous basis. The advertising exchanges bill and collect from the winning bidders and provide daily and monthly reports of the activity to the Company. The Company has concluded that the performance obligation is satisfied at the point in time upon delivery of the advertisement to the device based on the impressions or page-view arrangement, as defined in the contract.
Through its mobile phone first screen applications and mobile web portals, the Company’s software platform also recommends sponsored content to mobile phone users and drives web traffic to a customer's website. The Company markets this content to content sponsors, such as Outbrain or Taboola, similarly to the marketing of ad space/inventory. This sponsored content takes the form of articles, graphics, pictures, and similar content. The Company has concluded that the performance obligation within the contract is complete upon delivery of the content to the mobile device.
AGP - Marketplace
The Company, through its AGP segment provides platforms that allow demand-side platforms (“DSPs”) and publishers to buy and sell ad inventory, respectively, in a programmatic, real-time bidding (“RTB”) auction. The Company generally contracts with DSPs through an RTB Ad Exchange Agreement. It also separately contracts with publishers through an Advertising insertion order or service order to provide access to its auction platform and the ad inventory available through the platform. The auction is held when ad inventory becomes available. AdColony will send bid requests to various DSPs, which may choose to bid on the available ad inventory. Once a DSP wins an auction, it must deliver an ad, which is generally served through the Company's software development kits (“SDK”). The entire auction process is nearly instantaneous. The Company bills the DSP based on the total number of impressions and the bid price. It then remits the payment to the publishers, net of a revenue share agreed with the publisher that is generally a percentage of the DSPs’ total spending with the publisher through the platform.
AGP - Brand and Performance
The Company, through its AGP segment for its Brand and Performance offerings, contracts directly with advertisers or agencies. through insertion orders, that require the Company to fulfill advertising campaigns by identifying and purchasing targeted ad inventory and serving ads on behalf of the advertiser. The insertion orders or addendum communications provide advertising campaign details, such as campaign start and end date, target demographics, maximum budget, and rate. Rates are generally based on an end user action (CPI) or on a CPM basis. Revenue is recognized based on the rate and the number of impressions or end user actions at the time the ad is rendered or the end user action is completed.
Principal vs Agent Reporting
The determination of whether the Company acts as a principal or as an agent in a transaction requires significant judgement and is based on an assessment of the terms of customer arrangements and the relevant accounting guidance. When the Company is the principal in a transaction, revenue is reported on a gross basis, which is the amount billed to DSPs, advertisers and agencies. When the Company is an agent in a transaction, revenue is reported net of license fees and revenue share paid to app publishers or developers.
The Company has determined that it is a principal for its advertiser services for application media and content media when it controls the application slots or ad space/inventory. This is because it has been allocated such slots or space from the carrier or OEM and is responsible for marketing or monetizing the slots or space. The advertisers look to the Company to acquire such slots or space, and the Company’s software is used to deliver the applications, ads or content to the mobile device. The Company also may manage application or ad campaigns of advertisers associated with these services. If the applications or advertisements are not delivered to the mobile device or the Company doesn’t comply with certain policies of the advertiser, the Company would be responsible and have to indemnify the customer for these issues. The Company also has discretion in setting the price of the slots or space based on market conditions, collects the transaction prices, and remits the revenue-share percentage of the transaction price to the carrier or OEM.
The Company recognizes the transaction price received from application developers, DSPs, and advertisers and recognizes the transaction price received net of the publishers’ share of the transaction price. The Company then bills the DSPs and advertisers on the gross transaction price amount and pays the publishers their share of such transaction price as costs of revenue - license fees and revenue share - in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). As a result, receivables and payables are presented gross in the accompanying balance sheet, while certain revenues are reported net.
The carrier or OEM may have the right to market and sell application slots or ad space to advertisers using the Company’s software. The carrier or OEM will share revenue with the Company when it does so. The Company recognizes the revenue shared by the carrier or OEM on a net basis as the Company is not considered the primary obligor in these transactions.
The Company has determined that it is a principal for its Brand and Performance offerings as the advertisers or agencies provide parameters for their target audiences, as well as a budget for ad campaigns. Once an advertiser or advertising agency provides its specifications, the Company has the discretion to fulfill the campaign by utilizing its data and proprietary technology. The Company controls the service because it has the ultimate discretion in purchasing ad inventory; and once an ad inventory slot is purchased, filling that ad inventory
slot. As a result, the Company reports the revenue billed to advertisers and agencies on a gross basis and revenue shares paid to publishers as license fees and revenue share.
The Company has determined that is an agent in transactions on its Marketplace platforms. The Company acts as an intermediary between DSPs and publishers by providing access to a platform and the SDKs that allow both parties to transact in the buying and selling of ad inventory. The transaction price is determined through a real-time auction and the Company has no pricing discretion or obligation related to the fulfillment of the advertising delivery.
Segment Reporting
Segment Reporting
In fiscal year 2022, following the acquisitions of AdColony and Fyber, the Company had three operating and reportable segments called On Device Media (“ODM”), In-App Media - AdColony (“IAM-A”), and In-App Media (“IAM-F”). Effective April 1, 2022, the Company reports its results of operations through the two segments disclosed in Note 4—Segment Information, each of which represents an operating and reportable segment. Segment results herein are presented on a retrospective basis to reflect the reorganization.
Software Development Costs
Software Development Costs
The Company applies the principles of FASB ASC 985-20, Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software to Be Sold, Leased, or Otherwise Marketed (“ASC 985-20”). ASC 985-20 requires that software development costs incurred in conjunction with product development be charged to research and development expense until technological feasibility is established. Thereafter, until the product is released for sale, software development costs must be capitalized and reported at the lower of unamortized cost or net realizable value of the related product. At this time, the Company does not invest significant capital into the research and development phase of new products and features as the technological feasibility aspect of our platform products has either already been met or is met very quickly.
The Company has adopted the “tested working model” approach to establishing technological feasibility for its products. Under this approach, the Company does not consider a product in development to have passed the technological feasibility milestone until the Company has completed a model of the product that contains essentially all the functionality and features of the final product and has tested the model to ensure that it works as expected. The Company capitalizes costs related to the development of software to be sold, leased, or otherwise marketed as it believes to have met the “tested working model” threshold. Development costs continue to be capitalized until the related software is released. The Company considers the following factors in determining whether costs can be capitalized: the emerging nature of the mobile market; the gradual evolution of the wireless carrier platforms and mobile phones for which it develops products; the uncertainty regarding a product’s revenue-generating potential; its lack of control over carrier distribution channels; and its historical practice of canceling products at any stage of the development process.
After products and features are released, all product maintenance cost are expensed.
The Company also applies the principles of FASB ASC 350-40, Accounting for the Cost of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use (“ASC 350-40”). ASC 350-40 requires that software development costs incurred before the preliminary project stage be expensed as incurred. The Company capitalizes development costs related to these software applications once the preliminary project stage is complete and it is probable that the project will be completed and the software will be used to perform the functions intended.
Capitalized software development costs, whether for software developed to be sold, leased, or otherwise marketed or for internal use, are generally amortized over a 3-year useful life.
Stock-Based Compensation
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company measures and recognizes compensation expense for all stock-based awards made to employees and non-employee directors based on estimated fair values on the date of grant. To determine the fair value of the stock-based awards, we use the closing price of our common stock publicly traded on the Nasdaq on the date of grant for time-based and performance-based restricted stock awards, and we utilize the Black-Scholes
option pricing model to value stock options, which involves the input of subjective assumptions, including the expected volatility of our common stock, interest rates, dividend rates, and an option’s expected life. As a result, the financial statements include amounts that are based on our best estimates and judgments for the expenses recognized for stock-based compensation. The compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service or performance period. Forfeitures are recognized as occurred. Performance-based restricted units (“PSUs”) are evaluated on a quarterly basis for probability of meeting performance metrics and any adjustments to share-based compensation expense are then made in the quarter of evaluation. For PSUs, the Company must also make assumptions regarding the likelihood of achieving performance metrics. If actual results differ significantly from these estimates, stock-based compensation expense and our results of operations could be materially affected.
Defined Contribution Plan
Defined Contribution Plan
The Company sponsors a 401(k) defined contribution plan for the benefit of all employees beginning on their date of hire. The plan allows eligible employees to contribute a portion of their annual compensation, not to exceed annual limits established by the federal government. The Company makes matching contributions of up to a certain percentage of an employee’s contributions. For the years ended March 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, the Company made contributions to the plan of $1,360, $811, and $558, respectively.
Income Taxes
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with FASB ASC 740-10, Accounting for Income Taxes (“ASC 740-10”), which requires recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in its financial statements or tax returns. Under ASC 740-10, the Company determines deferred tax assets and liabilities for temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of assets and liabilities along with net operating losses, if it is more likely than not the tax benefits will be realized using the enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which it expects the differences to reverse. To the extent a deferred tax asset cannot be realized, a valuation allowance is established.
ASC 740-10 prescribes that a company should use a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold based on the technical merits of the tax position taken. Tax positions that meet the “more-likely-than-not” recognition threshold should be measured as the largest amount of the tax benefits, determined on a cumulative probability basis, which is more likely than not to be realized upon ultimate settlement in the financial statements. Interest and penalties related to income tax matters are recognized as a component of the provision for income taxes.
The Company is required to evaluate its ability to realize its deferred tax assets using all available evidence, both positive and negative, and determine if a valuation allowance is needed. Further, ASC 740-10-30-18 outlines the four possible sources of taxable income that may be available to realize a tax benefit for deductible temporary differences and carry-forwards. The sources of taxable income are listed below from least to most subjective:
Future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences
Future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carryforwards
Taxable income in prior carryback year(s) if carryback is permitted under the tax law
Tax-planning strategies that would, if necessary, be implemented to, for example:
Accelerate taxable amounts to utilize expiring carryforwards
Change the character of taxable or deductible amounts from ordinary income or loss to capital gain or loss
Switch from tax-exempt to taxable investments
Foreign Currency Translation Foreign Currency TranslationThe Company uses the U.S. dollar for financial reporting purposes. Some of our foreign subsidiaries use their local currency as their functional currency. Assets and liabilities of foreign operations are translated using current rates of exchange prevailing at the balance sheet date. Equity accounts have been translated at their historical exchange rates when the capital transaction occurred. Statement of Operations amounts are translated at average rates in effect for the reporting period.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents primarily consist of cash on deposit with banks and short-term investments purchased with a maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts Receivable
The Company maintains reserves for current expected credit losses on accounts receivable. Management reviews the composition of accounts receivable and analyzes historical bad debts, customer concentrations, current economic trends, and changes in customer payment patterns to evaluate the adequacy of these reserves.
Fair Value of Financial instruments
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Company measures certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value based on the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. Where available, fair value is based on or derived from observable market prices or other observable inputs. Where observable prices or inputs are not available, valuation techniques are applied. These valuation techniques involve some level of management estimation and judgment, the degree of which is dependent on the price transparency for the instruments or market and the instruments’ complexity.
The carrying amounts of certain financial instruments, such as cash equivalents, short term investments, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and accrued liabilities, approximate fair value due to their relatively short maturities. The carrying value of our debt, less capitalized debt issuance costs, approximates fair value.
Property and Equipment
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. Estimated useful lives are the lesser of 8-to-10 years or the term of the lease for leasehold improvements and 3-to-5 years for other assets.
Leases
Leases
Under Leases (Topic 842), the Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and lease liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of remaining lease payments over the lease term. For this purpose, the Company considers only payments that are fixed and determinable at the time of commencement. As most of our leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses the incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. The incremental borrowing rate is a hypothetical rate based on our understanding of what our credit rating would be. The ROU asset also includes any lease payments made prior to commencement and is recorded net of any lease incentives received. Our lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise such options. When determining the probability of exercising such options, the Company considers contract-based, asset-based, entity-based, and market-based factors. Our lease agreements may contain variable costs such as common area maintenance, insurance, real estate taxes or other costs. Variable lease costs are expensed as incurred on the consolidated statements of operations. Our lease agreements generally do not contain any residual value guarantees or restrictive covenants.
The right-of-use asset components of our operating leases are included in right-of-use assets on our Consolidated Balance Sheets, while the current portion of our operating lease liabilities are included in other current liabilities and the long-term portion of our operating lease liabilities in other non-current liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Business Combinations
Business Combinations
The Company allocates the fair value of purchase consideration to the tangible assets acquired, liabilities assumed, and intangible assets acquired based on their estimated fair values. The excess of the fair value of purchase consideration over the fair values of these identifiable assets and liabilities is recorded as goodwill. Such
valuations require management to make significant estimates and assumptions, especially with respect to intangible assets. Significant estimates in valuing certain intangible assets include, but are not limited to, estimated replacement costs and future expected cash flows from acquired advertiser or publisher relationships, acquired technology, acquired patents, and acquired trade names from a market participant perspective. Management's estimates of fair value are based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable, but which are inherently uncertain and unpredictable and, as a result, actual results may differ from estimates. Allocation of purchase consideration to identifiable assets and liabilities affects Company amortization expense, as acquired finite-lived intangible assets are amortized over the useful life, whereas any indefinite lived intangible assets, including goodwill, are not amortized. During the measurement period, which is not to exceed one year from the acquisition date, the Company records adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, with the corresponding offset to goodwill. Upon the conclusion of the measurement period, any subsequent adjustments are recorded to earnings.
Goodwill GoodwillWe evaluate goodwill for possible impairment at least annually or upon the occurrence of events or circumstances that indicate that they would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. When the Company completes a quantitative assessment of goodwill impairment, the fair value of each reporting unit is determined and compared to the reporting unit’s carrying value. If the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds the fair value, a goodwill impairment charge is recorded. Determining the fair value of a reporting unit required the Company to make assumptions and estimates, the most significant of which are projected future growth rates, discount rates, capital expenditures, tax rates, gross margins and terminal value. Changes in key estimates or market conditions, could result in an impairment charge.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Finite Life Intangibles
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Finite Life Intangibles
Long-lived assets, including intangible assets subject to amortization, primarily consist of customer relationships and developed technology that have been acquired and are amortized using the straight-line method over their useful lives, ranging from five to eighteen years, and are reviewed for impairment in accordance with FASB ASC 360-10, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell.
Preferred Stock
Preferred Stock
The Company applies the guidance enumerated in FASB ASC 480-10, Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity (“ASC 480-10”), when determining the classification and measurement of preferred stock. Preferred shares subject to mandatory redemption (if any) are classified as liability instruments and are measured at fair value in accordance with ASC 480-10. All other issuances of preferred stock are subject to the classification and measurement principles of ASC 480-10. Accordingly, the Company classifies conditionally redeemable preferred shares (if any), which includes preferred shares that feature redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within the Company’s control, as temporary equity. At all other times, the Company classifies its preferred shares in stockholders’ equity.
Concentrations of Credit Risk and Significant Customers
Concentrations of Credit Risk and Significant Customers
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash deposits and accounts receivable.
A significant portion of the Company’s cash was held at seven major financial institutions as of March 31, 2023, and four major financial institutions as of March 31, 2022, that management assessed to be of high credit quality. Three of the major financial institutions as of March 31, 2023 and 2022 are insured by the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) for up to $250 per depository account. Four and one major financial institutions are located outside the U.S. as of March 31 2023 and 2022, respectively, and, therefore, not subject to the jurisdiction of the FDIC. As of March 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company had $72,558 and $124,412 in excess of the FDIC-insured limit, respectively. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts.The Company mitigates its credit risk with respect to accounts receivable by monitoring customers’ accounts receivable balances.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting, which provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by the discontinuation of the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or by another reference rate expected to be discontinued. The amendments are effective for all entities through December 31, 2022, and can be adopted as of any date from the beginning of an interim period that includes or is subsequent to March 12, 2020. The Company adopted the amendment as of April 1, 2021. The adoption of the amendment did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.