BLIN 10-Q Quarter ended Dec. 31, 2021

1. Description of Business

Overview

Bridgeline Digital is a marketing technology software company that helps companies grow online revenue and share information with customers, partners and employees.

Bridgeline’s Unbound platform is a Digital Experience Platform that includes Web Content Management, eCommerce, eMarketing, Social Media management, and Web Analytics.

Bridgeline’s Unbound platform, combined with its professional services, assists customers in driving lead generation, increasing revenue, improving customer service and loyalty, enhancing employee knowledge, and reducing operational costs.

Our Unbound Franchise product empowers large franchises, brand networks, and other multi-unit organizations to manage a large hierarchy of digital properties at scale.

OrchestraCMS is the only content and digital experience platform built 100% native on Salesforce and helps customers create websites and intranets for their customers, partners, and employees; uniquely combining content with business data, processes and applications across any channel or device, including Salesforce Communities, social media, portals, intranets, websites, applications and services.

Celebros Search is a commerce-oriented site search product that provides for Natural Language Processing with artificial intelligence to present relevant search results based on long-tail keyword searches in seven languages.

Woorank SRL (“Woorank”) is a Search Engine Optimization (“SEO”) audit tool that generates an instant audit of the site’s technical, on-page and off-page SEO.  Woorank’s clear, actionable insights help companies increase their search ranking, website traffic, audience engagement, conversion, and customer retention rates.

Hawk Search, Inc. (“Hawk Search”) is a search, recommendation, and personalization application built for marketers, merchandisers and developers that enhances, normalizes and enriches a customer's site search and browse experience. Hawk Search leverages advanced artificial intelligence, machine learning and industry-leading analyzers to deliver accurate results from federated data sources.

All of Bridgeline’s software is available through a cloud-based software as a service (“ SaaS ”) model, whose flexible architecture provides customers with hosting and support.  Additionally, Unbound and Hawk Search are available via a traditional perpetual licensing business model, in which the software resides on a dedicated infrastructure in either the customer’s facility, or manage-hosted by Bridgeline via a cloud-based hosted services model.

Bridgeline Digital was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware on August 28, 2000.

Locations

The Company’s corporate office is located in Woburn, Massachusetts.  The Company maintains regional field offices serving the following geographical locations: Boston, Massachusetts; Woodbury, New York; Chicago, Illinois; Raleigh, North Carolina; Ontario, Canada; and Brussels, Belgium.

The Company has four wholly-owned subsidiaries: Bridgeline Digital Pvt. Ltd., located in Bangalore, India; Bridgeline Digital Canada, Inc., located in Ontario, Canada; Hawk Search Inc. located in Illinois, United States; and Bridgeline Digital Belgium BV, located in Brussels, Belgium.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

3. Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable consist of the following:

As of December 31, 2021, one customer represented approximately 23 % of accounts receivable. As of September 30, 2021, two customers represented approximately 13 % and 10 % of accounts receivable. For the three months ended December 31, 2021, no customers exceeded 10% of the Company’s total revenues. During the three months ended December 31, 2020, one customer represented approximately 12 % of the Company’s total revenue.

4. Fair Value Measurement and Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company’s financial instruments consist principally of accounts receivable, accounts payable, warrant liabilities, contingent consideration and long-term debt arrangements. The Company measures its financial assets and liabilities at fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (i.e., exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Additionally, under U.S. GAAP, companies are required to provide disclosure and categorize assets and liabilities measured at fair value into one of three different levels depending on the assumptions (i.e., inputs) used in the valuation. Level 1 provides the most reliable measure of fair value while Level 3 generally requires significant management judgment. Financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input significant to the fair value measurement. The fair value hierarchy is defined as follows:

Level 1—Valuations are based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2—Valuations are based on quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, or quoted prices in markets that are not active for which significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly.

Level 3—Valuations are based on prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement. Inputs reflect management’s best estimate of what market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability at the measurement date.

The carrying value of the Company’s accounts receivable and accounts payable approximates fair value due to their short-term nature.

The Company’s warrant liabilities are measured at fair value at each reporting period with changes in fair value recognized in earnings during the period. The fair value of the Company’s warrant liabilities are valued utilizing Level 3 inputs. Warrant liabilities are valued using a Monte Carlo option-pricing model, which takes into consideration the volatilities of comparable public companies, due to the relatively low trading volume of the Company’s common stock. The Monte Carlo option-pricing model uses certain assumptions, including expected life and annual volatility. The range and weighted average volatilities of comparable public companies utilized was 28.4 % - 58.2 % and 55.4 %, respectively, as of December 31, 2021, and 28.8 % - 66.2 % and 55.8 %, respectively, as of September 30, 2021. The volatility utilized in the Monte Carlo option-pricing model was determined by weighing 60 % to Company-specific volatility and 40 % to comparable public companies.

The significant inputs and assumptions utilized were as follows:

The Company recognized gains/(losses) of $ 2,441 and ($ 1,441 ) for the three months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, related to the change in fair value of warrant liabilities. The changes in fair value of warrant liabilities were due to changes in inputs to the Monte Carlo option-pricing model, primarily from changes in the stock price.

The Company’s contingent consideration obligations are from arrangements resulting from acquisitions that involve potential future payment of consideration that is contingent upon the achievement of revenue targets and operational goals. Contingent consideration is recognized at its estimated fair value at the date of acquisition based on the Company’s expected probability of future payment, discounted using a weighted-average cost of capital in accordance with accepted valuation methodologies.

The Company reviews and re-assesses the estimated fair value of contingent consideration liabilities at each reporting period and the updated fair value could differ materially from the initial estimates. The Company measures contingent consideration recognized in connection with acquisitions at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs classified as Level 3 inputs. The Company uses a simulation-based model to estimate the fair value of contingent consideration on the acquisition date and at each reporting period. The simulation model uses certain inputs and assumptions, including revenue projections, an estimate of revenue discount and volatility rate based on comparable public companies’ data, and risk-free rate. Significant increases or decreases to either of these inputs in isolation could result in a significantly higher or lower liability with a higher liability limited to the contractual maximum of the contingent consideration liabilities. Ultimately, the liability will be equivalent to the amount paid, and the difference between the fair value estimate on the acquisition date and each reporting period and the amount paid will be recorded in earnings. The significant inputs and assumptions utilized were as follow as of:

Assets and liabilities of the Company measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2021 and September 30, 2021, are as follows:

The following table provides a rollforward of the fair value, as determined by Level 3 inputs, as follows:

5. Intangible Assets

The components of intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization, are as follows:

Total amortization expense was $ 401 and $ 218 related to intangible assets for the three months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and is reflected in operating expenses on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. The estimated amortization expense for fiscal year 2022 (remaining), 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 and thereafter is $ 1,093 , $ 1,415 , $ 1,032 , $ 738 , $ 673 and $ 2,403 , respectively.

6. Accrued Liabilities

Accrued liabilities consist of the following:

7. Long-term debt

On March 1, 2021, the Company assumed the outstanding long-term debt obligations of an acquired business and issued a seller note to one of the selling shareholders (see Note 14 ). The assumed debt obligations and seller note are denominated in Euros.

Long-term debt consisted of the following:

At December 31, 2021, future maturities of long-term debt are as follows:

8. Stockholders ’ Equity

Series A Convertible Preferred Stock

The Company has designated 264,000 shares of its preferred stock as Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series A Preferred Stock”). The shares of Series A Preferred Stock may be converted, at the option of the holder at any time, into such number of shares of common stock (“Conversion Shares”) equal to (i) the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be converted, multiplied by the stated value of $ 10.00 (the “Stated Value”) and (ii) divided by the conversion price in effect at the time of conversion. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had no shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding.

Series C Convertible Preferred Stock

The Company has designated 11,000 shares of its preferred stock as Series C Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series C Preferred Stock”). The Company may not effect, and a holder will not be entitled to, convert the Series C Preferred Stock or exercise any Series C Preferred Warrants, which, upon giving effect to such conversion or exercise, would cause the aggregate number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by the Purchaser (together with its affiliates) to exceed 4.99% (or, at the election of the holder, 9.99% ) of the number of shares of common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had 350 shares of Series C Preferred Stock outstanding, which were convertible into an aggregate of 38,889 shares of the Company’s common stock.

Registered Offering of Common Stock and Private Placement of Series D Convertible Preferred Stock (the “ May 2021 Offerings ” )

On May 14, 2021, the Company offered and sold a total of 1,060,000 shares of its common stock to certain institutional investors at a public offering price of $ 2.28 per share in a registered direct offering (“RD Offering”). The RD Offering was registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to a prospectus supplement to the Company's currently effective registration statement on Form S- 3.

Additionally, on May 14, 2021, the Company entered into securities purchase agreements with certain institutional investors pursuant to which the Company offered and sold a total of 2,700 units (“Units”) at a purchase price of $ 1,000 per Unit (“Private Placement”). Each Unit consisted of (i) one share of the Company’s newly designated Series D Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series D Preferred Stock”) and (ii) warrants to purchase common stock up to one -half of the shares issuable upon conversion of the Series D Preferred Stock as a part of the Units. In total, the Company issued 2,700 shares of Series D Preferred Stock and warrants to purchase up to 592,106 shares of common stock.

Joseph Gunnar & Company, LLC acted as lead placement agent for both the RD Offering and the Private Placement (collectively, the “May 2021 Offerings”) and Taglich Brothers, Inc. acted as co-placement agent for the May 2021 Offerings (the "Placement Agents"). As compensation for their services, the Company paid to the Placement Agents a fee equal to 8 % of the aggregate purchase price paid and reimbursed the Placement Agents for certain expenses incurred in connection with the May 2021 Offerings. In addition, the Company issued to the Placement Agents warrants, in substantially the same form as the Series D Preferred Warrants, to purchase an aggregate of 179,536 shares of common stock.

In connection with the Private Placement, the Company has designated 4,200 shares of its preferred stock as Series D Convertible Preferred Stock.  The shares of Series D Preferred Stock may be converted, at the option of the holder at any time, into such number of shares of common stock equal to (i) the number of shares of Series D Preferred Stock to be converted, multiplied by the stated value of $ 1,000 and (ii) divided by the conversion price in effect at the time of conversion.  Holders of Series D Preferred Stock were prohibited from converting Series D Preferred Stock into conversion shares if, as a result of such conversion, the holder, together with its affiliates, would own more than 4.99 % (or 9.99 % upon the election of the holder prior to the issuance of the Series D Preferred Stock) of the total number of shares of common stock then issued and outstanding. At the original issuance date, shares of Series D Preferred Stock issued in Private Placement were convertible into an aggregate of 1,184,211 shares of common stock.

The Company’s common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market, and, as such, it is subject to the applicable rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, including Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635 (a), which requires stockholder approval in connection with the acquisition of another company (see Note 13 ) if the Nasdaq-listed company will issue 20% or more of its common stock. For purposes of Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635 (a), the issuance of any common stock in the Acquisition (see Note 13 ) and the May 2021 Offerings would be aggregated together. Thus, to permit the issuance of common stock upon conversion of the Series D Preferred Stock and upon exercise of the warrants issued in the Private Placement, the Company had to obtain stockholder approval of these issuances. Upon issuance, the Company had determined that such prohibition did not represent an inability for the Company to satisfy its obligation to deliver shares upon conversion, as the holders’ conversion option itself was contingent upon Stockholder Approval. On September 16, 2021, the Company obtained Stockholder Approval. The Company determined that the Series D Preferred Stock should be classified as permanent equity.

The Series D Preferred Stock contained an embedded conversion feature that could affect the ultimate settlement of the Series D Preferred Stock. The Company determined that the embedded conversion feature’s economic characteristics and risks were clearly and closely related to the economic characteristics and risks of the Series D Preferred Stock. As a result, the embedded conversion feature was not required to be bifurcated from the Series D Preferred Stock.

The Series D Preferred Stock issued contained a beneficial conversion feature, which arises when a debt or equity security is issued with an embedded conversion option that is deemed beneficial to the investor, that is, in-the-money, at inception, as the conversion option has an effective conversion price that is less than the market price of the underlying stock at the commitment date. An embedded beneficial conversion feature is required to be recognized separately by allocating a portion of the proceeds equal to the intrinsic value, at the commitment date, of the feature to additional paid-in capital. As discussed below, the May 2021 Offerings cash proceeds allocated to the Series D Preferred Stock based on its relative fair value resulted in an effective conversion price of $ 1.41 , which was below the commitment date fair value of the underlying shares of common stock of $ 2.50 , resulting in a beneficial conversion feature measured at $ 1.3 million. As discussed in Note 14, upon the acquisition of Hawk Search during the third quarter of fiscal 2021, Series D Preferred Stock was issued as part of consideration transferred in which the intrinsic value of the embedded conversion feature was calculated at $ 724 as of the acquisition date.

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021, the Company recognized the impact of the beneficial conversion feature upon Stockholder Approval, as the beneficial conversion feature became immediately exercisable, at the option of the holder. The Company recognized full accretion of the beneficial conversion feature as a deemed dividend of $ 2.0 million to the Series D Preferred Stock. Such deemed dividend was recognized as an increase to accumulated deficit and an increase to additional paid-in capital and was included as a component of net loss attributable to common stockholders. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021, all Series D Preferred Stock was converted to common shares with no remaining Series D Preferred Stock outstanding at December 31, 2021 and September 30, 2021.

As noted above, in connection with the May 2021 Offerings, the Company issued Series D Preferred Warrants and Placement Agents Warrants to purchase up to 592,106 and 179,536 shares of common stock, respectively. The Series D Preferred and Placement Agents Warrants (hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Series D Warrants”) are puttable at the option of the holder in the event of a Fundamental Transaction, as defined in the respective warrant agreements. The put feature requires the Company to pay holders an amount of cash equal to the Black-Scholes Value, as defined in the respective warrant agreements, of the remaining unexercised portion of the Series D Warrants on the date of consummation of such Fundamental Transaction. The Company determined that the Series D Warrants are required to be classified as liabilities measured at fair value at their issuance date and to be subsequently remeasured at fair value each reporting period, with changes in fair value recognized in period earnings (see Note 4 ).

As the common stock in the RD Offering was sold concurrently with the Units sold in the Private Placement, for any common purchasers, inclusive of purchaser affiliated entities, the aggregate proceeds from the May 2021 Offerings were allocated, on an investor-by-investor basis, to the Series D Preferred Warrants based on their fair value and the residual proceeds to the common stock and Series D Preferred Stock based on their relative fair values. Accordingly, the May 2021 Offerings proceeds, net of certain fees due to placement agents, inclusive of the fair value of warrants issued to placement agents, and transaction-related expenses, of approximately $ 4.3 million were allocated $ 1.0 million to the Series D Preferred Warrants based on their issuance-date fair value, $ 1.9 million to common stock and $ 1.3 million to Series D Preferred Stock based on their respective relative fair values.

The issuance-date fair value of the Series D Warrants issued to placement agents was determined to be incremental cost directly attributable to the May 2021 Offerings and was charged by the Company against proceeds along with other fees paid to the Placement Agents.

Registered Offering and Sale of Common Stock

On February 4, 2021, the Company offered and sold a total of 880,000 shares of its common stock, par value $ 0.001 per share, to certain institutional and accredited investors at a public offering price of $ 3.10 per share in a registered direct offering (the “Offering”). The Offering was registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to a prospectus supplement to the Company’s currently effective registration statement on Form S- 3 (File No. 333 - 239104 ), which was initially filed with the SEC on June 12, 2020, and was declared effective on June 25, 2020. The Company filed the final prospectus supplement for the Offering on or about February 5, 2021. The Offering closed on February 8, 2021, and resulted in proceeds, net of certain fees due to placement agents and transaction expenses, to the Company of approximately $ 2.5 million. The net proceeds received by the Company will be used for general corporate purposes, including general working capital.

Joseph Gunnar & Company, LLC acted as lead placement agent for the Offering, and Taglich Brothers, Inc. acted as co-placement agent for the Offering. As compensation for their services, the Company paid to the Placement Agents a fee equal to 8 % of the aggregate purchase price paid for shares placed by the Placement Agents at closing and reimbursed the Placement Agents for certain expenses incurred in connection with the Offering. In addition, the Company issued to the Placement Agents warrants to purchase an aggregate of 58,169 shares of common stock (the “Placement Agent Warrants”). The Placement Agent Warrants have a term of five years from the date of issuance and an exercise price of $3.875 per share.

Amended and Restated Stock Incentive Plan

The Company has granted common stock, common stock warrants, and common stock option awards (the “Equity Awards”) to employees, consultants, advisors and former debt holders of the Company and to former owners and employees of acquired companies that have become employees of the Company. The Company’s Amended and Restated Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) provided for the issuance of up to 5,000 shares of common stock. This Plan expired in August 2016. As of December 31, 2021, there were 3,246 options outstanding under the Plan. On April 29, 2016, the stockholders approved a new stock incentive plan, the 2016 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2016 Plan”). The 2016 Plan authorizes the award of incentive stock options, non-statutory stock options, restricted stock, unrestricted stock, performance shares, stock appreciation rights and any combination thereof to employees, officers, directors, consultants, independent contractors and advisors of the Company. As of December 31, 2021, there were 761,368 options outstanding and 14,544 shares available for future issuance under the 2016 Plan.

Compensation Expense

Compensation expense is generally recognized on a graded accelerated basis over the vesting period of grants. Compensation expense is recorded in the consolidated statements of operations with a portion charged to Cost of revenue and a portion to Operating expenses, depending on the employee’s department.

During the three months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, compensation expense related to share-based payments was as follows: