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The Arena Group Delivers Second Consecutive Profitable Quarter; Generates $7.2 Million in Income from Continuing Operations for Fourth Quarter of 2024

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Athlon Sports� Momentum Provides Blueprint for Scalable, Profitable Growth for Media Brands

Management Posts Reviewing Quarterly Results and Strategy

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- (NYSE American: AREN) (“Arenaâ€�), a technology platform and media company home to hundreds of media brands, including TheStreet, Parade Media (“P²¹°ù²¹»å±ðâ€�), Men’s Journal, Surfer, Powder and Athlon Sports, today announced financial results for the three months ending December 31, 2024 (“Q4 2024â€�) and full year ended December 31, 2024 (“FY 2024â€�).

Financial Highlights for Q4 2024:

  • Quarterly revenue from continuing operations was $36.2 million, up 8% sequentially compared to Q3 2024.
  • Income from continuing operations was $7.2 million, or $0.15 per diluted share for Q4 2024, compared to $4.8 million, or $0.13 per diluted share in Q3 2024.
  • Adjusted EBITDA for Q4 2024 was $13.0 million compared to $11.1 million for Q3 2024.

Financial Highlights for fiscal year 2024:

  • Loss from continuing operations was $7.7 million in FY 2024 compared to $37.2 million in FY 2023.
  • Adjusted EBITDA was $27.0 million in FY 2024 compared to $13.2 million for FY 2023.

“In 2024, we built a strong foundation with Athlon Sports. This started with premium content, expanding our print products at newsstands and growing our social footprint,� said Paul Edmondson, CEO of Arena. “We then coupled this with what we call ‘competitive publishing� to expand our reach.�

“Competitive publishing is a new model designed for 24/7 breaking news coverage where multiple talented teams compete. It’s proven to grow audiences, pay talent better and more fairly, and be profitable for The Arena Group. A true win win.� Edmondson continued, “We launched this model on Men’s Journal in Q1 2025, and at Parade and The Street at the start of Q2 2025. The results are very promising. We expect to be profitable in every quarter of 2025.�

Operational highlights

  • : Audience traffic continues to grow substantially, increasing to 284M page views in Q4 2024 (up 20% vs Q3 2024, and 325% vs Q4 2023). The site averaged 94M page views a month in Q4 2024.
  • : Digital traffic of Parade and Parade Pets also remained strong in Q4 2024 with more than 53M average monthly users and 74M average monthly page views (up 6% vs Q3 2024). It has balanced, diversified revenue as its performance marketing business and social media audience continue to grow.
  • : The financial brand continues to reach a dedicated, high-net-worth, audience, delivering 36M average monthly page views in Q4 2024, up 1% vs Q3 2024.

Video Message:

Paul Edmondson, The Arena Group’s Chief Executive Officer, has posted a video reviewing Arena’s quarterly results and business strategy. The video addresses selected questions previously submitted by investors and other interested parties. It has been shared across Arena’s social media channels and is available .

About The Arena Group

(NYSE American: AREN) is an innovative technology platform and media company with a proven cutting-edge playbook that transforms media brands. Our unified technology platform empowers creators and publishers with tools to publish and monetize their content, while also leveraging quality journalism of anchor brands like TheStreet, Parade, Men’s Journal and Athlon Sports to build their businesses. We aggregate content across a diverse portfolio of brands, reaching over 100 million users monthly. Visit us at thearenagroup.net and discover how we are revolutionizing the world of digital media.

THE ARENA GROUP HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Ìý
Ìý
Three Months Ended December 31, Years Ended December 31,

Ìý

2024

Ìý

Ìý

2023

Ìý

Ìý

2024

Ìý

Ìý

2023

Ìý

($ in thousands, except share data)
Revenue

$

36,228

Ìý

$

44,144

Ìý

$

125,907

Ìý

$

143,630

Ìý

Cost of revenue (includes amortization of platform development and developed technology for 2024 and 2023 of $5,988 and $8,782, respectively)

Ìý

17,154

Ìý

Ìý

26,366

Ìý

Ìý

70,189

Ìý

Ìý

88,357

Ìý

Gross profit

Ìý

19,074

Ìý

Ìý

17,778

Ìý

Ìý

55,718

Ìý

Ìý

55,273

Ìý

Operating expenses
Selling and marketing

Ìý

2,222

Ìý

Ìý

5,090

Ìý

Ìý

12,548

Ìý

Ìý

24,263

Ìý

General and administrative

Ìý

5,609

Ìý

Ìý

8,267

Ìý

Ìý

30,399

Ìý

Ìý

43,783

Ìý

Depreciation and amortization

Ìý

899

Ìý

Ìý

1,027

Ìý

Ìý

3,704

Ìý

Ìý

4,243

Ìý

Loss on impairment of assets

Ìý

-

Ìý

Ìý

-

Ìý

Ìý

1,198

Ìý

Ìý

119

Ìý

Loss on sale of assets

Ìý

-

Ìý

Ìý

325

Ìý

Ìý

-

Ìý

Ìý

325

Ìý

Total operating expenses

Ìý

8,730

Ìý

Ìý

14,709

Ìý

Ìý

47,849

Ìý

Ìý

72,733

Ìý

Income (loss) from operations

Ìý

10,344

Ìý

Ìý

3,069

Ìý

Ìý

7,869

Ìý

Ìý

(17,460

)

Other (expense) income
Change in valuation of contingent consideration

Ìý

-

Ìý

Ìý

(541

)

Ìý

(313

)

Ìý

(1,010

)

Interest expense, net

Ìý

(2,921

)

Ìý

(4,740

)

Ìý

(14,668

)

Ìý

(17,965

)

Liquidated damages

Ìý

(77

)

Ìý

(128

)

Ìý

(306

)

Ìý

(583

)

Total other expense

Ìý

(2,998

)

Ìý

(5,409

)

Ìý

(15,287

)

Ìý

(19,558

)

Income (loss) before income taxes

Ìý

7,346

Ìý

Ìý

(2,340

)

Ìý

(7,418

)

Ìý

(37,018

)

Income tax provision

Ìý

(133

)

Ìý

(52

)

Ìý

(249

)

Ìý

(197

)

Income (loss) from continuing operations

Ìý

7,213

Ìý

Ìý

(2,392

)

Ìý

(7,667

)

Ìý

(37,215

)

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

Ìý

(334

)

Ìý

(3,163

)

Ìý

(93,043

)

Ìý

(18,367

)

Net income (loss)

$

6,879

Ìý

$

(5,555

)

$

(100,710

)

$

(55,582

)

Basic and diluted net income (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations

$

0.15

Ìý

$

(0.10

)

$

(0.22

)

$

(1.67

)

Discontinued operations

Ìý

(0.01

)

Ìý

(0.13

)

Ìý

(2.63

)

Ìý

(0.82

)

Basic and diluted net income (loss) per common share

$

0.14

Ìý

$

(0.23

)

$

(2.85

)

$

(2.49

)

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding � basic and diluted

Ìý

47,437,158

Ìý

Ìý

24,414,979

Ìý

Ìý

35,405,336

Ìý

Ìý

22,323,763

Ìý

Ìý

THE ARENA GROUP HOLDINGS, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
Years Ended December 31,

Ìý

2024

Ìý

Ìý

2023

Ìý

($ in thousands, except share data)
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents

$

4,362

Ìý

$

9,284

Ìý

Accounts receivables, net

Ìý

31,115

Ìý

Ìý

31,676

Ìý

Prepayments and other current assets

Ìý

4,757

Ìý

Ìý

5,791

Ìý

Current assets from discontinued operations

Ìý

-

Ìý

Ìý

43,648

Ìý

Total current assets

Ìý

40,234

Ìý

Ìý

90,399

Ìý

Property and equipment, net

Ìý

148

Ìý

Ìý

328

Ìý

Operating lease right-of-use assets

Ìý

2,340

Ìý

Ìý

176

Ìý

Platform development, net

Ìý

8,115

Ìý

Ìý

8,723

Ìý

Acquired and other intangible assets, net

Ìý

22,789

Ìý

Ìý

27,457

Ìý

Other long term assets

Ìý

151

Ìý

Ìý

1,003

Ìý

Goodwill

Ìý

42,575

Ìý

Ìý

42,575

Ìý

Noncurrent assets from discontinued operations

Ìý

-

Ìý

Ìý

18,217

Ìý

Total assets

$

116,352

Ìý

$

188,878

Ìý

Liabilities, mezzanine equity and stockholders� deficiency
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable

Ìý

4,844

Ìý

Ìý

7,803

Ìý

Accrued expenses and other

Ìý

10,990

Ìý

Ìý

28,903

Ìý

Line of credit

Ìý

-

Ìý

Ìý

19,609

Ìý

Unearned revenue

Ìý

6,349

Ìý

Ìý

16,938

Ìý

Subscription refund liability

Ìý

430

Ìý

Ìý

46

Ìý

Operating lease liability, current portion

Ìý

254

Ìý

Ìý

358

Ìý

Contingent consideration

Ìý

-

Ìý

Ìý

1,571

Ìý

Liquidating damages payable

Ìý

3,230

Ìý

Ìý

2,924

Ìý

Bridge notes

Ìý

-

Ìý

Ìý

7,887

Ìý

Debt

Ìý

-

Ìý

Ìý

102,309

Ìý

Current liabilities from discontinued operations

Ìý

96,159

Ìý

Ìý

47,673

Ìý

Total current liabilities

Ìý

122,256

Ìý

Ìý

236,021

Ìý

Unearned revenue, net of current portion

Ìý

403

Ìý

Ìý

542

Ìý

Operating lease liability, net of current portion

Ìý

1,964

Ìý

Ìý

-

Ìý

Other long-term liabilities

Ìý

-

Ìý

Ìý

406

Ìý

Deferred tax liabilities

Ìý

802

Ìý

Ìý

599

Ìý

Simplify loan

Ìý

10,651

Ìý

Ìý

-

Ìý

Debt

Ìý

110,436

Ìý

Ìý

-

Ìý

Noncurrent liabilities from discontinued operations

Ìý

-

Ìý

Ìý

10,137

Ìý

Total liabilities

Ìý

246,512

Ìý

Ìý

247,705

Ìý

Mezzanine equity:
Series G redeemable and convertible preferred stock, $0.01 par value, $1,000 per share liquidation value and 1,800 shares designated; aggregate liquidation value: $168; Series G shares issued and outstanding: 168; common shares issuable upon conversion: 8,582 at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023

Ìý

168

Ìý

Ìý

168

Ìý

Total mezzanine equity

Ìý

168

Ìý

Ìý

168

Ìý

Stockholders' deficiency:
Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 1,000,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding: 47,556,267 and 23,836,706 shares at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively

Ìý

475

Ìý

Ìý

237

Ìý

Additional paid-in capital

Ìý

348,560

Ìý

Ìý

319,421

Ìý

Accumulated deficit

Ìý

(479,363

)

Ìý

(378,653

)

Total stockholders� deficiency

Ìý

(130,328

)

Ìý

(58,995

)

Total liabilities, mezzanine equity and stockholders� deficiency

$

116,352

Ìý

$

188,878

Ìý

Ìý

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We report our financial results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP�); however, management believes that certain non-GAAP financial measures provide users of our financial information with useful supplemental information that enables a better comparison of our performance across periods. We believe Adjusted EBITDA provides visibility to the underlying continuing operating performance by excluding the impact of certain items that are noncash in nature or not related to our core business operations. We calculate Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) as adjusted for loss from discontinued operations, with additional adjustments for (i) interest expense (net), (ii) income taxes, (iii) depreciation and amortization, (iv) stock-based compensation, (v) change in valuation of contingent consideration, (vi) liquidated damages, (vii) loss on impairment of assets, (viii) loss on sale of assets; (ix) employee retention credit, (x) employee restructuring payments, and (xi) professional and vendor fees. Our non-GAAP measure may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies, have limitations as an analytical tool, and should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our operating results as reported under GAAP. Additionally, we do not consider our non-GAAP measure as superior to, or a substitute for, the equivalent measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Some of the limitations are that our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA:

  • does not reflect interest expense and financing fees, or the cash required to service our debt, which reduces cash available to us;
  • does not reflect income tax provision or benefit, which is a noncash income or expense;
  • does not reflect depreciation and amortization expense and, although this is a noncash expense, the assets being depreciated may have to be replaced in the future, increasing our cash requirements;
  • does not reflect stock-based compensation and, therefore, does not include all of our compensation costs;
  • does not reflect the change in valuation of contingent consideration and, although this is a noncash income or expense, the change in the valuations each reporting period are not impacted by our actual business operations but is instead strongly tied to the change in the market value of our common stock;
  • does not reflect liquidated damages and, therefore, does not include future cash requirements if we repay the liquidated damages in cash instead of shares of our common stock (which the investor would need to agree to);
  • does not reflect any losses from the impairment of assets, which is a noncash operating expense;
  • does not reflect any losses from the sale of assets, which is a noncash operating expense
  • does not reflect the employee retention credits recorded by us for payroll related tax credits under the CARES Act;
  • does not reflect payments related to employee severance and employee restructuring changes for our former executives;
  • does not reflect the professional and vendor fees incurred by us for services provided by consultants, accountants, lawyers, and other vendors, which services were related to certain types of events that are not reflective of our business operations; and
  • may not reflect proper non direct cost allocations.

The following table presents a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss), which is the most directly comparable GAAP measure, for the periods indicated:

Three Months Ended December 31, Years Ended December 31,

Ìý

2024

Ìý

2023

Ìý

Ìý

2024

Ìý

Ìý

2023

Ìý

Income (loss) from continued operations

Ìý

7,213

Ìý

(2,392

)

Ìý

(7,667

)

Ìý

(37,215

)

Add:
Interest expense (net)

Ìý

2,921

Ìý

4,740

Ìý

Ìý

14,668

Ìý

Ìý

17,965

Ìý

Income taxes

Ìý

133

Ìý

52

Ìý

Ìý

249

Ìý

Ìý

197

Ìý

Depreciation ad amortization

Ìý

2,357

Ìý

2,926

Ìý

Ìý

9,692

Ìý

Ìý

13,025

Ìý

Stock-based compensation

Ìý

281

Ìý

1,175

Ìý

Ìý

2,425

Ìý

Ìý

16,292

Ìý

Change in valuation of contingent consideration

Ìý

-

Ìý

541

Ìý

Ìý

313

Ìý

Ìý

1,010

Ìý

Liquidated damages

Ìý

77

Ìý

128

Ìý

Ìý

306

Ìý

Ìý

583

Ìý

Loss on impairment of assets

Ìý

-

Ìý

-

Ìý

Ìý

1,198

Ìý

Ìý

119

Ìý

Loss on sale of assets

Ìý

-

Ìý

325

Ìý

Ìý

-

Ìý

Ìý

325

Ìý

Employee retention credit

Ìý

-

Ìý

-

Ìý

Ìý

-

Ìý

Ìý

(3,890

)

Employee restructuring payments

Ìý

-

Ìý

317

Ìý

Ìý

5,776

Ìý

Ìý

3,570

Ìý

Professional and vendor fees

Ìý

-

Ìý

1,194

Ìý

Ìý

-

Ìý

Ìý

1,194

Ìý

Adjusted EBITDA

$

12,982

$

9,006

Ìý

$

26,960

Ìý

$

13,175

Ìý

Ìý

Forward-Looking Statements

This Press Release of The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. (the “Company,� “we,� “our,� and “us�) contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act�), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act�). Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and include, without limitation, statements concerning our business strategy, future revenues and profitability, cost reductions, market growth, capital requirements, product introductions, expansion plans and the adequacy of our funding and our ability to alleviate the conditions that raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern (as disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the SEC on April 15, 2025 (the �2024 10-K�)). Other statements contained in this Press Release that are not historical facts are also forward-looking statements. We have tried, wherever possible, to identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,� “will,� “could,� “should,� “expects,� “anticipates,� “intends,� “plans,� “believes,� “seeks,� “estimates,� and other stylistic variants denoting forward-looking statements.

We caution investors that any forward-looking statements presented in this Press Release, or that we may make orally or in writing from time to time, are based on information currently available, as well as our beliefs and assumptions. The actual outcome related to forward-looking statements will be affected by known and unknown risks, trends, uncertainties, and factors that are beyond our control or ability to predict. Although we believe that our assumptions are reasonable, they are not guarantees of future performance, and some will inevitably prove to be incorrect. As a result, our actual future results can be expected to differ from our expectations, and those differences may be material. Accordingly, investors should use caution in relying on forward-looking statements, which are based only on known results and trends at the time they are made, to anticipate future results or trends. We detail other risks in our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC�), including in Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors, in the 2024 10-K. The discussion in this Press Release should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in Part II, Item 8 of the 2024 10-K.

This Press Release and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. We do not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to our forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this Press Release except as may be required by law.

The Arena Group Contact:

Steve Janisse, The Arena Group

404-574-9206

[email protected]

The Arena Group Investor Contact:

Rob Fink

FNK IR

646-809-4048

[email protected]

Source: The Arena Group Holdings, Inc.

The Arena Group Holdings

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