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Note 12 - Variable Interest Entity
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2023
Notes to Financial Statements  
Variable Interest Entity Disclosure [Text Block]

12. 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 we are 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, which 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 had 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, 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. At and for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the assets and revenues of TAPP totaled a de minimis percentage of the Company’s total assets and revenue.