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Forge Global Holdings, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2022 Results

February 28, 2023 4:10 PM

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Forge Global Holdings, Inc. (“Forge,” or the “Company”) (NYSE: FRGE), a leading private securities marketplace, today announced its financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2022.

"Despite the macroeconomic headwinds that characterized 2022, our focus on building for the future is unwavering,” said Kelly Rodriques, CEO of Forge. “We made progress in Q4 toward our goal of creating a global business at the center of the private market ecosystem. Forge remains focused on our long-term vision of bringing transparency, access, efficiency, and liquidity to the private market.”

Financial Highlights for the Fourth Quarter of 2022

Given the unique economic environment, Forge believes that quarter-over-quarter comparisons are more indicative of the current state of the business.

Revenue: Total revenue less transaction-based expenses was $16.7 million compared to $15.8 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2022.

Operating Income: Total operating loss was $27.8 million, compared to total operating loss of $42.4 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2022.

Net Loss: Net loss was $26.2 million, compared to net loss of $16.2 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2022.

Adjusted EBITDA: Total adjusted EBITDA was a loss of $14.3 million, compared to total adjusted EBITDA loss of $13.3 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2022.

Cash Flow from Operating Activities: Net cash used in operating activities was $9.0 million, compared to of $11.4 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2022.

Cash Flow from Financing Activities: Net cash provided by financing activities was $0.1 million, compared to $10.6 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2022.

Ending Cash Balance: Cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2022 was $193.1 million.

Share Count: Basic weighted-average number of shares used to compute net loss per share attributable to common stockholders for the quarter ended December 31, 2022, was 171 million shares and fully diluted outstanding share count as of December 31, 2022 was 189 million shares.

We estimate for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 that Forge will have 172 million weighted average basic shares outstanding, which will be used to calculate earnings per share in a loss position.

Fully diluted outstanding share count includes all common shares outstanding plus shares that would be issued in respect to outstanding options and warrants, net of shares to be withheld in respect to exercise price of the respective instruments. Instruments that are out of the money are excluded from the fully diluted outstanding share count.

KPIs for the Fourth Quarter 2022

Additional Business Metrics for the Fourth Quarter 2022

Financial Highlights for the Full Year 2022

Revenue: Total revenue less transaction-based expenses was $68.9 million compared to $125.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.

Operating Income: Total operating loss was $135.0 million compared to $9.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.

Net Loss: Net loss of $111.9 million compared to $18.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.

Adjusted EBITDA: Total adjusted EBITDA was a loss of $46.9 million compared to total adjusted EBITDA gain of $8.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.

Cash Flow from Operating Activities: Net cash used in operating activities was $68.8 million compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $10.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.

Cash Flow from Financing Activities: Net cash provided by financing activities was $192.9 million compared to $26.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.

Ending Cash Balance: Cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2022 was $193.1 million compared to $74.8 million as of December 31, 2021.

KPIs for the Full Year 2022

Please refer to the section titled “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information” and the tables within this press release which contain explanations and reconciliations of the Company’s non-GAAP financial measures.

Annual Business Highlights

Webcast/Conference Call Details

Forge will host a webcast conference call today, February 28th, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time/2:00 p.m Pacific Time to discuss these financial results and business highlights. The listen-only webcast is available at https://ir.forgeglobal.com. Investors and participants can access the conference call over the phone by dialing 1 (888) 440-4165 from the United States, or +1 (646) 960-0858 internationally. The conference ID is 5410143.

Following the conference call, an on-demand replay of the webcast will be made available on the Investor Relations page of the Company’s website at https://ir.forgeglobal.com.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information

In addition to our financial results determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("GAAP"), we present Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure. We use Adjusted EBITDA to evaluate our ongoing operations and for internal planning and forecasting purposes. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA, when taken together with the corresponding GAAP financial measure, provides meaningful supplemental information regarding our performance by excluding specific financial items that have less bearing on our core operating performance. We consider Adjusted EBITDA to be an important measure because it helps illustrate underlying trends in our business and our historical operating performance on a more consistent basis.

However, non-GAAP financial information is presented for supplemental informational purposes only, has limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP. In addition, other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures differently or may use other measures to evaluate their performance, all of which could reduce the usefulness of Adjusted EBITDA as a tool for comparison. A reconciliation is provided below for Adjusted EBITDA to net loss, the most directly comparable financial measure stated in accordance with GAAP. Investors are encouraged to review Adjusted EBITDA and the reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net loss, and not to rely on any single financial measure to evaluate our business.

We defined Adjusted EBITDA as net loss, adjusted to exclude: (i) interest expense, net, (ii) provision for or benefit from income taxes, (iii) depreciation and amortization, (iv) share-based compensation expense, (v) change in fair value of warrant liabilities, (vi) acquisition-related transaction costs, and (vii) other significant gains, losses, and expenses (such as impairments, transaction bonus) that we believe are not indicative of our ongoing results.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements, ”which generally are accompanied by words such as “believe,” “may,” ”could,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “target,” “goal,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “forecast,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “future,” “outlook,” and similar expressions that predict, indicate or relate to future events or trends or Forge’s future financial or operating performance, or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Forge’s beliefs regarding its financial position and operating performance, as well as future opportunities for Forge to expand its business. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, while considered reasonable by Forge and its management, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described in Forge’s documents filed, or to be filed, with the SEC, including in its Annual Report on Form 10-K that will be filed on or around the date of this press release. There may be additional risks that Forge presently does not know of or that it currently believes are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect Forge’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. Forge anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause its assessments to change. However, while Forge may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Forge specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Forge’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements.

About Forge

Forge is a leading provider of marketplace infrastructure, data services and technology solutions for private market participants. Forge Securities is a registered broker-dealer and a Member of FINRA that operates an alternative trading system.

FORGE GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data)

December 31,
2022

December 31,
2021

Assets

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

193,136

$

74,781

Restricted cash

1,829

1,623

Accounts receivable, net

3,544

5,380

Payment-dependent notes receivable, current

5

1,153

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

8,374

5,148

Total current assets

$

206,888

$

88,085

Property and equipment, net

359

497

Internal-use software, net

7,640

2,691

Goodwill and other intangible assets, net

133,887

137,774

Operating lease right-of-use assets

5,706

7,881

Payment-dependent notes receivable, noncurrent

7,371

13,453

Other assets, noncurrent

1,878

7,514

Total assets

$

363,729

$

257,895

Liabilities, convertible preferred stock and stockholders’ equity (deficit)

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable

$

2,797

$

1,920

Accrued compensation and benefits

13,271

21,240

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

6,416

8,343

Operating lease liabilities, current

3,896

5,367

Payment-dependent notes payable, current

5

1,153

Total current liabilities

$

26,385

$

38,023

Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent

3,541

5,159

Payment-dependent notes payable, noncurrent

7,371

13,453

Warrant liabilities

606

7,844

Other liabilities, noncurrent

365

Total liabilities

$

38,268

$

64,479

Commitments and contingencies

Convertible preferred stock, net of issuance costs, $0.00001 par value; nil and 86,815,192 shares authorized as of December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively; nil and 73,914,150 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively; aggregate liquidation preference of $0 and $271,845 as of December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively

246,056

Stockholders’ equity (deficit):

Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 172,442,676 and 63,301,388 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively

18

Additional paid-in capital

509,094

25,919

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

693

Accumulated deficit

(190,418

)

(78,559

)

Total Forge Global Holdings, Inc. stockholders’ equity (deficit)

$

319,387

$

(52,640

)

Noncontrolling Interest

6,074

Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)

$

325,461

$

(52,640

)

Total liabilities, convertible preferred stock and stockholders’ equity (deficit)

$

363,729

$

257,895

FORGE GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In thousands of U.S. dollars, except share and per share data)

Three Months Ended

Year Ended

December 31, 2022

September 30, 2022

June 30, 3022

March 31, 2022

December 31, 2022

December 31, 2021

Revenues:

Placement fees

$

6,902

$

8,227

$

10,951

$

14,585

$

40,665

$

107,723

Custodial administration fees

9,919

7,673

5,689

5,437

28,718

20,333

Total revenues

$

16,821

$

15,900

$

16,640

$

20,022

$

69,383

$

128,056

Transaction-based expenses:

Transaction-based expenses

(87

)

(86

)

(178

)

(132

)

(483

)

(3,034

)

Total revenues, less transaction-based expenses

$

16,734

$

15,814

$

16,462

$

19,890

$

68,900

$

125,022

Operating expenses:

Compensation and benefits

30,450

44,040

27,384

43,640

145,514

94,654

Professional services

3,095

3,799

3,853

3,518

14,265

12,450

Acquisition-related transaction costs

(106

)

821

692

3,706

5,113

882

Advertising and market development

881

928

1,441

1,504

4,754

5,090

Rent and occupancy

1,652

1,097

1,140

1,566

5,455

3,744

Technology and communications

3,121

3,536

2,809

2,023

11,489

8,243

General and administrative

3,951

2,601

3,170

1,602

11,324

4,358

Depreciation and amortization

1,495

1,428

2,021

1,082

6,026

5,390

Total operating expenses

$

44,539

$

58,250

$

42,510

$

58,641

$

203,940

$

134,811

Operating loss

$

(27,805

)

$

(42,436

)

$

(26,048

)

$

(38,751

)

$

(135,040

)

$

(9,789

)

Interest and other income (expenses):

Interest income (expenses), net

1,520

874

266

21

2,681

(2,307

)

Change in fair value of warrant liabilities

27

25,210

20,558

(25,959

)

19,836

(6,064

)

Other income (expenses), net

215

202

140

388

945

47

Total interest income (expenses) and other income (expenses)

$

1,762

$

26,286

$

20,964

$

(25,550

)

$

23,462

$

(8,324

)

Loss before provision for income taxes

$

(26,043

)

$

(16,150

)

$

(5,084

)

$

(64,301

)

$

(111,578

)

$

(18,113

)

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

121

48

35

123

327

386

Net loss

$

(26,164

)

$

(16,198

)

$

(5,119

)

$

(64,424

)

$

(111,905

)

$

(18,499

)

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

$

(46

)

$

$

$

$

(46

)

$

Net loss attributable to Forge Global Holdings, Inc.

$

(26,118

)

$

(16,198

)

$

(5,119

)

$

(64,424

)

$

(111,859

)

$

(18,499

)

Net loss per share attributable to Forge Global Holdings, Inc. common stockholders:

Basic

$

(0.15

)

$

(0.10

)

$

(0.03

)

$

(0.98

)

$

(0.78

)

$

(0.34

)

Diluted

$

(0.15

)

$

(0.12

)

$

(0.20

)

$

(0.98

)

$

(0.80

)

$

(0.34

)

Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share attributable to Forge Global Holdings, Inc. common stockholders:

Basic

171,009,174

169,838,778

167,052,900

66,007,461

143,839,981

54,295,304

Diluted

171,009,174

170,209,256

173,578,093

66,007,461

145,013,346

54,295,304

FORGE GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands of U.S. dollars)

Three Months Ended

Year Ended

December 31, 2022

September 30, 2022

June 30, 3022

March 31, 2022

December 31, 2022

December 31, 2021

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net loss

$

(26,164

)

$

(16,198

)

$

(5,119

)

$

(64,424

)

$

(111,905

)

$

(18,499

)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss including noncontrolling interest to net cash (used in) provided by operations:

Share-based compensation

11,950

26,712

10,740

8,522

57,924

12,231

Depreciation and amortization

1,495

1,428

2,020

1,083

6,026

5,390

Transaction expenses related to the Merger

3,132

3,132

Amortization of right-of-use assets

(1,907

)

858

905

1,056

912

2,804

Loss on impairment of long lived assets

181

265

446

Bad debt reserve

139

25

(33

)

302

433

121

Change in fair value of warrant liabilities

(28

)

(25,210

)

(20,557

)

25,959

(19,836

)

6,064

Settlement of related party promissory notes

5,517

5,517

Other

107

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Accounts receivable

(639

)

(1,586

)

1,611

2,017

1,403

382

Prepaid expenses and other assets

944

2,678

(6,025

)

(918

)

(3,321

)

(1,031

)

Accounts payable

947

(1,886

)

982

861

904

(692

)

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

(1,190

)

1,584

(441

)

(741

)

(788

)

(520

)

Accrued compensation and benefits

3,207

1,558

(1,070

)

(11,606

)

(7,911

)

8,080

Operating lease liabilities

2,200

(1,361

)

(1,379

)

(1,202

)

(1,742

)

(3,536

)

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

$

(9,046

)

$

(11,398

)

$

(18,185

)

$

(30,177

)

$

(68,806

)

$

10,901

Cash flows from investing activities:

Purchases of property and equipment

(104

)

(10

)

(95

)

(11

)

(220

)

Purchases of intangible assets

8

(29

)

(97

)

(118

)

(2,202

)

Capitalized internal-use software development costs

(1,722

)

(1,358

)

(1,551

)

(1,681

)

(6,312

)

(1,054

)

Net cash used in investing activities

$

(1,818

)

$

(1,397

)

$

(1,743

)

$

(1,692

)

$

(6,650

)

$

(3,256

)

Cash flows from financing activities:

Proceeds from the Merger

7,865

7,865

Proceeds from PIPE investment and A&R FPA investors

500

208,000

208,500

Payments for offering costs

(473

)

(56,379

)

(56,852

)

(4,954

)

Proceeds from exercise of Public Warrants

804

22,136

22,940

Formation of Forge Europe

9,488

9,488

Proceeds from exercise of options, including proceeds from repayment of promissory notes

89

492

400

105

1,086

1,621

Payments for redemption of Public Warrants

(165

)

(165

)

Proceeds from issuance of Series B-1 convertible preferred stock, net of issuance costs

47,735

Proceeds from issuance of Series B-2 convertible preferred stock, net of issuance costs

1,640

Repayment of notes payable

(19,438

)

Cash paid to purchase equity awards

(23

)

Net cash provided by financing activities

$

89

$

10,619

$

22,563

$

159,591

$

192,862

$

26,581

Effect of changes in currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents

1,314

(159

)

1,155

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

(9,461

)

(2,335

)

2,635

127,722

118,561

34,226

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of the period

204,426

206,761

204,126

76,404

76,404

42,178

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of the period

$

194,965

$

204,426

$

206,761

$

204,126

$

194,965

$

76,404

Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash to the amounts reported within the consolidated balance sheets

Cash and cash equivalents

$

193,136

$

202,603

$

204,942

$

202,502

$

193,136

$

74,781

Restricted cash

1,829

1,823

1,819

1,624

1,829

1,623

Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of the period

$

194,965

$

204,426

$

206,761

$

204,126

$

194,965

$

76,404

FORGE GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC.

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Results

(In thousands of U.S. dollars)

Three Months Ended

Year Ended

December 31, 2022

September 30, 2022

June 30, 3022

March 31, 2022

December 31, 2022

December 31, 2021

Net loss

$

(26,164

)

$

(16,198

)

$

(5,119

)

$

(64,424

)

$

(111,905

)

$

(18,499

)

Add:

Interest (income) expense, net

(1,520

)

(874

)

(266

)

(21

)

(2,681

)

2,307

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

121

48

35

123

327

386

Depreciation and amortization

1,495

1,428

2,021

1,082

6,026

5,390

Loss or impairment on long lived assets

181

265

446

Share-based compensation expense

11,950

26,712

10,740

8,522

57,924

12,231

Change in fair value of warrant liabilities

(27

)

(25,210

)

(20,558

)

25,959

(19,836

)

6,064

Acquisition-related transaction costs

(106

)

821

692

3,706

5,113

882

Transaction bonus

17,735

17,735

Adjusted EBITDA

$

(14,251

)

$

(13,273

)

$

(12,274

)

$

(7,053

)

$

(46,851

)

$

8,761

(1)

Acquisition-related transaction costs represent charges involved in the merger between Forge Global, Inc. and Motive Capital Corp as further described in our Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2022 (the “Merger”), other business combinations, and strategic opportunities. These expenses include legal, accounting, and investment banking advisory services.

(2)

Represents a one-time transaction bonus to certain executives as a result of the consummation of the Merger.

FORGE GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC.
SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
KEY OPERATING METRICS
(In thousands of U.S. dollars)

Key Business Metrics

We monitor the following key business metrics to help us evaluate our business, identify trends affecting our business, formulate business plans and make strategic decisions. The tables below reflect period-over-period changes in our key business metrics, along with the percentage change between such periods. We believe the following business metrics are useful in evaluating our business:

Three Months Ended

Dollars in thousands

December 31, 2022

September 30, 2022

Change

% Change

TRADING BUSINESS

Trades

532

426

106

25

%

Volume

$

246,895

$

226,229

$

20,666

9

%

Net Take Rate

2.8

%

3.6

%

(0.8

)%

(22

)%

Placement fee revenues, less transaction-based expenses

$

6,816

$

8,141

$

(1,325

)

(16

)%

Year Ended December 31,

Dollars in thousands

2022

2021

Change

% Change

TRADING BUSINESS

Trades

2,184

4,890

(2,706

)

(55

)%

Volume

$

1,222,879

$

3,180,257

$

(1,957,378

)

(62

)%

Net Take Rate

3.3

%

3.3

%

%

%

Placement fee revenues, less transaction-based expenses

$

40,182

$

104,689

$

(64,507

)

(62

)%

As of

Dollars in thousands

December 31, 2022

September 30, 2022

Change

% Change

CUSTODY BUSINESS

Total Custodial Accounts

1,871,146

1,811,774

59,372

3

%

Assets Under Custody

$

14,870,257

$

14,967,314

$

(97,057

)

(1

)%

As of

Dollars in thousands

December 31, 2022

December 31, 2021

Change

% Change

CUSTODY BUSINESS

Total Custodial Accounts

1,871,146

2,124,677

(253,531

)

(12

)%

Assets Under Custody

$

14,870,257

$

14,334,527

$

535,730

4

%

Investor Relations Contact:

Dominic Paschel

[email protected]

Media Contact:

Lindsay Riddell

[email protected]

Source: Forge Global

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