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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 31, 2025

 

 

Vivid Seats Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Delaware

001-40926

86-3355184

(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)

(Commission

File Number)

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

 

 

 

 

24 E. Washington St., Ste. 900

 

Chicago, Illinois

 

60602

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 312 291-9966

 

Not applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

 

Trading symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share

 

SEAT

 

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Warrants to purchase Class A common stock

 

SEATW

 

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☒

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 


Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Reference is made to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Vivid Seats Inc. (the “Company”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on October 20, 2025 (as amended by the Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed by the Company with the SEC on October 23, 2025 the “Signing 8-K”). The information set forth under Item 1.01 of the Signing 8-K is incorporated by reference in this Item 1.01. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Current Report on Form 8-K (this “Report”) have the meanings given to them in the Signing 8-K.

As disclosed in the Signing 8-K, on October 19, 2025, the Company entered into the CSA with Hoya Intermediate and the TRA Parties. The closing of the Corporate Simplification and the other transactions contemplated by the CSA was consummated over the two Business Days ended on October 31, 2025 (the “Closing”). In connection with the Closing, the Company issued the Amended and Restated Corporation Warrants pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, dated October 31, 2025, between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 hereto and is incorporated by reference herein.

Item 1.02 Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.

The information set forth under Item 1.01 of this Report is incorporated by reference in this Item 1.02. In connection with the Closing, all rights and obligations under the TRA and the LLC Agreement were terminated, in each case other than certain terms thereof that expressly survived.

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On November 6, 2025, the Company issued a press release providing financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2025, a copy of which is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 hereto.

The information set forth under this Item 2.02, including Exhibit 99.1 hereto, shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

The information set forth under Item 1.01 of this Report is incorporated by reference in this Item 3.02. The Company’s issuance of the Amended and Restated Corporation Warrants did not involve an underwriter and was not registered under the Securities Act in reliance upon the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) and the representations made by the TRA Parties in the CSA.

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

Chief Executive Officer & Chief Financial Officer Transition

On November 3, 2025, the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) appointed Lawrence Fey as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and as a Class I director, effective immediately. Mr. Fey succeeds Stanley Chia, who mutually agreed with the Board to implement this leadership transition by stepping down from his position as Chief Executive Officer and resigning from the Board on the same effective date. Mr. Chia’s resignation from the Board was not because of a disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies, or practices. Mr. Chia will continue to serve as a non-officer employee of the Company, to assist with the transition of his responsibilities, until December 1, 2025. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Fey served as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer. Edward Pickus, the Company’s Chief Accounting Officer, was appointed to simultaneously serve as Interim Chief Financial Officer until a successor Chief Financial Officer is identified.

A biography of Mr. Fey, age 45, is set forth under “Item 1. Business ‒ Information About Our Executive Officers” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 (the “2024 Form 10-K”) and is incorporated by reference herein.

Mr. Pickus, age 40, has served as the Company’s Chief Accounting Officer since 2022 and has held various senior positions since joining the Company in 2013. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and a Certified Public Accountant.

Mr. Fey and Mr. Pickus: (i) were not selected to serve in their new positions pursuant to an arrangement or understanding with any other person; (ii) do not have a family relationship with any of the Company’s other directors and executive officers; (iii) do not have an interest in any transaction requiring disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K; and (iv) will receive compensation for serving in their new positions that will be determined at a future date and disclosed in an amendment to this Report. Mr. Fey will not receive compensation for his service as a director.


In connection with his separation, Mr. Chia will be entitled to receive the benefits associated with the “Qualifying Termination” provisions of his employment agreement with the Company, which is filed as Exhibits 10.25 and 10.26 to the 2024 Form 10-K.

Other Executive Officer Changes

On November 3, 2025, Riva Bakal stepped down from her position as the Company’s Chief Customer & Supply Officer, effective immediately. Ms. Bakal will continue to serve as a non-officer employee of the Company, to assist with the transition of her responsibilities, until November 14, 2025. In connection with her separation, Ms. Bakal will be entitled to receive the benefits associated with the “Qualifying Termination” provisions of her employment agreement with the Company, which is filed as Exhibits 10.30 and 10.31 to the 2024 Form 10-K.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

Exhibit No.

 

Description

10.1

 

Corporate Simplification Agreement, dated October 19, 2025, among Vivid Seats Inc., Hoya Intermediate, LLC, and the TRA Parties named therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Vivid Seats Inc. on October 20, 2025)

10.2

 

Private Warrant Agreement, dated October 31, 2025, between Vivid Seats Inc. and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

99.1

 

Press release issued by Vivid Seats Inc., dated November 6, 2025

104

 

Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the inline XBRL Document)

 


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

Vivid Seats Inc.

 

 

 

 

Date:

November 6, 2025

By:

/s/ Lawrence Fey

 

 

 

Lawrence Fey
Chief Excutive Officer

 


EX-10.2 2 seat-ex10_2.htm EX-10.2 EX-10.2

Exhibit 10.2

PRIVATE WARRANT AGREEMENT

Dated October 31, 2025

THIS WARRANT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated October 31, 2025, is by and between Vivid Seats Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York limited purpose trust company, as warrant agent (in such capacity, the “Warrant Agent”).

WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Corporate Simplification Agreement, dated October 19, 2025, by and among the Company, Hoya Topco, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Hoya Topco”), Hoya Intermediate, LLC (“Hoya Intermediate”) and each other party thereto under the heading “TRA Holders” on the signature pages thereto, the Company issued and delivered (i) warrants to purchase 100,000 shares of Class A ordinary shares of the Company, par value $0.0001 (the “Class A Shares”) at an exercise price of $200 per share (the “$200 Warrants”) and (ii) warrants to purchase 100,000 Class A Shares at an exercise price of $300 per share (the “$300 Warrants,” and together with the $200 Warrants, collectively, the “Warrants”);

WHEREAS, the Company desires the Warrant Agent to act on behalf of the Company, and the Warrant Agent is willing to so act, in connection with the issuance, registration, transfer, exchange, redemption and exercise of the Warrants;

WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide for the form and provisions of the Warrants, the terms upon which they shall be issued and exercised, and the respective rights, limitation of rights, and immunities of the Company, the Warrant Agent, and the holders of the Warrants; and

WHEREAS, all acts and things have been done and performed which are necessary to make the Warrants, when executed on behalf of the Company and countersigned by or on behalf of the Warrant Agent (if a physical certificate is issued), as provided herein, the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company, and to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.
Warrant Agent.
1.1
Appointment of Warrant Agent. The Company hereby appoints the Warrant Agent to act as agent for the Company for the Warrants, and the Warrant Agent hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the same in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
1.2
Appointment of Successor Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent, or any successor to it hereafter appointed, may resign its duties and be discharged from all further duties and liabilities hereunder after giving sixty (60) days’ notice in writing to the Company. If the office of the Warrant Agent becomes vacant by resignation or incapacity to act or otherwise, the Company shall appoint in writing a successor Warrant Agent in place of the Warrant Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of a Warrant (who shall, with such notice, submit his, her or its Warrant for inspection by the Company), then the holder of any Warrant may apply to the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the County of New York for the appointment of a successor Warrant Agent at the Company’s cost. Any successor Warrant Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such court, shall be a corporation or other entity organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, in good standing and having its principal office in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, and authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority. After appointment, any successor Warrant Agent shall be vested with all the authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations of its predecessor Warrant Agent with like effect as if originally named as Warrant Agent hereunder, without any further act or deed; but if for any reason it becomes necessary or appropriate, the predecessor Warrant Agent shall execute and deliver, at the expense of the Company, an instrument transferring to such successor Warrant Agent all the authority, powers, and rights of such predecessor Warrant Agent hereunder; and upon request of any successor Warrant Agent the Company shall make, execute, acknowledge, and deliver any and all instruments in writing for more fully and effectually vesting in and confirming to such successor Warrant Agent all such authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations. In the event a successor Warrant Agent shall be appointed, the Company shall give notice thereof to the predecessor Warrant Agent and the Transfer Agent for the Class A Common Stock not later than the effective date of any such appointment.

 


2.
Warrants.
2.1
Form of Warrant. Each Warrant shall initially be issued in registered form only.
2.2
Effect of Countersignature. If a physical certificate is issued, unless and until countersigned by the Warrant Agent pursuant to this Agreement, a certificated Warrant shall be invalid and of no effect and may not be exercised by the holder thereof.
2.3
Registration.
2.3.1
Warrant Register. The Warrant Agent shall maintain books (the “Warrant Register”), for the registration of original issuance and the registration of transfer of the Warrants. Upon the initial issuance of the Warrants in book-entry form, the Warrant Agent shall issue and register the Warrants in the names of the respective holders thereof in such denominations and otherwise in accordance with instructions delivered to the Warrant Agent by the Company.

If requested, the registered holder of a Warrant shall be issued a definitive certificate in physical form evidencing such Warrants (“Definitive Warrant Certificates”) which shall be in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit A. Each Warrant shall bear the legend set forth in Exhibit B.

Physical certificates, if issued, shall be signed by, or bear the facsimile signature of, the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel, Secretary or other principal officer of the Company. In the event the person whose facsimile signature has been placed upon any Warrant shall have ceased to serve in the capacity in which such person signed the Warrant before such Warrant is issued, it may be issued with the same effect as if he or she had not ceased to be such at the date of issuance.

2.3.2
Registered Holder. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Warrant, the Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name such Warrant is registered in the Warrant Register (the “Registered Holder”) as the absolute owner of such Warrant and of each Warrant represented thereby, for the purpose of any exercise thereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
3.
Terms and Exercise of Warrants.
3.1
Warrant Price. Each whole Warrant (including by consolidation of fractional warrants) shall entitle the Registered Holder thereof, subject to the provisions of such Warrant and of this Agreement, to purchase from the Company the number of shares of Class A Common Stock stated therein, at the price of $200.00 per share (in the case of the $200 Warrants) and $300.00 per share (in the case of the $300 Warrants), subject to the adjustments provided in Section 4 hereof and in the last sentence of this Section 3.1. The term “Warrant Price” as used in this Agreement shall mean the price per share (including in cash or by payment of Warrants pursuant to a “cashless exercise,” to the extent permitted hereunder) described in the prior sentence at which shares of Class A Common Stock may be purchased at the time a Warrant is exercised. The Company in its sole discretion may lower the Warrant Price at any time prior to the Expiration Date (as defined below) for a period of not less than fifteen Business Days (unless otherwise required by the Commission, any national securities exchange on which the Warrants are listed or applicable law); provided that the Company shall provide at least five days’ prior written notice of such reduction to Registered Holders of the Warrants; and provided further, that any such reduction shall be identical among all of the Warrants. The term “Business Day” means a day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday on which banks in New York City are generally open for normal business.
3.2
Duration of Warrants. A Warrant may be exercised only during the period (the “Exercise Period”) (A) commencing on the date that is thirty (30) days after the date of the Original Agreement and

(B) terminating at 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the date that is ten (10) years after the date of the Original Agreement (the “Expiration Date”); provided, however, that the exercise of any Warrant shall be subject to the satisfaction of any applicable conditions, as set forth in subsection 3.3.2 below, with respect to an effective registration statement or a valid exemption therefrom being available. Each Warrant not exercised on or before the Expiration Date shall become void, and all rights thereunder and all rights in respect thereof under this Agreement shall cease at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the Expiration Date. The Company in its sole discretion may extend the duration of the Warrants by delaying the Expiration Date; provided that the Company shall provide at least twenty (20) days prior written notice of any such extension to Registered Holders of the Warrants and, provided further that any such extension shall be identical in duration among all the Warrants.

2


3.3
Exercise of Warrants.
3.3.1
Payment. Subject to the provisions of the Warrant and this Agreement, a Warrant may be exercised by the Registered Holder thereof by delivering to the Warrant Agent at its corporate trust department (i) the Definitive Warrant Certificate evidencing the Warrants to be exercised, if applicable,(ii) a written notice electing to purchase (“Election to Purchase”) any share of Class A Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant, properly completed and executed by the Registered Holder (which Election to Purchase may be accomplished by properly completing and executing the reverse side of a Definitive Warrant Certificate, if such Warrant is certificated), and (iii) the payment in full of the Warrant Price for each share of Class A Common Stock as to which the Warrant is exercised and any and all applicable taxes due in connection with the exercise of the Warrant, the exchange of the Warrant for the shares of Class A Common Stock and the issuance and delivery of such shares of Class A Common Stock, as follows:
(a)
in lawful money of the United States, in good certified check or good bank draft payable to the order of the Warrant Agent; or
(b)
with respect to any Warrant, by surrendering the Warrants for that number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Class A Common Stock underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “Last Reported Sale Price” (as defined in this subsection 3.3.1(b)) less the Warrant Price by (y) the Last Reported Sale Price. The “Last Reported Sale Price” shall mean the last reported sale price of the shares of Class A Common Stock on the date prior to the date on which notice of exercise of the Warrant is sent to the Warrant Agent.
3.3.2
Issuance of Shares of Class A Common Stock on Exercise. As soon as practicable after the exercise of any Warrant and the clearance of the funds in payment of the Warrant Price (if payment is pursuant to subsection 3.3.1(a)), the Company shall issue to the Registered Holder of such Warrant a book-entry position or certificate, as applicable, for the number of shares of Class A Common Stock to which he, she or it is entitled, registered in such name or names as may be directed by him, her or it on the register of members of the Company, and if such Warrant shall not have been exercised in full, a new book- entry position or countersigned Warrant, as applicable, for the number of shares as to which such Warrant shall not have been exercised. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be obligated to deliver any shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant and shall have no obligation to settle such Warrant exercise unless (i) a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), with respect to the shares of Class A Common Stock underlying the Warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current or (ii) a valid exemption from registration is available. No Warrant shall be exercisable and the Company shall not be obligated to issue shares of Class A Common Stock upon exercise of a Warrant unless the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon such Warrant exercise have been registered, qualified or deemed to be exempt from registration or qualification under the securities laws of the state of residence of the Registered Holder of the Warrants. Subject to Section 4.6 of this Agreement, a Registered Holder of Warrants may exercise its Warrants only for a whole number of shares of Class A Common Stock. If, by reason of any exercise of Warrants on a “cashless basis”, the holder of any Warrant would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in a share of Class A Common Stock, the Company shall round down to the nearest whole number, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued to such holder. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event will the Company be required to pay cash to the holder of any Warrant.
3.3.3
Valid Issuance. All shares of Class A Common Stock issued upon the proper exercise of a Warrant in conformity with this Agreement shall be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
3.3.4
Date of Issuance. Each person in whose name any book-entry position or certificate, as applicable, for shares of Class A Common Stock is issued and who is registered in the register of members of the Company shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of such shares of Class A Common Stock on the date on which the Warrant, or book-entry position representing such Warrant, was surrendered and payment of the Warrant Price was made, irrespective of the date of delivery of such certificate in the case of a certificated Warrant, except that, if the date of such surrender and payment is a date when the register of members of the Company or book-entry system of the Warrant Agent are closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the holder of such shares at the close of business on the next succeeding date on which the share transfer books or book-entry system are open.

3


4.
Adjustments.
4.1
Share Capitalizations.
4.1.1
Sub-Divisions. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.6 below, the number of issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock is increased by a capitalization or dividend of shares of Class A Common Stock, or by a sub-division of shares of Class A Common Stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such share capitalization, sub-division or similar event, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be increased in proportion to such increase in the issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock. A rights offering made to all or substantially all of the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock entitling holders to purchase shares of Class A Common Stock at a price less than the “Historical Fair Market Value” (as defined below) shall be deemed a capitalization of a number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the product of (i) the number of shares of Class A Common Stock actually sold in such rights offering (or issuable under any other equity securities sold in such rights offering that are convertible into or exercisable for the shares of Class A Common Stock) multiplied by (ii) one (1) minus the quotient of (x) the price per share of Class A Common Stock paid in such rights offering divided by (y) the Historical Fair Market Value. For purposes of this subsection 4.1.1, (i) if the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for shares of Class A Common Stock, in determining the price payable for shares of Class A Common Stock, there shall be taken into account any consideration received for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion and (ii) “Historical Fair Market Value” means the volume weighted average price of the shares of Class A Common Stock during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the first date on which the shares of Class A Common Stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such rights.
4.1.2
Extraordinary Dividends. If the Company, at any time while the Warrants are outstanding and unexpired, pays to all or substantially all of the holders of the shares of Class A Common Stock a dividend or makes a distribution in cash, securities or other assets on account of such shares of Class A Common Stock (or other shares into which the Warrants are convertible), other than (a) as described in subsection 4.1.1 above or (b) Ordinary Cash Dividends (as defined below) (any such non- excluded event being referred to herein as an “Extraordinary Dividend”), then the Warrant Price shall be decreased, effective immediately after the effective date of such Extraordinary Dividend, by the amount of cash and/or the fair market value (as determined by the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”), in good faith) of any securities or other assets paid on each share of Class A Common Stock in respect of such Extraordinary Dividend. For purposes of this subsection 4.1.2, “Ordinary Cash Dividends” means any cash dividend or cash distribution which, when combined on a per share basis, with the per share amounts of all other cash dividends and cash distributions paid on the shares of Class A Common Stock during the 365- day period ending on the date of declaration of such dividend or distribution to the extent it does not exceed $0.50 (which amount shall be adjusted to appropriately reflect any of the events referred to in other subsections of this Section 4 and excluding cash dividends or cash distributions that resulted in an adjustment to the Warrant Price or to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Warrant).
4.2
Aggregation of Shares. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.6 hereof, the number of issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse share sub-division or reclassification of shares of Class A Common Stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse share sub-division, reclassification or similar event, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock.
4.3
Adjustments in Exercise Price. Whenever the number of shares of Class A Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants is adjusted, as provided in subsection 4.1.1 or Section 4.2 above, the Warrant Price shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) by multiplying such Warrant Price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Class A Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants immediately prior to such adjustment, and (y) the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Class A Common Stock so purchasable immediately thereafter.
4.4
Replacement of Securities upon Reorganization, etc.

4


In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (other than pursuant to a change covered by Section 4.1 or Section 4.2 hereof or that solely affects the par value of such shares of Class A Common Stock), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of the issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the assets or other property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety, the holders of the Warrants shall thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the Warrants and in lieu of the shares of Class A Common Stock immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of shares or stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the holder of the Warrants would have received if such holder had exercised his, her or its Warrant(s) immediately prior to such event (the “Alternative Issuance”); provided, however, that if the holders of the shares of Class A Common Stock were entitled to exercise a right of election as to the kind or amount of securities, cash or other assets receivable upon such consolidation or merger, then the kind and amount of securities, cash or other assets constituting the Alternative Issuance for which each Warrant shall become exercisable shall be deemed to be the weighted average of the kind and amount received per share by the holders of the shares of Class A Common Stock in such consolidation or merger that affirmatively make such election; provided further that if less than 70% of the consideration receivable by the holders of the shares of Class A Common Stock in the applicable event is payable in the form of shares in the successor entity that is listed for trading on a national securities exchange or is quoted in an established over-the- counter market, or is to be so listed for trading or quoted immediately following such event, and if the Registered Holder properly exercises the Warrant within thirty (30) days following the public disclosure of the consummation of such applicable event by the Company pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission, the Warrant Price shall be reduced by an amount (in dollars) equal to the difference of (i) the Warrant Price in effect prior to such reduction minus (ii) (A) the Per Share Consideration (as defined below) (but in no event less than zero) minus (B) the Black-Scholes Warrant Value (as defined below). The “Black-Scholes Warrant Value” means the value of a Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of the applicable event based on the Black-Scholes Warrant Model for an Uncapped American Call on Bloomberg Financial Markets (assuming zero dividends) (“Bloomberg”). For purposes of calculating such amount, (i) the price of each share of Class A Common Stock shall be the volume weighted average price of the shares of Class A Common Stock during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the effective date of the applicable event, (ii) the assumed volatility shall be the 90 day volatility obtained from the HVT function on Bloomberg determined as of the trading day immediately prior to the day of the announcement of the applicable event and (iii) the assumed risk- free interest rate shall correspond to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the remaining term of the Warrant. “Per Share Consideration” means (i) if the consideration paid to holders of the shares of Class A Common Stock consists exclusively of cash, the amount of such cash per share of Class A Common Stock, and (ii) in all other cases, the volume weighted average price of the shares of Class A Common Stock during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the effective date of the applicable event. If any reclassification or reorganization also results in a change in shares of Class A Common Stock covered by subsection 4.1.1, then such adjustment shall be made pursuant to subsection 4.1.1 or Sections 4.2, 4.3 and this Section 4.4. The provisions of this Section 4.4 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, reorganizations, mergers or consolidations, sales or other transfers. In no event shall the Warrant Price be reduced to less than the par value per share issuable upon exercise of such Warrant.
4.5
Notices of Changes in Warrant. Upon every adjustment of the Warrant Price or the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a Warrant, the Company shall give written notice thereof to the Warrant Agent, which notice shall state the Warrant Price resulting from such adjustment and the increase or decrease, if any, in the number of shares purchasable at such price upon the exercise of a Warrant, setting forth in reasonable detail the method of calculation and the facts upon which such calculation is based. Upon the occurrence of any event specified in Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, or 4.4, the Warrant Agent shall give written notice of the occurrence of such event to each holder of a Warrant, at the last address set forth for such holder in the Warrant Register, of the record date or the effective date of the event. Failure to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of such event.
4.6
No Fractional Shares. Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not issue fractional shares upon the exercise of Warrants. If, by reason of any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 4 or otherwise, the holder of any Warrant would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in a share, the Company shall, upon such exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued to such holder.
4.7
Form of Warrant.

5


The form of Warrant need not be changed because of any adjustment pursuant to this Section 4, and Warrants issued after such adjustment may state the same Warrant Price and the same number of shares as is stated in the Warrants initially issued pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however, that the Company may at any time in its sole discretion make any change in the form of Warrant that the Company may deem appropriate and that does not affect the substance thereof, and any Warrant thereafter issued or countersigned, whether in exchange or substitution for an outstanding Warrant or otherwise, may be in the form as so changed.
5.
Transfer and Exchange of Warrants.
5.1
Registration of Transfer. The Warrant Agent shall register the transfer, from time to time, of any outstanding Warrant upon the Warrant Register, upon surrender of such Warrant for transfer, properly endorsed with signatures properly guaranteed and accompanied by appropriate instructions for transfer. Upon any such transfer, a new Warrant representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants shall be issued and the old Warrant shall be cancelled by the Warrant Agent. In the case of certificated Warrants, the Warrants so cancelled shall be delivered by the Warrant Agent to the Company from time to time upon request.
5.2
Procedure for Surrender of Warrants. Warrants may be surrendered to the Warrant Agent, together with a written request for exchange or transfer, and thereupon the Warrant Agent shall issue in exchange therefor one or more new Warrants as requested by the Registered Holder of the Warrants so surrendered, representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants; provided further, however that in the event that a Warrant surrendered for transfer bears a restrictive legend, the Warrant Agent shall not cancel such Warrant and issue new Warrants in exchange thereof until the Warrant Agent has received an opinion of counsel for the Company stating that such transfer may be made and indicating whether the new Warrants must also bear a restrictive legend.
5.3
Fractional Warrants. The Warrant Agent shall effect the registration of transfer or exchange which shall result in the issuance of a warrant certificate or book-entry position for a fraction of a Warrant, calculated to the nearest fourth decimal point, if necessary, to give effect to any transfer of Warrants made in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Warrant.
5.4
Service Charges. No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Warrants.
5.5
Transfer Restrictions. Each Warrant shall be transferrable only to the extent such transfer is approved by the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. Without the approval of the Company, each Registered Holder may transfer any Warrant or any fractional portion thereof to any individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, association, joint stock company, joint venture, unincorporated organization, association or other entity controlled by, controlling or under common control with such Registered Holder and to any direct or indirect partner, member, stockholder or other equityholder of such Registered Holder, provided that any transferee executes a valid joinder to this Agreement in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company. As used in this Section 5.5, “control” (including, with its correlative meanings, “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”) shall mean possession, directly or indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities, by contract or otherwise).
5.6
Warrant Execution and Countersignature. The Warrant Agent is hereby authorized to countersign and to deliver, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Warrants required to be issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5, and the Company, whenever required by the Warrant Agent, shall supply the Warrant Agent with Warrants duly executed on behalf of the Company for such purpose.
6.
Other Provisions Relating to Rights of Holders of Warrants.
6.1
No Rights as Shareholder. A Warrant does not entitle the Registered Holder thereof to any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to receive dividends, or other distributions, exercise any preemptive rights to vote or to consent or to receive notice as shareholders in respect of the meetings of shareholders or the election of directors of the Company or any other matter.
6.2
Lost, Stolen, Mutilated, or Destroyed Warrants. If any Warrant is lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, the Company and the Warrant Agent may on such terms as to indemnity or otherwise as they may in their discretion impose (which shall, in the case of a mutilated Warrant, include the surrender thereof), issue a new Warrant of like denomination, tenor, and date as the Warrant so lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed. Any such new Warrant shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the allegedly lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed Warrant shall be at any time enforceable by anyone.
6.3
Reservation of Shares of Class A Common Stock. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available a number of its authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock that shall be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Warrants issued pursuant to this Agreement.

6


7.
Concerning the Warrant Agent and Other Matters.
7.1
Payment of Taxes. Without limiting the payment obligations of Registered Holders under Section 3.3.1 hereof, the Company shall from time to time promptly pay or reimburse the Warrant Agent for all taxes and charges that may be imposed upon the Company or the Warrant Agent in respect of the issuance or delivery of shares of Class A Common Stock upon the exercise of the Warrants, but the Company shall not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes in respect of the Warrants or such shares.
7.2
Resignation, Consolidation, or Merger of Warrant Agent.
7.2.1
Appointment of Successor Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent, or any successor to it hereafter appointed, may resign its duties and be discharged from all further duties and liabilities hereunder after giving sixty (60) days’ notice in writing to the Company. If the office of the Warrant Agent becomes vacant by resignation or incapacity to act or otherwise, the Company shall appoint in writing a successor Warrant Agent in place of the Warrant Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of thirty (30) days after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of a Warrant (who shall, with such notice, submit his, her or its Warrant for inspection by the Company), then the holder of any Warrant may apply to the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the County of New York for the appointment of a successor Warrant Agent at the Company’s cost. Any successor Warrant Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such court, shall be a corporation or other entity organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, in good standing and having its principal office in the Borough of Manhattan, New York, New York United States of America, and authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority. After appointment, any successor Warrant Agent shall be vested with all the authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations of its predecessor Warrant Agent with like effect as if originally named as Warrant Agent hereunder, without any further act or deed; but if for any reason it becomes necessary or appropriate, the predecessor Warrant Agent shall execute and deliver, at the expense of the Company, an instrument transferring to such successor Warrant Agent all the authority, powers, and rights of such predecessor Warrant Agent hereunder; and upon request of any successor Warrant Agent the Company shall make, execute, acknowledge, and deliver any and all instruments in writing for more fully and effectually vesting in and confirming to such successor Warrant Agent all such authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations.
7.2.2
Notice of Successor Warrant Agent. In the event a successor Warrant Agent shall be appointed, the Company shall give notice thereof to the predecessor Warrant Agent not later than the effective date of any such appointment.
7.2.3
Merger or Consolidation of Warrant Agent. Any entity into which the Warrant Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated or any entity resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Warrant Agent shall be a party shall be the successor Warrant Agent under this Agreement without any further act.
7.3
Fees and Expenses of Warrant Agent.
7.3.1
Remuneration. The Company agrees to pay the Warrant Agent reasonable remuneration for its services as such Warrant Agent hereunder and shall, pursuant to its obligations under this Agreement, reimburse the Warrant Agent upon demand for all expenditures that the Warrant Agent may reasonably incur in the execution of its duties hereunder.
7.3.2
Further Assurances. The Company agrees to perform, execute, acknowledge, and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged, and delivered all such further and other acts, instruments, and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Warrant Agent for the carrying out or performing of the provisions of this Agreement.
7.4
Liability of Warrant Agent.
7.4.1
Reliance on Company Statement. Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Warrant Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, the General Counsel, the Secretary or the Chairman of the Board of the Company and delivered to the Warrant Agent.

7


The Warrant Agent may rely upon such statement for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.
7.4.2
Indemnity. The Warrant Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross negligence, willful misconduct, fraud or bad faith. The Company agrees to indemnify the Warrant Agent and save it harmless against any and all liabilities, including judgments, out-of-pocket costs and reasonable outside counsel fees, for anything done or omitted by the Warrant Agent in the execution of this Agreement, except as a result of the Warrant Agent’s gross negligence, willful misconduct, fraud or bad faith.
7.4.3
Exclusions. The Warrant Agent shall have no responsibility with respect to the validity of this Agreement or with respect to the validity or execution of any Warrant (except its countersignature thereof). The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Warrant. The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible to make any adjustments required under the provisions of Section 4 hereof or responsible for the manner, method, or amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment; nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Warrant or as to whether any shares of Class A Common Stock shall, when issued, be valid and fully paid and nonassessable.
7.5
Acceptance of Agency. The Warrant Agent hereby accepts the agency established by this Agreement and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions herein set forth and among other things, shall account promptly to the Company with respect to Warrants exercised and concurrently account for, and pay to the Company, all monies received by the Warrant Agent for the purchase of shares of Class A Common Stock through the exercise of the Warrants.
7.6
Waiver. The Warrant Agent has no right of set-off or any other right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“Claim”) in, or to any distribution of, the Trust Account (as defined in that certain Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company as trustee thereunder) and hereby agrees not to seek recourse, reimbursement, payment or satisfaction for any Claim against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever. The Warrant Agent hereby waives any and all Claims against the Trust Account and any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account.
8.
Miscellaneous Provisions.
8.1
Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Warrant Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns.
8.2
Notices. Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of any Warrant to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given when so delivered if (i) by electronic mail, (ii) by hand or overnight delivery or (iii) if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five (5) days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Warrant Agent), as follows:

Vivid Seats Inc.

24 E. Washington Street, Suite 900

Chicago, IL 60602

Attention: General Counsel

Email: legal@vividseats.com

with a copy to:

Latham & Watkins LLP

330 North Wabash Avenue, Suite 2800

Chicago, IL 60611

Attention: Bradley Faris; Owen Alexander

Email: Bradley.Faris@lw.com; Owen.Alexander@lw.com

Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the holder of any Warrant or by the Company to or on the Warrant Agent shall be sufficiently given when so delivered if by hand or overnight delivery or if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five (5) days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Warrant Agent with the Company), as follows:

8


Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

One State Street, 30th Floor

New York, NY 10004

Attention: Compliance Department

8.3
Applicable Law and Exclusive Forum. The validity, interpretation, and performance of this Agreement and of the Warrants shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New York. Subject to applicable law, the Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this paragraph will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum.

Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in the Warrants shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provisions in this Section 8.3. If any action, the subject matter of which is within the scope the forum provisions above, is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (a “foreign action”) in the name of any warrant holder, such warrant holder shall be deemed to have consented to: (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the forum provisions (an “enforcement action”), and (y) having service of process made upon such warrant holder in any such enforcement action by service upon such warrant holder’s counsel in the foreign action as agent for such warrant holder.

8.4
Persons Having Rights under this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to confer upon, or give to, any person, corporation or other entity other than the parties hereto and the Registered Holders of the Warrants any right, remedy, or claim under or by reason of this Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise, or agreement hereof. All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises, and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and assigns and of the Registered Holders of the Warrants.
8.5
Examination of the Warrant Agreement. A copy of this Agreement shall be available at all reasonable times at the office of the Warrant Agent in the United States of America, for inspection by the Registered Holder of any Warrant. The Warrant Agent may require such holder to submit such holder’s Warrant for inspection by the Warrant Agent.
8.6
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of original or facsimile counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
8.7
Effect of Headings. The section headings herein are for convenience only and are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation thereof.
8.8
Amendments. This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto without the consent of any Registered Holder for the purpose of (i) curing any ambiguity or to correct any mistake or defective provision contained herein, (ii) amending the definition of “Ordinary Cash Dividend” as contemplated by and in accordance with the second sentence of subsection 4.1.2 or (iii) adding or changing any provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Agreement as the parties may deem necessary or desirable and that the parties deem shall not adversely affect the rights of the Registered Holders under this Agreement. All other modifications or amendments, including any modification or amendment to increase the Warrant Price or shorten the Exercise Period, shall require the vote or written consent of the Registered Holders of 65% of the then-outstanding Warrants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may lower the Warrant Price or extend the duration of the Exercise Period pursuant to Sections 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, without the consent of the Registered Holders.
8.9
Severability. This Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.

9


[Signature Page Follows]

10


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

VIVID SEATS INC.

By: /s/ Stanley Chia

Name: Stanley Chia

Title: Chief Executive Officer and President

CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, as Warrant Agent

By: /s/ Steven Vacante

Name: Steven Vacante

Title: Vice President

[Signature Page to Private Warrant Agreement]


 

EXHIBIT A

Form of Warrant Certificate

[FACE]

Number

Warrants

THIS WARRANT SHALL BE VOID IF NOT EXERCISED PRIOR TO

THE EXPIRATION OF THE EXERCISE PERIOD PROVIDED FOR

IN THE WARRANT AGREEMENT DESCRIBED BELOW

Vivid Seats Inc.

Formed Under the Laws of Delaware

CUSIP [•]

Warrant Certificate

This Warrant Certificate certifies that [ ], or registered assigns, is the registered holder of [ ] warrant(s) (the “Warrants” and each, a “Warrant”) to purchase shares of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value (“Class A Common Stock”), of Vivid Seats Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). Each Warrant entitles the holder, upon exercise during the period set forth in the Amended and Restated Warrant Agreement referred to below, to receive from the Company that number of fully paid and nonassessable share of Class A Common Stock as set forth below, at the exercise price (the “Exercise Price”) as determined pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, payable in lawful money (or through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) of the United States of America upon surrender of this Warrant Certificate and payment of the Exercise Price at the office or agency of the Warrant Agent referred to below, subject to the conditions set forth herein and in the Warrant Agreement. Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement.

Each whole Warrant is initially exercisable for one fully paid and non-assessable share of Class A Common Stock. Fractional shares shall not be issued upon exercise of any Warrant. The number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

The initial Exercise Price per one share of Class A Common Stock for any Warrant is equal to [$200.00] / [$300.00] per share. The Exercise Price is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

Subject to the conditions set forth in the Amended and Restated Warrant Agreement, the Warrants may be exercised only during the Exercise Period and to the extent not exercised by the end of such Exercise Period, such Warrants shall become void. The Warrants are not subject to redemption by the Company.

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Warrant Certificate set forth on the reverse hereof and such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.

This Warrant Certificate shall not be valid unless countersigned by the Warrant Agent, as such term is used in the Warrant Agreement. This Warrant Certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.

VIVID SEATS INC.

By:

Name:

Title: Authorized Signatory

 


 

Form of Warrant Certificate

[Reverse]

The Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate are part of a duly authorized issue of Warrants entitling the holder on exercise to receive [ ] shares of Class A Common Stock and are issued or to be issued pursuant to an Amended and Restated Warrant Agreement dated as of [•], 2025 (the “Warrant Agreement”), duly executed and delivered by the Company to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York limited purpose company, as warrant agent (the “Warrant Agent”), which Warrant Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference in and made a part of this instrument and is hereby referred to for a description of the rights, limitation of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company and the holders (the words “holders” or “holder” meaning the Registered Holders or Registered Holder, respectively) of the Warrants. A copy of the Warrant Agreement may be obtained by the holder hereof upon written request to the Company. Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement.

Warrants may be exercised at any time during the Exercise Period set forth in the Warrant Agreement. The holder of Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate may exercise them by surrendering this Warrant Certificate, with the form of Election to Purchase set forth hereon properly completed and executed, together with payment of the Exercise Price as specified in the Warrant Agreement (or through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) at the principal corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent. In the event that upon any exercise of Warrants evidenced hereby the number of Warrants exercised shall be less than the total number of Warrants evidenced hereby, there shall be issued to the holder hereof or his, her or its assignee, a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the number of Warrants not exercised.

Notwithstanding anything else in this Warrant Certificate or the Warrant Agreement, no Warrant may be exercised unless at the time of exercise (i) a registration statement covering the issuance of the shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued upon exercise is effective under the Securities Act and (ii) a prospectus thereunder relating to the shares of Class A Common Stock is current, except through “cashless exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement.

The Warrant Agreement provides that upon the occurrence of certain events the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants set forth on the face hereof may, subject to certain conditions, be adjusted. If, upon exercise of a Warrant, the holder thereof would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share of Class A Common Stock, the Company shall, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number of shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued to the holder of the Warrant.

Warrant Certificates, when surrendered at the principal corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent by the Registered Holder thereof in person or by legal representative or attorney duly authorized in writing, may be exchanged, in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, but without payment of any service charge, for another Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants.

Upon due presentation for registration of transfer of this Warrant Certificate at the office of the Warrant Agent a new Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor and evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants shall be issued to the transferee(s) in exchange for this Warrant Certificate, subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, without charge except for any tax or other governmental charge imposed in connection therewith.

The Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the Registered Holder(s) hereof as the absolute owner(s) of this Warrant Certificate (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon made by anyone), for the purpose of any exercise hereof, of any distribution to the holder(s) hereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. Neither the Warrants nor this Warrant Certificate entitles any holder hereof to any rights of a shareholder of the Company.

Election to Purchase

(To Be Executed Upon Exercise of Warrant)

The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, to receive [ ] shares of Class A Common Stock and herewith tenders payment for such shares of Class A Common Stock to the order of Vivid Seats Inc. (the “Company”) in the amount of $[ ] in accordance with the terms hereof. The undersigned requests that a certificate for such shares of Class A Common Stock be registered in the name of [ ], whose address is [ ] and that such shares of Class A Common Stock be delivered to [ ] whose address is [ ]. If said [ ] number of shares of Class A Common Stock is less than all of the shares of Class A Common Stock purchasable hereunder, the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such shares of Class A Common Stock be registered in the name of [ ], whose address is [ ] and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to [ ], whose address is [ ].

In the event that the Warrant is to be exercised on a “cashless” basis pursuant to subsection 3.3.1(b) of the Warrant Agreement, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with subsection 3.3.1(b) of the Warrant Agreement.

 


 

In the event that the Warrant may be exercised, to the extent allowed by the Warrant Agreement, through cashless exercise (i) the number of shares of Class A Common Stock that this Warrant is exercisable for would be determined in accordance with the relevant section of the Warrant Agreement which allows for such cashless exercise and (ii) the holder hereof shall complete the following: The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, through the cashless exercise provisions of the Warrant Agreement, to receive shares of Class A Common Stock. If said number of shares is less than all of the shares of Class A Common Stock purchasable hereunder (after giving effect to the cashless exercise), the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such shares of Class A Common Stock be registered in the name of [ ], whose address is [ ] and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to [ ], whose address is [ ].

Date: [ ]

(Signature)

(Address)

(Tax Identification Number)

Signature Guaranteed:

THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED).

 


 

EXHIBIT B

Legend – Private Placement Warrants

LEGEND

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF UNLESS REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE. IN ADDITION, THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO ANY ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS ON TRANSFER DESCRIBED IN THE STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG THE COMPANY, HORIZON SPONSOR, LLC AND THE OTHER PARTY THERETO. SECURITIES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE AND EACH SHARE OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK OF THE COMPANY ISSUED UPON EXERCISE OF SUCH SECURITIES SHALL BE ENTITLED TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS UNDER A REGISTRATION AND SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND THE PARTIES THERETO.

NO. [ ] WARRANT

 


EX-99.1 3 seat-ex99_1.htm EX-99.1 EX-99.1

 

Exhibit 99.1

Vivid Seats Reports Third Quarter 2025 Results; Announces CEO Transition

Lawrence Fey Appointed Chief Executive Officer

Provides 2026 Initial Outlook Driven by Leading Value Proposition & Efficiency Initiatives

CHICAGO, IL – November 6, 2025 – Vivid Seats Inc. (NASDAQ: SEAT) (“Vivid Seats” or “we”), a leading marketplace that utilizes its technology platform to connect millions of buyers with thousands of ticket sellers across hundreds of thousands of events each year, today provided financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2025 and announced a leadership transition.

Third Quarter 2025 Key Operational and Financial Metrics

Marketplace GOV of $618.1 million – down 29% from $871.7 million in Q3 2024
Revenues of $136.4 million – down 27% from $186.6 million in Q3 2024
Net loss of $19.7 million – down $28.9 million from net income of $9.2 million in Q3 2024
Adjusted EBITDA of $4.9 million – down $29.2 million from $34.1 million in Q3 2024

Vivid Seats today announced that Lawrence Fey, Vivid Seats’ Chief Financial Officer, will succeed Stan Chia as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Mr. Chia, who became Chief Executive Officer in 2018, will stay on in an advisory role through December 1, 2025. As part of the transition, Ted Pickus, who has served as Vivid Seats’ Chief Accounting Officer since 2022, has been appointed Interim Chief Financial Officer until a successor is identified.

“We believe Larry is uniquely qualified to guide Vivid Seats through this evolving industry environment and into the next chapter,” said Board Chair David Donnini. “With extensive history with the company dating back to 2017, including most recently as CFO, he brings a wealth of knowledge about the company and its potential. The Board has confidence in him as a results-driven leader with a clear vision and plan to return to profitable growth.”

Mr. Donnini continued, “The Board is deeply appreciative of Stan’s leadership and dedicated service to Vivid Seats over the past seven years. We thank him for his many contributions during his tenure, including leading the company through COVID and launching and growing Vivid Seats Rewards, which is a foundational element of the Vivid Seats value proposition.”

Regarding strategic priorities and outlook, Lawrence Fey said, “Our priorities are clear – we are focused on operating the most efficient platform powered by the best technology and data. Our platform efficiency will allow us to sustainably deliver a unique value proposition to fans through the combined impact of our Lowest Price Guarantee, which we launched late in the third quarter, and Vivid Seats Rewards.”

Commenting on third quarter results and the 2026 initial outlook, Lawrence Fey said, “We are more than doubling our annualized cost savings target to $60 million and have simplified our corporate structure as a central part of our commitment to maximize our operating efficiency. These cost reductions enable reinvestment in our value proposition and we are seeing encouraging early signs including Owned Properties delivering sequential GOV growth and the Vivid Seats app delivering year-over-year GOV growth. At the same time, Private Label performance weighed negatively on year-over-year and sequential trends and negatively impacted consolidated results. Our progress to date executing our cost reduction program underpins our 2026 Initial Outlook and gives us confidence that we are building a more efficient, resilient, and profitable business for the long term.”

Key Business Metrics and Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measure

We use the following metrics to evaluate our performance, identify trends, formulate financial projections, and make strategic decisions. We believe these metrics provide useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our results of operations in the same manner as management.

The following table summarizes our key business metrics and non-U.S. GAAP financial measure for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 (in thousands):

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

2025

 

2024

 

 

2025

 

2024

 

Marketplace GOV(1)

 

$

618,139

 

 

$

871,726

 

 

$

2,123,986

 

 

$

2,898,269

 

Marketplace orders(2)

 

 

2,101

 

 

 

2,969

 

 

 

6,570

 

 

 

8,943

 

Resale orders(3)

 

 

115

 

 

 

116

 

 

 

317

 

 

 

316

 

Adjusted EBITDA(4)

 

$

4,905

 

 

$

34,077

 

 

$

40,982

 

 

$

117,172

 

 


 

 

(1)
Marketplace Gross Order Value (“Marketplace GOV”) represents the total transactional amount of Marketplace orders processed on our online platform during a period, inclusive of fees, exclusive of taxes and net of event cancellations. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, event cancellations negatively impacted our Marketplace GOV by $11.4 million and $47.2 million, respectively, compared to $35.4 million and $74.9 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively.
(2)
Marketplace orders represent the total volume of Marketplace segment transactions processed on our online platform during a period, net of event cancellations. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, our Marketplace segment experienced 39,414 and 129,612 event cancellations, respectively, compared to 77,012 and 179,453 event cancellations during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively.
(3)
Resale orders represent the total volume of Resale segment transactions processed on a given platform (including our own) during a period, net of event cancellations. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, our Resale segment experienced 1,598 and 3,759 event cancellations, respectively, compared to 2,411 and 4,494 event cancellations during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively.
(4)
Adjusted EBITDA is a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure that we believe provides useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our operating results and serves as a useful measure for making period-to-period comparisons of our business performance. See the “Adjusted EBITDA” section below for more information, including a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss), its most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure.

2026 Initial Outlook

Vivid Seats anticipates Marketplace GOV and Adjusted EBITDA for the year ending December 31, 2026 to be:

Marketplace GOV in the range of $2.2 billion to $2.6 billion
Adjusted EBITDA in the range of $30.0 million to $40.0 million*

Additional detail around the initial 2026 outlook will be available on the third quarter 2025 earnings call.

* We calculate forward-looking non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA based on internal forecasts that omit certain information that would be included in forward-looking net income, the most directly comparable GAAP measure. We do not attempt to provide a reconciliation of forward-looking Adjusted EBITDA to forward-looking net income because the timing and/or probable significance of certain excluded items that have not yet occurred and are out of our control is inherently uncertain and unavailable without unreasonable efforts. Such items could have a significant and unpredictable impact on our future GAAP financial results.

Corporate Simplification Agreement

As announced on October 20, 2025, we entered into a corporate simplification agreement (the “CSA) to effect a series of transactions that simplify our organizational structure. Pursuant to the CSA and the ancillary agreements described therein, a series of transactions was consummated over the two business days ending on October 31, 2025 that, among other things, eliminated our dual-class, umbrella partnership C corporation (Up-C) structure and terminated our Tax Receivable Agreement (the “TRA”) in exchange for 403,022 shares of our Class A common stock.

The transactions eliminate $6 million of cash payments that would otherwise have been due in the first quarter of 2026 under the terms of the TRA, as well as future distributions to redeemable noncontrolling interests. Going forward, we will retain 100% of realized tax savings that, but for the TRA termination, would have been payable to the former TRA holders, resulting in up to $180 million of lifetime savings for the company. As a result, we expect to substantially reduce our annual cash tax payments to approximately $3 million, with future taxes primarily the result of taxable income generated in foreign jurisdictions. In addition, we expect to realize approximately $1 million in annual savings from reduced compliance and financial reporting costs associated with a single-class stock structure.

As part of the transactions, the former TRA holders exchanged all outstanding shares of our Class B common stock (and corresponding units of our operating subsidiary) for shares of our Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis. As a result, we now have a single class of common stock with approximately 10.7 million Class A shares outstanding (including the shares issued to the former TRA holders as consideration for the agreement).

 

 


 

Webcast Details

Vivid Seats will host a webcast at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time today to discuss the third quarter 2025 financial results and leadership transition. Participants may access the live webcast and supplemental earnings presentation on the events page of the Vivid Seats Investor Relations website at https://investors.vividseats.com/events-and-presentations.

About Vivid Seats

Founded in 2001, Vivid Seats is a leading online ticket marketplace committed to becoming the ultimate partner for connecting fans to the live events, artists, and teams they love. Based on the belief that everyone should “Experience It Live,” the Chicago-based company provides exceptional value by providing one of the widest selections of events and tickets in North America and an industry leading Vivid Seats Rewards program where all fans earn on every purchase. Through its proprietary software and unique technology, Vivid Seats drives the consumer and business ecosystem for live event ticketing and enables the power of shared experiences to unite people. Vivid Seats has been recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Best Companies for Customer Service in ticketing. Fans who want to have the best live experiences can start by downloading the Vivid Seats mobile app, going to vividseats.com, or calling 866-848-8499.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “continue,” “could,” “design,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “future,” “goal,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “plan,” “project,” “propose,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” and “would,” as well as similar expressions which predict or indicate future events and trends or which do not relate to historical matters, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release relate to, without limitation: our future operating results and financial position, including our expectations with respect to our return to growth and fiscal year 2026 Marketplace GOV and adjusted EBITDA; our expectations with respect to live event industry growth, concert supply, and our TAM and competitive positioning; our business strategy; the expected benefits of our cost reduction program and the transactions contemplated by the CSA, including future savings; the anticipated impact of our leadership transition; and the plans and objectives of management for future operations. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions, or results, and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that can be difficult to predict and/or are outside of our control. Therefore, actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by any forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: our ability to generate sufficient cash flows and/or raise additional capital when necessary or desirable; the supply and demand of live concert, sporting, and theater events; the impact of adverse economic conditions and other factors affecting discretionary consumer and corporate spending; our ability to maintain and develop our relationships with ticket buyers, sellers, and partners; our ability to compete in the ticketing industry; our ability to continue to maintain and improve our platform and to successfully develop new and improved solutions and enhancements; the impact of extraordinary events, including disease epidemics; our ability to identify suitable acquisition targets, to complete planned acquisitions, and to realize the expected benefits of completed acquisitions and other strategic investments; our ability to comply with applicable laws and regulations; the impact of unfavorable outcomes in legislation and legal proceedings; our ability to maintain the integrity of our information systems and infrastructure, and to identify, assess, and manage relevant cybersecurity risks; our ability to realize the expected benefits of our cost reduction program and/or the transactions contemplated by the CSA, including future savings (including due to changes in applicable laws or fluctuations in our taxable income); our ability to motivate and retain our senior management team, key technical employees, and other highly skilled personnel; and other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

 

 

 

 

 


 

Contacts:

Investors

Kate Africk

Kate.Africk@vividseats.com

Media

Julia Young

Julia.Young@vividseats.com


 

VIVID SEATS INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share and per share data) (Unaudited)

 

 

September 30,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2025

 

 

2024

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

145,108

 

 

$

243,482

 

Restricted cash

 

 

605

 

 

 

1,166

 

Accounts receivable – net

 

 

38,483

 

 

 

48,315

 

Inventory – net

 

 

23,569

 

 

 

19,601

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

26,147

 

 

 

32,607

 

Total current assets

 

 

233,912

 

 

 

345,171

 

Property and equipment – net

 

 

12,814

 

 

 

12,567

 

Right-of-use assets – net

 

 

10,921

 

 

 

12,008

 

Intangible assets – net

 

 

189,166

 

 

 

233,116

 

Goodwill – net

 

 

648,622

 

 

 

943,119

 

Deferred tax assets – net

 

 

1,181

 

 

 

77,967

 

Investments

 

 

6,599

 

 

 

6,929

 

Other assets

 

 

3,867

 

 

 

5,219

 

Total assets

 

$

1,107,082

 

 

$

1,636,096

 

Liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and shareholders' equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

199,157

 

 

$

232,984

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 

 

126,990

 

 

 

165,047

 

Deferred revenue

 

 

18,123

 

 

 

23,804

 

Current maturities of long-term debt

 

 

3,950

 

 

 

3,950

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

348,220

 

 

 

425,785

 

Long-term debt – net

 

 

384,212

 

 

 

384,960

 

Long-term lease liabilities

 

 

17,079

 

 

 

18,731

 

TRA liability

 

 

180

 

 

 

155,720

 

Other liabilities

 

 

21,892

 

 

 

36,865

 

Total liabilities

 

 

771,583

 

 

 

1,022,061

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

Redeemable noncontrolling interests

 

 

63,344

 

 

 

352,922

 

Shareholders' equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized, 7,456,747 and 7,190,975 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively

 

 

14

 

 

 

14

 

Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value; 250,000,000 shares authorized, 3,811,250 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024

 

 

8

 

 

 

8

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

1,450,104

 

 

 

1,267,710

 

Treasury stock, at cost, 949,665 and 571,687 shares at September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively

 

 

(93,892

)

 

 

(75,568

)

Accumulated deficit

 

 

(1,084,314

)

 

 

(930,171

)

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

 

 

235

 

 

 

(880

)

Total shareholders' equity

 

 

272,155

 

 

 

261,113

 

Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and shareholders' equity

 

$

1,107,082

 

 

$

1,636,096

 

 


 

VIVID SEATS INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands) (Unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2025

 

 

2024

 

 

2025

 

 

2024

 

Revenues

 

$

136,373

 

 

$

186,605

 

 

$

443,962

 

 

$

575,773

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below)

 

 

44,340

 

 

 

51,029

 

 

 

131,294

 

 

 

149,377

 

Marketing and selling

 

 

55,973

 

 

 

67,835

 

 

 

173,885

 

 

 

205,695

 

General and administrative

 

 

45,183

 

 

 

46,306

 

 

 

139,537

 

 

 

149,725

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

13,723

 

 

 

10,669

 

 

 

37,689

 

 

 

31,654

 

Impairment charges

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

320,449

 

 

 

 

Total costs and expenses

 

 

159,219

 

 

 

175,839

 

 

 

802,854

 

 

 

536,451

 

Income (loss) from operations

 

 

(22,846

)

 

 

10,766

 

 

 

(358,892

)

 

 

39,322

 

Interest expense – net

 

 

6,111

 

 

 

6,300

 

 

 

17,410

 

 

 

16,706

 

Other income – net

 

 

(13

)

 

 

(9,020

)

 

 

(154,364

)

 

 

(3,236

)

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

801

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

 

(28,944

)

 

 

13,486

 

 

 

(222,739

)

 

 

25,852

 

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

 

(9,231

)

 

 

4,290

 

 

 

70,089

 

 

 

7,136

 

Net income (loss)

 

 

(19,713

)

 

 

9,196

 

 

 

(292,828

)

 

 

18,716

 

Net income (loss) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests

 

 

(11,187

)

 

 

3,900

 

 

 

(138,685

)

 

 

8,405

 

Net income (loss) attributable to Class A common stockholders

 

$

(8,526

)

 

$

5,296

 

 

$

(154,143

)

 

$

10,311

 

 


 

VIVID SEATS INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands) (Unaudited)

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2025

 

 

2024

 

Cash flows from operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

(292,828

)

 

$

18,716

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

37,689

 

 

 

31,654

 

Amortization of leases

 

 

1,165

 

 

 

1,379

 

Amortization of deferred financing costs

 

 

735

 

 

 

718

 

Equity-based compensation

 

 

33,886

 

 

 

38,284

 

Change in fair value of Intermediate Warrants

 

 

(5,713

)

 

 

(5,713

)

Loss on asset disposals

 

 

380

 

 

 

160

 

Change in fair value of derivative asset

 

 

841

 

 

 

537

 

Deferred income tax expense

 

 

76,786

 

 

 

3,378

 

Non-cash interest expense (income) – net

 

 

499

 

 

 

(442

)

Foreign currency loss (gain) – net

 

 

(2,363

)

 

 

266

 

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

 

801

 

 

 

 

Adjustment of liabilities under TRA

 

 

(149,787

)

 

 

 

Impairment charges

 

 

320,449

 

 

 

 

Write-off of 2024 Sponsorship Loan

 

 

2,024

 

 

 

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable – net

 

 

10,027

 

 

 

(6,879

)

Inventory – net

 

 

(3,967

)

 

 

(1,234

)

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

6,254

 

 

 

4,164

 

Accounts payable

 

 

(34,242

)

 

 

(33,113

)

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 

 

(39,611

)

 

 

(35,140

)

Deferred revenue

 

 

(5,681

)

 

 

(10,042

)

Long-term lease liabilities

 

 

(1,731

)

 

 

 

Other assets and liabilities – net

 

 

(9,009

)

 

 

(558

)

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

 

(53,396

)

 

 

6,135

 

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

 

Disbursement of 2024 Sponsorship Loan

 

 

 

 

 

(2,000

)

Purchases of property and equipment

 

 

(2,053

)

 

 

(767

)

Purchases of personal seat licenses

 

 

(990

)

 

 

(737

)

Investments in developed technology

 

 

(12,533

)

 

 

(14,334

)

Purchases of seat images

 

 

(686

)

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(16,262

)

 

 

(17,838

)

Cash flows from financing activities

 

 

 

 

Payments of 2022 First Lien Loan

 

 

 

 

 

(689

)

Payments of Shoko Chukin Bank Loan

 

 

 

 

 

(2,655

)

Proceeds from 2024 First Lien Loan

 

 

 

 

 

125,500

 

Repurchases of Class A common stock

 

 

(18,292

)

 

 

(22,998

)

Payments of taxes related to net settlement of equity incentive awards

 

 

(1,848

)

 

 

(645

)

Repurchase and retirement of fractional shares resulting from Reverse Stock Split

 

 

(5

)

 

 

 

Tax distributions to redeemable noncontrolling interests

 

 

(1,689

)

 

 

(9,253

)

Payment of liabilities under TRA

 

 

(4,005

)

 

 

(77

)

Payment of deferred financing costs and other debt-related expenses

 

 

(162

)

 

 

(315

)

Payments of 2024 First Lien Loan

 

 

(76,986

)

 

 

(987

)

Proceeds from 2025 First Lien Loan

 

 

76,986

 

 

 

 

Payments of 2025 First Lien Loan

 

 

(1,964

)

 

 

 

Payments toward Acquired Domain Name Obligation

 

 

(1,500

)

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

 

(29,465

)

 

 

87,881

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash

 

 

188

 

 

 

(151

)

Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash

 

 

(98,935

)

 

 

76,027

 

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

 

 

244,648

 

 

 

132,434

 

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

 

$

145,713

 

 

$

208,461

 

 


 

VIVID SEATS INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands) (Unaudited)

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid for interest

 

$

20,984

 

 

$

16,728

 

Cash paid for income taxes

 

$

5,259

 

 

$

5,144

 

 


 

Adjusted EBITDA

We present adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure, because it is a key measure used by analysts, investors, and others to evaluate companies in our industry. Adjusted EBITDA is also used by management to make operating decisions, including those related to analyzing operating expenses, evaluating performance, and performing strategic planning and annual budgeting.

We believe adjusted EBITDA is a useful measure for understanding, evaluating, and highlighting trends in our operating results and for making period-to-period comparisons of our business performance because it excludes the impact of items that are outside of our control and/or not reflective of ongoing performance related directly to the operation of our business.

Adjusted EBITDA is not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles and should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect all amounts associated with our operating results as determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP and specifically excludes certain recurring costs such as income tax expense (benefit), interest expense – net, depreciation and amortization, sales tax liabilities, transaction costs, equity-based compensation, litigation, settlements, and related costs, change in fair value of warrants, loss on asset disposals, change in fair value of derivative asset, foreign currency loss (gain) – net, loss on extinguishment of debt, adjustment of liabilities under our Tax Receivable Agreement, impairment charges, and severance compensation. In addition, other companies may calculate adjusted EBITDA differently than we do, thereby limiting its usefulness as a comparative tool. We compensate for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the U.S. GAAP amounts that are excluded from our presentation of adjusted EBITDA.

The following table presents a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss), the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024 (in thousands):

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

2025

 

 

2024

 

 

2025

 

 

2024

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

(19,713

)

 

$

9,196

 

 

$

(292,828

)

 

$

18,716

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to adjusted EBITDA:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

 

(9,231

)

 

 

4,290

 

 

 

70,089

 

 

 

7,136

 

Interest expense – net

 

 

6,111

 

 

 

6,300

 

 

 

17,410

 

 

 

16,706

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

13,723

 

 

 

10,669

 

 

 

37,689

 

 

 

31,654

 

Sales tax liability(1)

 

 

500

 

 

 

526

 

 

 

(860

)

 

 

2,613

 

Transaction costs(2)

 

 

935

 

 

 

1,243

 

 

 

8,816

 

 

 

6,649

 

Equity-based compensation(3)

 

 

11,483

 

 

 

10,685

 

 

 

33,886

 

 

 

38,284

 

Litigation, settlements, and related costs(4)

 

 

228

 

 

 

157

 

 

 

933

 

 

 

164

 

Change in fair value of warrants(5)

 

 

(864

)

 

 

(3,952

)

 

 

(5,713

)

 

 

(5,713

)

Loss on asset disposals(6)

 

 

184

 

 

 

38

 

 

 

380

 

 

 

160

 

Change in fair value of derivative asset(7)

 

 

268

 

 

 

456

 

 

 

841

 

 

 

537

 

Foreign currency loss (gain) – net(8)

 

 

1,211

 

 

 

(5,531

)

 

 

(2,363

)

 

 

266

 

Loss on extinguishment of debt(9)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

801

 

 

 

 

Adjustment of liabilities under TRA(10)

 

 

(615

)

 

 

 

 

 

(149,787

)

 

 

 

Impairment charges(11)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

320,449

 

 

 

 

Severance compensation(12)

 

 

685

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,239

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

4,905

 

 

$

34,077

 

 

$

40,982

 

 

$

117,172

 

 

(1)
During the periods presented, we accrued for additional uncollected indirect tax liabilities in jurisdictions where we expect to remit payment to U.S. and foreign governmental tax authorities before all required amounts are collected from the customer. We also received abatements and recognized other reductions to the balance of the liability related to uncollected indirect taxes (including sales taxes).
(2)
Consists of: (i) legal, accounting, tax, and other professional fees; (ii) personnel costs related to retention bonuses; (iii) integration costs; and (iv) other transaction-related expenses, none of which are considered indicative of our core operating performance. Costs in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 primarily related to the refinancing of our first lien loan, repurchases of Class A common stock, the 1-for-20 reverse stock split that was effected on August 5, 2025, and various strategic transactions and investments. Costs in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 primarily related to the refinancing of our first lien loan, repurchases of Class A common stock, acquisitions, and various strategic investments.
(3)
Costs in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 primarily related to equity granted pursuant to our 2021 Incentive Award Plan (as amended, the “2021 Plan”), which is not considered indicative of our core operating performance. Costs in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 primarily related to equity granted pursuant to the 2021 Plan and profits interests issued prior to the 2021 transaction pursuant to which Horizon Acquisition Corporation merged with and into us (the “Merger Transaction”), neither of which are considered indicative of our core operating performance.

 

(4)
Relates to external legal costs, settlement costs, and insurance recoveries, none of which are considered indicative of our core operating performance.
(5)
Relates to the revaluation of warrants to purchase common units of Hoya Intermediate, LLC held by Hoya Topco, LLC following the Merger Transaction, which is not considered indicative of our core operating performance.
(6)
Relates to disposals of fixed assets, which are not considered indicative of our core operating performance.
(7)
Relates to the revaluation of derivatives recorded at fair value, which is not considered indicative of our core operating performance.
(8)
Relates to net losses (gains) resulting from the impact of exchange rate changes on transactions denominated in non-functional currencies, which are not considered indicative of our core operating performance.
(9)
Relates to losses incurred during the nine months ended September 30, 2025 in connection with the extinguishment of our former first lien term loan, which are not considered indicative of our core operating performance.
(10)
Relates to the remeasurement of the Tax Receivable Agreement liability, which is not considered indicative of our core operating performance.
(11)
Relates to non-cash impairment charges related to our goodwill and certain indefinite-lived intangible assets triggered by the effects of recent declines in our financial performance, near-term outlook and Class A common stock price, among other factors, during the nine months ended September 30, 2025.
(12)
Relates to severance-related payments paid to terminated employees as a result of a reduction in employee headcount during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025. The reduction was part of our strategic cost reduction program and is not considered indicative of our core operating performance.