Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
ITEM
2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The
following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read in conjunction with
our condensed financial statements and related notes included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the audited financial statements
and related notes and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.
Unless
otherwise indicated or the context requires otherwise, the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” and “our
company” refer to CISO Global Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its wholly owned subsidiaries. Unless otherwise specified, all
dollar amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars.
Third
Quarter 2023 Highlights
Our
operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 included the following:
●
Total revenue increased
by $11.5 million to $43.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, as compared to the nine months ended September 30,
2022.
●
Total gross profit increased
to $3.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, as compared to $1.7 million the nine months ended September 30, 2022.
Results
of Operations
Comparison
of the Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2022
Our
financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2023 are summarized as follows in comparison to the three months ended September
30, 2022:
Three Months Ended September 30,
2023
2022
Variance
Revenue:
Security managed services
$ 12,266,690
$ 10,061,304
$ 2,205,386
Professional services
1,798,431
1,191,728
606,703
Total revenue
14,065,121
11,253,032
2,812,089
Cost of revenue:
Security managed services
5,574,180
4,310,378
1,263,802
Professional services
234,549
182,413
52,136
Cost of payroll
5,458,001
4,978,768
479,233
Stock based compensation
317,851
857,950
(540,099 )
Total cost of revenue
11,584,581
10,329,509
1,255,072
Total gross profit
2,480,540
923,523
1,557,017
Operating expenses:
Professional fees
745,426
624,391
121,035
Advertising and marketing
119,814
245,495
(125,681 )
Selling, general, and administrative
5,557,328
6,684,747
(1,127,419 )
Stock based compensation
677,231
1,791,724
(1,114,493 )
Total operating expenses
7,099,799
9,346,357
(2,246,558 )
Loss from operations
(4,619,259 )
(8,422,834 )
3,803,575
Other income (expense):
Other income
(121,689 )
29,968
(151,657 )
Interest expense, net
(766,315 )
(108,233 )
(658,082 )
Total other income (expense)
(888,004 )
(78,265 )
(809,739 )
Loss before income taxes
$ (5,507,263 )
$ (8,501,099 )
$ 2,993,836
20
Revenue
Security
managed services revenue increased by $2,205,386, or 22%, for the three months ended September 30, 2023 as compared to the three months
ended September 30, 2022, primarily due to revenue acquired through our completion of two acquisitions
over the last 12 months and new and existing customer revenue growth.
Professional
services revenue increased by $606,703, or 51%, for the three months ended September 30, 2023 as compared to the three months ended September
30, 2022, primarily due to revenue acquired through our completion of two acquisitions over
the last 12 months and new and existing customer revenue growth.
Expenses
Cost
of Revenue
Security
managed services cost of revenue increased by $1,263,802, or 29%, for the three months ended September 30, 2023 as compared to the three
months ended September 30, 2022, primarily due to our completion of two acquisitions over the last 12 months.
Professional
services cost of revenue increased by $52,136, or 29%, for the three months ended September 30, 2023 as compared to the three months
ended September 30, 2022, due to our increase in revenue from professional services from two acquisitions completed over the last 12
months.
Cost
of payroll increased by $479,233, or 10%, for the three months ended September 30, 2023 as compared to the three months ended September
30, 2022, due to headcount added primarily through our completion of two acquisitions over the last 12 months.
Stock-based
compensation expenses decreased by $540,099, or 63%, for the three months ended September 30, 2023 as compared to the three months ended
September 30, 2022, due to the timing of recognition of the reversal of expense for options forfeited by former employees.
Operating
Expenses
Professional
fees increased by $121,035, or 19%, for the three months ended September 30, 2023 as compared to three months ended September 30, 2022,
due to a increase in accounting, legal, and other professional fees.
Advertising
and marketing expenses decreased by $125,681, or 51%, for the three months ended September 30, 2023 as compared to the three months ended
September 30, 2022, due to utilization of more internal marketing resources.
Selling,
general, and administrative expenses decreased by $1,127,419, or 17%, for the three months ended September 30, 2023 as compared to the
three months ended September 30, 2022, primarily due to a decrease in insurance costs and also cost reductions in software resulting
from increase purchasing power with vendors.
Stock
based compensation expenses decreased by $1,114,493, or 62%, for the three months ended September 30, 2023 as compared to the three months
ended September 30, 2022, due to the timing of recognition of the reversal of expense for options forfeited by former employees.
21
Comparison
of the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 to the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022
Our
financial results for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 are summarized as follows in comparison to the nine months ended September
30, 2022:
Nine Months Ended September 30,
2023
2022
Variance
Revenue:
Security managed services
$ 37,623,328
$ 28,489,698
$ 9,133,630
Professional services
5,693,468
3,320,689
2,372,779
Total revenue
43,316,796
31,810,387
11,506,409
Cost of revenue:
Security managed services
18,444,204
10,678,728
7,765,476
Professional services
683,582
455,902
227,680
Cost of payroll
16,514,436
14,132,602
2,381,834
Stock based compensation
3,783,116
4,805,423
(1,022,307 )
Total cost of revenue
39,425,338
30,072,655
9,352,683
Total gross profit
3,891,458
1,737,732
2,153,726
Operating expenses:
Professional fees
3,086,365
2,192,600
893,765
Advertising and marketing
288,984
641,340
(352,356 )
Selling, general, and administrative
21,178,969
15,856,705
5,322,264
Stock based compensation
6,421,245
6,761,283
(340,038 )
Impairment of goodwill
41,038,172
-
41,038,172
Total operating expenses
72,013,735
25,451,928
46,561,807
Loss from operations
(68,122,277 )
(23,714,196 )
(44,408,081 )
Other income (expense):
Other income
(68,470 )
134,447
(202,917 )
Interest expense, net
(1,922,546 )
(293,991 )
(1,628,555 )
Total other income (expense)
(1,991,016 )
(159,544 )
(1,831,472 )
Loss before income taxes
$ (70,113,293 )
$ (23,873,740 )
$ (46,239,553 )
Revenue
Security
managed services revenue increased by $9,133,630, or 32%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 as compared to the nine months
ended September 30, 2022, primarily due to revenue acquired through our completion of two acquisitions
over the last 12 months and new and existing customer revenue growth.
Professional
services revenue increased by $2,372,779, or 71%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 as compared to the nine months ended September
30, 2022, primarily due to revenue acquired through our completion of two acquisitions over the last 12 months and new and existing
customer revenue growth.
22
Expenses
Cost
of Revenue
Security
managed services cost of revenue increased by $7,765,476, or 73%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 as compared to the nine
months ended September 30, 2022, primarily due to our completion of two acquisitions over the last 12 months.
Professional
services cost of revenue increased by $227,680, or 50%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 as compared to the nine months ended
September 30, 2022, due to our increase in revenue from professional services from two acquisitions completed over the last 12 months.
Cost
of payroll increased by $2,381,834, or 17%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 as compared to the nine months ended September
30, 2022, due to headcount added primarily through our completion of two acquisitions over the last 12 months.
Stock-based
compensation expenses decreased by $1,022,307, or 21%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 as compared to the nine months ended
September 30, 2022, due to the timing of recognition of the reversal of expense for options forfeited by former employees.
Operating
Expenses
Professional
fees increased by $893,765, or 41%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 as compared to nine months ended September 30, 2022,
due to an increase in accounting, legal, and other professional fees incurred related to our periodic SEC filings and our efforts to
raise additional capital.
Advertising
and marketing expenses decreased by $352,356, or 55%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 as compared to the nine months ended
September 30, 2022, due to utilization of more internal marketing resources.
Selling,
general, and administrative expenses increased by $5,322,264, or 34%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 as compared to the
nine months ended September 30, 2022, primarily due to our analysis of our carrying amount of intangible assets being impaired and headcount
added through our completion of two acquisitions over the last 12 months.
Stock
based compensation expense decreased by $340,038, or 5%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 as compared to the nine months
ended September 30, 2022, due to the timing of recognition of the reversal of expense for options
forfeited by former employees.
Impairment
of goodwill increased by $41,038,172, or 100%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 as compared to the nine months ended September
30, 2022, due to our analysis of our carrying amount of goodwill being impaired.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
The
accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the basis that we will continue as a going concern, which
contemplates realization of assets and satisfying liabilities in the normal course of business. For the nine months ended September 30,
2023, we incurred a net loss of $69,677,615 and negative cash flows from operations of $6,704,498 and expect to incur further losses
through the end of 2023. In the report accompanying our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022, our independent auditors
stated that our financial statements were prepared assuming that we would continue as a going concern and that they have substantial
doubt as to our ability to do so based on our recurring losses from operations and need to raise additional capital. These condensed
consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability of assets and the amount or classification
of liabilities that might be necessary should we be unable to continue as a going concern.
As
of September 30, 2023, we had $291,351,048 of available funding under our S-3 Registration Statement from which we may issue our securities
to fund current and future operations, assuming there is adequate demand for our securities.
23
Working
Capital Deficit
Our
working capital deficit as of September 30, 2023, in comparison to our working capital deficit as of December 31, 2022, is summarized
as follows:
As of
September 30,
December 31,
2023
2022
Current assets
$ 11,589,911
$ 14,398,795
Current liabilities
22,963,261
23,213,039
Working capital deficit
$ (11,373,350 )
$ (8,814,244 )
The
decrease in current assets is primarily due to a decrease in cash, accounts receivable and prepaid expenses of $1,062,683, $1,791,678
and $302,486, respectively. Current liabilities remained consistent due to an increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses of $4,850,957,
offset by a decrease in loans payable and convertible notes payable of $4,031,184 and $1,500,000, respectively.
Cash
Flows
Our
cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, in comparison to our cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2022,
is summarized as follows:
Nine Months ended September 30,
2023
2022
Net cash used in operating activities
$ (6,704,498 )
$ (7,850,297 )
Net cash used in investing activities
(135,848 )
(6,044,217 )
Net cash provided by financing activities
5,777,702
16,038,273
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents
(39 )
19,539
(Decrease)/Increase in cash
$ (1,062,683 )
$ 2,163,298
Operating
Activities
Net cash used in operating activities was $6,704,498 for the nine months
ended September 30, 2023 and was primarily due to cash used to fund a net loss of $69,677,615, adjusted for non-cash expenses in the aggregate
of $56,269,301 and additional cash inflow by changes in the levels of operating assets and liabilities, primarily as a result of a decrease
in accounts receivable and increases in deferred revenue and accounts payable and accrued expenses. Net cash used in operating activities
was $7,850,297 for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and was primarily due to cash used to fund a net loss of $23,873,740, adjusted
for non-cash expenses in the aggregate of $13,939,728, partially offset by cash generated by changes in the levels of operating assets
and liabilities, primarily as a result of an increase in accounts payable.
Investing
Activities
Net
cash used in investing activities of $135,848 for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was due to purchases of property and equipment.
Net cash used in investing activities of $6,044,217 for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and was primarily due to net cash paid
in the acquisition of True Digital Security, Inc.
Financing
Activities
Net
cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was $5,777,702, which was primarily due to net cash
received from the sale of our common stock of $6,682,198, $4,448,641 in net proceeds from our loans payable, and $6,050,000 in proceeds
from convertible notes payable, offset by aggregate repayments on loans payable and convertible notes payable of $11,756,420. Net cash
provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 was $16,038,273 which was primarily due to cash received
from the sale of our common stock in our public offerings of $10,562,763 and $5,975,000 in net proceeds from our bridge loans.
24
Based
on our current business plan, we believe our cash balance as of the date of this filing, together with anticipated revenues, will be
sufficient to meet our anticipated cash requirement for the near term. However, there can be no assurance that the current business plan
will be achievable. Such conditions raise substantial doubts about our ability to continue as a going concern for one year from the date
the condensed consolidated financial statements are issued.
Our
existence is dependent upon our ability to develop profitable operations. We are devoting substantially all of our efforts to developing
our business, reducing overhead costs, and raising capital, although there can be no assurance that our efforts will be successful. No
assurance can be given that our actions will result in profitable operations or the resolution of liquidity problems. The accompanying
condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result should we be unable to continue as a going
concern.
In
order to improve our liquidity, in addition to a planned reduction in overhead costs, we are actively pursuing additional debt and/or
equity financing through discussions with investment bankers and private investors. There can be no assurance that we will be successful
in our efforts to secure additional financing.
The
financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability of assets and the amount or classification of liabilities
that might be necessary should we be unable to continue as a going concern.
Critical
Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our
critical accounting policies are more fully described in the notes to our condensed consolidated financial statements included herein
for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and in the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as filed with the SEC on March 31, 2023.
Use
of Estimates
The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the
reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent liabilities at dates of the financial statements and the reported
amounts of revenue and expenses during the periods. Our significant estimates and assumptions include the allowance for doubtful accounts,
the carrying value of intangible assets and goodwill, deferred tax asset and valuation allowance, the estimated fair value of assets
acquired, liabilities assumed and stock issued in business combinations, and assumptions used in the Black-Scholes option pricing model,
such as expected volatility, risk-free interest rate, share price, and expected dividend rate. Certain of our estimates, including the
carrying amount of intangible assets and goodwill, could be affected by external conditions, including those unique to us and general
economic conditions. It is reasonably possible that these external factors could have an effect on our estimates and could cause actual
results to materially differ from those estimates.
25
Business
Combination
We
allocate the purchase price of an acquired business to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based upon
their estimated fair values on the acquisition date. Any excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired
is recorded as goodwill. The purchase price allocation process requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions, especially
at the acquisition date with respect to intangible assets. Direct transaction costs associated with the business combination are expensed
as incurred. The allocation of the consideration transferred in certain cases may be subject to revision based on the final determination
of fair values during the measurement period, which may be up to one year from the acquisition date. We include the results of operations
of the business that we have acquired in our consolidated results prospectively from the date of acquisition.
If
the business combination is achieved in stages, the acquisition date carrying value of the acquirer’s previously held equity interest
in the acquiree is re-measured to fair value at the acquisition date; any gains or losses arising from such re-measurement are recognized
in profit or loss.
Intangible
Assets
Intangible
assets are comprised of trademarks, customer bases, non-compete agreements, and intellectual property with original estimated useful
lives with a range of 2 to 10 years. Once placed into service, we amortize the cost of intangible assets over their estimated useful
lives on a straight-line basis.
Goodwill
Goodwill
represents the excess of the purchase price of the acquired business over the estimated fair value of the identifiable net assets
acquired. Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level at least annually at year end or more
frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. Goodwill is tested for impairment at the
reporting unit level by first performing a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair
value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value. If the reporting unit does not pass the qualitative assessment, then
the reporting unit’s carrying value is compared to its fair value. The fair values of the reporting units are estimated using
market and revenue multiple approaches. Goodwill is considered impaired if the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair
value. Failure to achieve these expected results may cause a future impairment of goodwill at the reporting unit.
Impairment
of Long-Lived Assets
We
will periodically evaluate the carrying value of long-lived assets to be held and used when events and circumstances warrant such a review
and at least annually. The carrying value of a long-lived asset is considered impaired when the anticipated undiscounted cash flow from
such asset is separately identifiable and is less than its carrying value. In that event, a loss is recognized based on the amount by
which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the long-lived asset. Fair value is determined primarily using the anticipated cash
flows discounted at a rate commensurate with the risk involved. Losses on long-lived assets to be disposed of are determined in a similar
manner, except that fair values are reduced for the cost to dispose.
Stock-Based
Compensation
We measure the cost of services received in exchange for an award of
equity instruments based on the fair value of the award. The fair value of the award is measured on the grant date.
Awards granted to directors are treated on the same basis as awards granted to employees.
26
Revenue
Recognition
Our
agreements with clients are primarily service contracts that range in duration from a few months to one year. We recognize revenue when
control of these services is transferred to the client for an amount, referred to as the transaction price, which reflects the consideration
to which we are expected to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services.
A
contract with a client exists only when:
●
the parties to the contract
have approved it and are committed to perform their respective obligations;
●
we can identify each party’s
rights regarding the distinct services to be transferred (“performance obligations”);
●
we can determine the transaction
price for the services to be transferred; and
●
the contract has commercial
substance, and it is probable that we will collect the consideration to which it will be entitled in exchange for the goods or services
that will be transferred to the client.
For
the majority of our contracts, we receive non-refundable upfront payments. We do not adjust the promised amount of consideration for
the effects of a significant financing component since we expect, at contract inception, that the period between the time of transfer
of the promised goods or services to the client and the time the client pays for these goods or services to be generally one year or
less. Our credit terms to clients generally average 30 days, although in some cases payments are required in 15 days.
We
do not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for contracts with original expected duration of one year or less.
Our
revenue is categorized and disaggregated as reflected in our statements of operations as follows:
Security
Managed Services
Security
managed services revenue primarily consist of compliance, security managed services, SOC managed services, and vCISO. We consider these
services to be a single performance obligation, and revenue is recognized as services and materials are provided to the customer.
Professional
Services
Professional
services revenue primarily consists of technical assessments, incident response and forensics, training, and other cybersecurity services.
We consider these services to be a single performance obligation, and revenue is recognized in the period in which the performance obligations
are satisfied.
Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangements
We
have no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a material current or future effect on our financial
condition, changes in financial condition, revenue or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, or capital resources.
Item
3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Because
we are a smaller reporting company, we are not required to provide the information called for by this Item.
27
Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.