UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 20172023

OR

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from to

Commission File Number 000-24435

MICROSTRATEGY INCORPORATED

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

51-0323571

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

1850 Towers Crescent Plaza, Tysons Corner, VA

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

22182

(Zip Code)

(703) (703) 848-8600

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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

Title of Each Class

Trading Symbol

Name of Each Exchange on which Registered

Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share

MSTR

The Nasdaq Global Select Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant:registrant,: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Smaller reporting company

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.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes No

The numberAs of October 24, 2023, the registrant had 12,554,159 and 1,964,025 shares of the registrant’s class A common stock and class B common stock outstanding, on October 16, 2017 was 9,411,810 and 2,035,184, respectively.


MICROSTRATEGY INCORPORATED

FORM 10-Q

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

PART I.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

1

Item 1.

Financial Statements (unaudited except for the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2016, which was derived from audited financial statements)(unaudited)

1

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 20172023 and December 31, 20162022

1

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2017 and 2016

2

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 20172023 and 20162022

32

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 20172023 and 20162022

43

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’Equity(Deficit) as of September 30, 2023

4

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 20172023 and 20162022

5

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

6

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

1524

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

3245

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

3245

PART II.

OTHER INFORMATION

47

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

3447

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

3447

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities, and Use of Proceeds, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

4675

Item 5.

Other Information

4775

Item 6.

Exhibits

4775


PART I - FINANCIALFINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

MICROSTRATEGY INCORPORATED

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

September 30,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

386,855

 

 

$

401,975

 

 

$

45,009

 

 

$

43,835

 

Restricted cash

 

 

764

 

 

 

737

 

 

 

1,865

 

 

 

7,033

 

Short-term investments

 

 

259,249

 

 

 

187,408

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

 

66,337

 

 

 

83,319

 

 

 

128,650

 

 

 

189,280

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

17,649

 

 

 

11,548

 

 

 

24,041

 

 

 

24,418

 

Total current assets

 

 

730,854

 

 

 

684,987

 

 

 

199,565

 

 

 

264,566

 

Digital assets

 

 

2,451,374

 

 

 

1,840,028

 

Property and equipment, net

 

 

53,712

 

 

 

57,436

 

 

 

30,192

 

 

 

32,311

 

Capitalized software development costs, net

 

 

3,999

 

 

 

8,497

 

Right-of-use assets

 

 

54,542

 

 

 

61,299

 

Deposits and other assets

 

 

7,099

 

 

 

5,695

 

 

 

24,156

 

 

 

23,916

 

Deferred tax assets, net

 

 

17,988

 

 

 

11,704

 

 

 

614,112

 

 

 

188,152

 

Total assets

 

$

813,652

 

 

$

768,319

 

 

$

3,373,941

 

 

$

2,410,272

 

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

$

25,368

 

 

$

36,628

 

Accounts payable, accrued expenses, and operating lease liabilities

 

$

34,306

 

 

$

42,976

 

Accrued compensation and employee benefits

 

 

36,039

 

 

 

43,323

 

 

 

43,405

 

 

 

53,716

 

Deferred revenue and advance payments, net

 

 

115,420

 

 

 

105,535

 

Accrued interest

 

 

10,368

 

 

 

2,829

 

Current portion of long-term debt, net

 

 

475

 

 

 

454

 

Deferred revenue and advance payments

 

 

179,167

 

 

 

217,428

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

176,827

 

 

 

185,486

 

 

 

267,721

 

 

 

317,403

 

Deferred revenue and advance payments, net

 

 

9,767

 

 

 

13,915

 

Long-term debt, net

 

 

2,180,038

 

 

 

2,378,560

 

Deferred revenue and advance payments

 

 

7,638

 

 

 

12,763

 

Operating lease liabilities

 

 

59,720

 

 

 

67,344

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

 

14,560

 

 

 

16,447

 

 

 

18,231

 

 

 

17,124

 

Deferred tax liabilities

 

 

159

 

 

 

294

 

 

 

198

 

 

 

198

 

Total liabilities

 

 

201,313

 

 

 

216,142

 

 

 

2,533,546

 

 

 

2,793,392

 

Commitments and Contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders' Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock undesignated, $0.001 par value; 5,000 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

Class A common stock, $0.001 par value; 330,000 shares authorized; 15,817 shares issued and 9,412 shares outstanding, and 15,805 shares issued and 9,400 shares outstanding, respectively

 

 

16

 

 

 

16

 

Class B convertible common stock, $0.001 par value; 165,000 shares authorized; 2,035 shares issued and outstanding, and 2,035 shares issued and outstanding, respectively

 

 

2

 

 

 

2

 

Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock undesignated, $0.001 par value; 5,000 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

Class A common stock, $0.001 par value; 330,000 shares authorized; 21,227 shares issued and 12,543 shares outstanding, and 18,269 shares issued and 9,585 shares outstanding, respectively

 

 

21

 

 

 

18

 

Class B convertible common stock, $0.001 par value; 165,000 shares authorized; 1,964 shares issued and outstanding, and 1,964 shares issued and outstanding, respectively

 

 

2

 

 

 

2

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

556,209

 

 

 

543,974

 

 

 

2,726,191

 

 

 

1,841,120

 

Treasury stock, at cost; 6,405 shares

 

 

(475,184

)

 

 

(475,184

)

Treasury stock, at cost; 8,684 shares and 8,684 shares, respectively

 

 

(782,104

)

 

 

(782,104

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

 

(6,683

)

 

 

(10,743

)

 

 

(15,355

)

 

 

(13,801

)

Retained earnings

 

 

537,979

 

 

 

494,112

 

Total stockholders' equity

 

 

612,339

 

 

 

552,177

 

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

 

$

813,652

 

 

$

768,319

 

Accumulated deficit

 

 

(1,088,360

)

 

 

(1,428,355

)

Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)

 

 

840,395

 

 

 

(383,120

)

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity (deficit)

 

$

3,373,941

 

 

$

2,410,272

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

1


MICROSTRATEGY INCORPORATED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

September 30,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

(unaudited)

 

 

(unaudited)

 

 

(unaudited)

 

(unaudited)

 

(unaudited)

 

(unaudited)

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Product licenses

 

$

21,553

 

 

$

29,632

 

 

$

24,045

 

 

$

22,286

 

 

$

56,979

 

 

$

58,928

 

Subscription services

 

 

7,725

 

 

 

7,639

 

 

 

20,974

 

 

 

16,414

 

 

 

59,662

 

 

 

43,276

 

Total product licenses and subscription services

 

 

29,278

 

 

 

37,271

 

 

 

45,019

 

 

 

38,700

 

 

 

116,641

 

 

 

102,204

 

Product support

 

 

72,886

 

 

 

72,460

 

 

 

66,860

 

 

 

66,010

 

 

 

198,422

 

 

 

199,682

 

Other services

 

 

23,048

 

 

 

20,165

 

 

 

17,583

 

 

 

20,650

 

 

 

56,714

 

 

 

64,824

 

Total revenues

 

 

125,212

 

 

 

129,896

 

 

 

129,462

 

 

 

125,360

 

 

 

371,777

 

 

 

366,710

 

Cost of revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Product licenses

 

 

1,763

 

 

 

2,370

 

 

 

342

 

 

 

406

 

 

 

1,320

 

 

 

1,314

 

Subscription services

 

 

3,592

 

 

 

3,219

 

 

 

8,028

 

 

 

6,395

 

 

 

23,100

 

 

 

17,303

 

Total product licenses and subscription services

 

 

5,355

 

 

 

5,589

 

 

 

8,370

 

 

 

6,801

 

 

 

24,420

 

 

 

18,617

 

Product support

 

 

4,218

 

 

 

3,959

 

 

 

5,531

 

 

 

5,224

 

 

 

17,115

 

 

 

15,542

 

Other services

 

 

14,816

 

 

 

13,387

 

 

 

12,760

 

 

 

13,360

 

 

 

40,188

 

 

 

42,107

 

Total cost of revenues

 

 

24,389

 

 

 

22,935

 

 

 

26,661

 

 

 

25,385

 

 

 

81,723

 

 

 

76,266

 

Gross profit

 

 

100,823

 

 

 

106,961

 

 

 

102,801

 

 

 

99,975

 

 

 

290,054

 

 

 

290,444

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales and marketing

 

 

41,806

 

 

 

39,169

 

 

 

35,606

 

 

 

35,409

 

 

 

109,372

 

 

 

105,511

 

Research and development

 

 

19,360

 

 

 

18,069

 

 

 

29,660

 

 

 

30,498

 

 

 

90,372

 

 

 

95,811

 

General and administrative

 

 

19,082

 

 

 

19,703

 

 

 

29,223

 

 

 

27,283

 

 

 

85,959

 

 

 

82,491

 

Restructuring costs

 

 

0

 

 

 

12

 

Digital asset impairment losses

 

 

33,559

 

 

 

727

 

 

 

76,613

 

 

 

1,088,656

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

80,248

 

 

 

76,953

 

 

 

128,048

 

 

 

93,917

 

 

 

362,316

 

 

 

1,372,469

 

Income from operations

 

 

20,575

 

 

 

30,008

 

Interest income, net

 

 

1,449

 

 

 

507

 

Other expense, net

 

 

(1,903

)

 

 

(473

)

Income before income taxes

 

 

20,121

 

 

 

30,042

 

Provision for income taxes

 

 

2,197

 

 

 

3,414

 

Net income

 

 

17,924

 

 

 

26,628

 

Basic earnings per share (1)

 

$

1.57

 

 

$

2.33

 

Weighted average shares outstanding used in computing basic earnings per share

 

 

11,447

 

 

 

11,431

 

Diluted earnings per share (1)

 

$

1.56

 

 

$

2.31

 

Weighted average shares outstanding used in computing diluted earnings per share

 

 

11,499

 

 

 

11,521

 

(Loss) income from operations

 

 

(25,247

)

 

 

6,058

 

 

 

(72,262

)

 

 

(1,082,025

)

Interest expense, net

 

 

(11,006

)

 

 

(14,073

)

 

 

(37,031

)

 

 

(38,299

)

Gain on debt extinguishment

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

44,686

 

 

 

0

 

Other income, net

 

 

2,419

 

 

 

4,897

 

 

 

726

 

 

 

12,242

 

Loss before income taxes

 

 

(33,834

)

 

 

(3,118

)

 

 

(63,881

)

 

 

(1,108,082

)

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

 

 

109,607

 

 

 

23,961

 

 

 

(403,876

)

 

 

112,046

 

Net (loss) income

 

$

(143,441

)

 

$

(27,079

)

 

$

339,995

 

 

$

(1,220,128

)

Basic (loss) earnings per share (1)

 

$

(10.09

)

 

$

(2.39

)

 

$

29.15

 

 

$

(107.99

)

Weighted average shares outstanding used in computing basic (loss) earnings per share

 

 

14,221

 

 

 

11,308

 

 

 

11,665

 

 

 

11,299

 

Diluted (loss) earnings per share (1)

 

$

(10.09

)

 

$

(2.39

)

 

$

23.87

 

 

$

(107.99

)

Weighted average shares outstanding used in computing diluted (loss) earnings per share

 

 

14,221

 

 

 

11,308

 

 

 

14,512

 

 

 

11,299

 

(1)

Basic and fully diluted earnings per share for class A and class B common stock are the same.

(1) Basic and fully diluted (loss) earnings per share for class A and class B common stock are the same.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

2


MICROSTRATEGY INCORPORATED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONSCOMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME

(in thousands, except per share data)thousands)

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

 

(unaudited)

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Product licenses

 

$

61,683

 

 

$

75,490

 

Subscription services

 

 

23,843

 

 

 

22,775

 

Total product licenses and subscription services

 

 

85,526

 

 

 

98,265

 

Product support

 

 

214,142

 

 

 

212,408

 

Other services

 

 

66,730

 

 

 

61,380

 

Total revenues

 

 

366,398

 

 

 

372,053

 

Cost of revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Product licenses

 

 

5,182

 

 

 

6,828

 

Subscription services

 

 

10,031

 

 

 

9,667

 

Total product licenses and subscription services

 

 

15,213

 

 

 

16,495

 

Product support

 

 

13,094

 

 

 

10,919

 

Other services

 

 

43,589

 

 

 

42,445

 

Total cost of revenues

 

 

71,896

 

 

 

69,859

 

Gross profit

 

 

294,502

 

 

 

302,194

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales and marketing

 

 

122,635

 

 

 

113,448

 

Research and development

 

 

57,347

 

 

 

54,804

 

General and administrative

 

 

58,921

 

 

 

63,014

 

Restructuring costs

 

 

0

 

 

 

45

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

238,903

 

 

 

231,311

 

Income from operations

 

 

55,599

 

 

 

70,883

 

Interest income, net

 

 

3,449

 

 

 

1,449

 

Other expense, net

 

 

(6,377

)

 

 

(386

)

Income before income taxes

 

 

52,671

 

 

 

71,946

 

Provision for income taxes

 

 

8,804

 

 

 

12,162

 

Net income

 

 

43,867

 

 

 

59,784

 

Basic earnings per share (1)

 

$

3.83

 

 

$

5.23

 

Weighted average shares outstanding used in computing basic earnings per share

 

 

11,443

 

 

 

11,422

 

Diluted earnings per share (1)

 

$

3.79

 

 

$

5.20

 

Weighted average shares outstanding used in computing diluted earnings per share

 

 

11,567

 

 

 

11,503

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

 

(unaudited)

 

 

(unaudited)

 

 

(unaudited)

 

Net (loss) income

 

$

(143,441

)

 

$

(27,079

)

 

$

339,995

 

 

$

(1,220,128

)

Other comprehensive loss, net of applicable taxes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustment

 

 

(2,205

)

 

 

(4,514

)

 

 

(1,554

)

 

 

(10,636

)

Total other comprehensive loss

 

 

(2,205

)

 

 

(4,514

)

 

 

(1,554

)

 

 

(10,636

)

Comprehensive (loss) income

 

$

(145,646

)

 

$

(31,593

)

 

$

338,441

 

 

$

(1,230,764

)

(1)

Basic and fully diluted earnings per share for class A and class B common stock are the same.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

3


MICROSTRATEGY INCORPORATED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOMESTOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)

(in thousands)thousands, unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

 

(unaudited)

 

Net income

 

$

17,924

 

 

$

26,628

 

Other comprehensive income, net of applicable taxes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustment

 

 

1,060

 

 

 

269

 

Unrealized gain on short-term investments

 

 

0

 

 

 

10

 

Total other comprehensive income

 

 

1,060

 

 

 

279

 

Comprehensive income

 

$

18,984

 

 

$

26,907

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A

 

 

Class B Convertible

 

 

Additional

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated Other

 

 

(Accumulated Deficit)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

Paid-in

 

 

Treasury Stock

 

 

Comprehensive

 

 

Retained

 

 

 

Total

 

 

Shares

 

 

Amount

 

 

Shares

 

 

Amount

 

 

Capital

 

 

Shares

 

 

Amount

 

 

Loss

 

 

Earnings

 

Balance at January 1, 2022

 

$

978,958

 

 

 

18,006

 

 

$

18

 

 

 

1,964

 

 

$

2

 

 

$

1,727,143

 

 

 

(8,684

)

 

$

(782,104

)

 

$

(7,543

)

 

$

41,442

 

Net loss

 

 

(130,751

)

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

(130,751

)

Other comprehensive loss

 

 

(2,009

)

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

(2,009

)

 

 

0

 

Issuance of class A common stock upon exercise of stock options

 

 

288

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

288

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

Issuance of class A common stock under employee stock purchase plan

 

 

2,805

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

2,805

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

Issuance of class A common stock upon vesting of restricted stock units, net of withholding taxes

 

 

(501

)

 

 

3

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

(501

)

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

Share-based compensation expense

 

 

14,209

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

14,209

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

Balance at March 31, 2022

 

$

862,999

 

 

 

18,018

 

 

$

18

 

 

 

1,964

 

 

$

2

 

 

$

1,743,944

 

 

 

(8,684

)

 

$

(782,104

)

 

$

(9,552

)

 

$

(89,309

)

Net loss

 

 

(1,062,298

)

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

(1,062,298

)

Other comprehensive loss

 

 

(4,113

)

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

(4,113

)

 

 

0

 

Issuance of class A common stock upon exercise of stock options

 

 

423

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

423

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

Issuance of class A common stock upon vesting of restricted stock units, net of withholding taxes

 

 

(49

)

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

(49

)

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

Share-based compensation expense

 

 

15,970

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

15,970

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

Balance at June 30, 2022

 

$

(187,068

)

 

 

18,021

 

 

$

18

 

 

 

1,964

 

 

$

2

 

 

$

1,760,288

 

 

 

(8,684

)

 

$

(782,104

)

 

$

(13,665

)

 

$

(1,151,607

)

Net loss

 

 

(27,079

)

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

(27,079

)

Other comprehensive loss

 

 

(4,514

)

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

(4,514

)

 

 

0

 

Issuance of class A common stock upon exercise of stock options

 

 

621

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

621

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

Issuance of class A common stock under employee stock purchase plan

 

 

1,668

 

 

 

9

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

1,668

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

Issuance of class A common stock upon vesting of restricted stock units, net of withholding taxes

 

 

(642

)

 

 

4

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

(642

)

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

Share-based compensation expense

 

 

16,725

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

16,725

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

Balance at September 30, 2022

 

$

(200,289

)

 

 

18,038

 

 

$

18

 

 

 

1,964

 

 

$

2

 

 

$

1,778,660

 

 

 

(8,684

)

 

$

(782,104

)

 

$

(18,179

)

 

$

(1,178,686

)

Net loss

 

 

(249,669

)

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

(249,669

)

Other comprehensive income

 

 

4,378

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

4,378

 

 

 

0

 

Issuance of class A common stock upon exercise of stock options

 

 

61

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

61

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

Issuance of class A common stock upon vesting of restricted stock units, net of withholding taxes

 

 

(1,021

)

 

 

12

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

(1,021

)

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

Issuance of class A common stock under public offerings, net of issuance costs

 

 

46,219

 

 

 

219

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

46,219

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

Share-based compensation expense

 

 

17,201

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

17,201

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

Balance at December 31, 2022

 

$

(383,120

)

 

 

18,269

 

 

$

18

 

 

 

1,964

 

 

$

2

 

 

$

1,841,120

 

 

 

(8,684

)

 

$

(782,104

)

 

$

(13,801

)

 

$

(1,428,355

)

Net income

 

 

461,193

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

461,193

 

Other comprehensive income

 

 

738

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

738

 

 

 

0

 

Issuance of class A common stock upon exercise of stock options

 

 

6,750

 

 

 

44

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

6,750

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

Issuance of class A common stock under employee stock purchase plan

 

 

2,380

 

 

 

13

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

2,380

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

Issuance of class A common stock upon vesting of restricted stock units, net of withholding taxes

 

 

(514

)

 

 

4

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

(514

)

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

Issuance of class A common stock under public offerings, net of issuance costs

 

 

338,962

 

 

 

1,349

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

338,960

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

Share-based compensation expense

 

 

16,822

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

16,822

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

Balance at March 31, 2023

 

$

443,211

 

 

 

19,679

 

 

$

20

 

 

 

1,964

 

 

$

2

 

 

$

2,205,518

 

 

 

(8,684

)

 

$

(782,104

)

 

$

(13,063

)

 

$

(967,162

)

Net income

 

 

22,243

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

22,243

 

Other comprehensive loss

 

 

(87

)

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

(87

)

 

 

0

 

Issuance of class A common stock upon exercise of stock options

 

 

5,354

 

 

 

39

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

5,354

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

Issuance of class A common stock upon vesting of restricted stock units, net of withholding taxes

 

 

(242

)

 

 

6

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

(242

)

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

Issuance of class A common stock under public offerings, net of issuance costs

 

 

333,494

 

 

 

1,079

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

333,493

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

Share-based compensation expense

 

 

15,145

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

15,145

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

Balance at June 30, 2023

 

$

819,118

 

 

 

20,803

 

 

$

21

 

 

 

1,964

 

 

$

2

 

 

$

2,559,268

 

 

 

(8,684

)

 

$

(782,104

)

 

$

(13,150

)

 

$

(944,919

)

Net loss

 

 

(143,441

)

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

(143,441

)

Other comprehensive loss

 

 

(2,205

)

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

(2,205

)

 

 

0

 

Issuance of class A common stock upon exercise of stock options

 

 

2,113

 

 

 

10

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

2,113

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

Issuance of class A common stock under employee stock purchase plan

 

 

1,575

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

1,575

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

Issuance of class A common stock upon vesting of restricted stock units, net of withholding taxes

 

 

(747

)

 

 

4

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

(747

)

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

Issuance of class A common stock under public offerings, net of issuance costs

 

 

147,218

 

 

 

403

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

147,218

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

Share-based compensation expense

 

 

16,764

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

16,764

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

Balance at September 30, 2023

 

$

840,395

 

 

 

21,227

 

 

$

21

 

 

 

1,964

 

 

$

2

 

 

$

2,726,191

 

 

 

(8,684

)

 

$

(782,104

)

 

$

(15,355

)

 

$

(1,088,360

)

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

 

(unaudited)

 

Net income

 

$

43,867

 

 

$

59,784

 

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of applicable taxes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustment

 

 

4,090

 

 

 

(567

)

Unrealized (loss) gain on short-term investments

 

 

(30

)

 

 

16

 

Total other comprehensive income (loss)

 

 

4,060

 

 

 

(551

)

Comprehensive income

 

$

47,927

 

 

$

59,233

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

4


MICROSTRATEGY INCORPORATED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

September 30,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

(unaudited)

 

 

(unaudited)

 

 

(unaudited)

 

(unaudited)

 

Operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

43,867

 

 

$

59,784

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

339,995

 

 

$

(1,220,128

)

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

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

9,838

 

 

 

13,089

 

 

 

9,405

 

 

 

6,917

 

Bad debt expense

 

 

1,726

 

 

 

1,219

 

Reduction in carrying amount of right-of-use assets

 

 

6,438

 

 

 

6,020

 

Credit losses and sales allowances

 

 

752

 

 

 

1,189

 

Deferred taxes

 

 

(6,214

)

 

 

(4,439

)

 

 

(425,986

)

 

 

90,166

 

Release of liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits

 

 

0

 

 

 

(394

)

 

 

(162

)

 

 

0

 

Share-based compensation expense

 

 

10,557

 

 

 

8,424

 

 

 

49,855

 

 

 

46,587

 

Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation arrangements

 

 

0

 

 

 

(1,208

)

Digital asset impairment losses

 

 

76,613

 

 

 

1,088,656

 

Amortization of issuance costs on long-term debt

 

 

6,599

 

 

 

6,490

 

Gain on debt extinguishment

 

 

(44,686

)

 

 

0

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

18,804

 

 

 

8,983

 

 

 

6,627

 

 

 

5,586

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

(3,954

)

 

 

(657

)

 

 

(99

)

 

 

(7,837

)

Deposits and other assets

 

 

(1,280

)

 

 

(3,905

)

 

 

(321

)

 

 

(8,314

)

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

 

(14,468

)

 

 

(4,668

)

 

 

(8,005

)

 

 

(8,880

)

Accrued compensation and employee benefits

 

 

(8,845

)

 

 

717

 

 

 

(15,186

)

 

 

(13,105

)

Accrued restructuring costs

 

 

0

 

 

 

(56

)

Deferred revenue and advance payments, net

 

 

1,156

 

 

 

19,435

 

Accrued interest

 

 

7,539

 

 

 

9,901

 

Deferred revenue and advance payments

 

 

9,901

 

 

 

25,401

 

Operating lease liabilities

 

 

(7,954

)

 

 

(7,390

)

Other long-term liabilities

 

 

(1,904

)

 

 

(2,288

)

 

 

203

 

 

 

150

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

 

49,283

 

 

 

94,036

 

 

 

11,528

 

 

 

21,409

 

Investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from redemption of short-term investments

 

 

340,920

 

 

 

273,520

 

Purchases of digital assets

 

 

(687,959

)

 

 

(231,478

)

Purchases of property and equipment

 

 

(2,282

)

 

 

(1,560

)

 

 

(2,591

)

 

 

(1,851

)

Purchases of short-term investments

 

 

(411,666

)

 

 

(292,948

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(73,028

)

 

 

(20,988

)

 

 

(690,550

)

 

 

(233,329

)

Financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from sale of class A common stock under exercise of employee stock options

 

 

1,677

 

 

 

1,157

 

Payment of taxes relating to net exercise of employee stock options

 

 

0

 

 

 

(3,739

)

Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation arrangements

 

 

0

 

 

 

1,208

 

Payments on capital lease obligations and other financing arrangements

 

 

(17

)

 

 

(166

)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

 

1,660

 

 

 

(1,540

)

Proceeds from secured term loan, net of lender fees

 

 

0

 

 

 

204,693

 

Issuance costs paid for secured term loan, excluding lender fees

 

 

0

 

 

 

(107

)

Repayments of secured term loan and third-party extinguishment costs

 

 

(160,033

)

 

 

0

 

Proceeds from other long-term secured debt

 

 

0

 

 

 

11,100

 

Issuance costs paid for other long-term secured debt

 

 

0

 

 

 

(214

)

Repayments of other long-term secured debt

 

 

(382

)

 

 

(121

)

Proceeds from sale of common stock under public offerings

 

 

823,945

 

 

 

0

 

Issuance costs paid related to sale of common stock under public offerings

 

 

(4,286

)

 

 

0

 

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

 

 

14,217

 

 

 

1,332

 

Proceeds from sales under employee stock purchase plan

 

 

3,955

 

 

 

4,473

 

Payment of withholding tax on vesting of restricted stock units

 

 

(1,391

)

 

 

(1,105

)

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

 

676,025

 

 

 

220,051

 

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

 

 

6,992

 

 

 

1,654

 

 

 

(997

)

 

 

(5,597

)

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

 

 

(15,093

)

 

 

73,162

 

 

 

(3,994

)

 

 

2,534

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period

 

 

402,712

 

 

 

292,959

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period

 

$

387,619

 

 

$

366,121

 

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

 

 

50,868

 

 

 

64,434

 

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

 

$

46,874

 

 

$

66,968

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

5


MICROSTRATEGY INCORPORATED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

(1) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

(a)

Basis of Presentation

Except for the(a) Basis of Presentation

The accompanying Consolidated Balance SheetFinancial Statements of MicroStrategy Incorporated (“MicroStrategy” or the “Company”) as of December 31, 2016, which was derived from audited financial statements, the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements are unaudited. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of such financial position and results of operations have been included. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature, unless otherwise disclosed. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year.

Certain amounts in the prior year’s Consolidated Financial Statements have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation.  Changes in restricted cash have been removed from investing activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; instead, restricted cash has been included with total cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning and end of period amounts, as discussed in Note 2, Recent Accounting Standards, to the Consolidated Financial Statements.  

The Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are presented as required by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and do not contain certain information included in the Company’s annual financial statements and notes. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited financial statements and the notes thereto filed with the SEC in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.2022. There have been no significant changes in the Company’s accounting policies since December 31, 2016,2022, except for those related to the Company’s new share-settled performance stock unit awards as discusseddescribed further in Note 2, Recent Accounting Standards,8, Share-based Compensation, to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

(2) Digital Assets

The Company is not awareaccounts for its digital assets, which are comprised solely of bitcoin, as indefinite-lived intangible assets in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 350, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other. The Company’s digital assets are initially recorded at cost. Subsequently, they are measured at cost, net of any subsequent eventimpairment losses incurred since acquisition. Impairment losses are recognized as “Digital asset impairment losses” in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations in the period in which would require recognition or disclosure.

(2) Recent Accounting Standards

the impairment occurs. Gains (if any) are not recorded until realized upon sale, at which point they are presented net of any impairment losses in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. In March 2016,determining the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvementsgain to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting (“ASU 2016-09”), to simplify certain aspects of accounting for share-based payment transactions.  Under ASU 2016-09, all excess tax benefits should be recognized as income tax expense or benefit inupon sale, the income statement, regardlessCompany calculates the difference between the sales price and carrying value of whether the benefit reduces taxes payable inspecific bitcoins sold immediately prior to sale.

The following table summarizes the current period.  The excess tax benefits will be combined with other income tax cash flows within operating activities in the statement of cash flows.  In addition, excess tax benefits or tax deficiencies will no longer be included in the calculation of assumed proceeds under the treasury stock method of computing diluted earnings per share. ASU 2016-09 also allows companies to make an accounting policy election to either estimate theCompany’s digital asset holdings (in thousands, except number of awards expected to vest or to account for forfeituresbitcoins), as they occur, when accruing share-based compensation expense. Lastly, ASU 2016-09 permits employers to withhold up to the employee’s maximum statutory tax rate in applicable jurisdictions and still qualify for the exception to liability classification. Cash paid by an employer when directly withholding shares for tax-withholding purposes should be classified as a financing activity in the statement of cash flows. of:

 

 

September 30,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Approximate number of bitcoins held

 

 

158,245

 

 

 

132,500

 

Digital assets carrying value

 

$

2,451,374

 

 

$

1,840,028

 

Cumulative digital asset impairment losses

 

$

2,229,775

 

 

$

2,153,162

 

The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2017 and has:

(i)

recognized excess tax benefits as part of the “Provision for income taxes” line item within income before income taxes in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, on a prospective basis.  

(ii)

combined the impact of excess tax benefits with the “Deferred taxes” line item within operating activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, on a prospective basis.  

(iii)

excluded excess tax benefits or tax deficiencies in the calculation of the Company’s diluted earnings per share, on a prospective basis; and  

(iv)

made an accounting policy election to account for forfeitures as they occur, on a modified retrospective basis, the impact of which is generally consistent with the Company’s previous method of estimating forfeitures.  

No prior periods have been adjusted with respect to the Company’s adoption of ASU 2016-09.  In addition, no cumulative-effect adjustments to retained earnings have been recorded as of the beginning of the period because there were no unrecognized excess tax benefits or tax deficiencies outstanding and no expected forfeitures applied to our share-based compensation expense as of the end of the preceding year.  The remaining amendments under ASU 2016-09 did not have a material impactcarrying value on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.

6


MICROSTRATEGY INCORPORATED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

In November 2016,Consolidated Balance Sheet at each period-end represents the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force) (“ASU 2016-18”), to address the diversity in practice that currently exists regarding the classification and presentation of changes in restricted cash on the statement of cash flows. Under ASU 2016-18, entities will be required to include restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents with total cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning and end of period amounts on the statement of cash flows. Entities will also be required to disclose information about the nature of their restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents. Additionally, if cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents are presented in more than one line item in the statement of financial position, entities will be required to present a reconciliation, either on the face of the statement of cash flows or disclosed in the notes, of the totals in the statement of cash flows to the related line item captions in the statement of financial position. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2017 and retrospectively applied the required updates to its Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for all periods presented. The Company does not consider its restricted cash balances to be material for further disclosure or reconciliation. The adoption of this guidance did not impact the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, and footnote disclosures.

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“ASU 2014-09”), which supersedes nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance.  The standard’s core principle is that an entity should recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services.  The standard creates a five-step model to achieve its core principle: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the separate performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.  In addition, entities must disclose sufficient information to enable users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers.  Qualitative and quantitative disclosures are required about: (i) the entity’s contracts with customers; (ii) the significant judgments, and changes in judgments, made in applying the guidance to those contracts; and (iii) any assets recognized from the costs to obtain or fulfill a contract with a customer.  In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) – Deferral of the Effective Date, which defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 to interim and annual periods beginning January 1, 2018.  The standard allows entities to apply the standard retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented (“full retrospective adoption”) or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying the standard recognized at the date of initial application (“modified retrospective adoption”).  The Company plans to adopt this guidance on January 1, 2018 and expects adoption using the full retrospective method, which is dependent on system readiness and the Company’s ability to timely compile necessary information related to prior periods.  The Company has completed several key accounting assessments related to the standard and is in the process of finalizing its remaining assessments and quantifying prior year adjustments. The Company also continues to evaluate and implement changes to related processes, systems, and internal controls.  The Company’s evaluation has included determining whether the unit of account (i.e., performance obligations) will change as compared to current GAAP, as well as determining the standalone selling price of each performance obligation.  Standalone selling prices under the new guidance may not be substantially different from the Company’s current methodologies of establishing VSOE oflowest fair value (based on multiple element arrangements. The Company has identified certain arrangements where revenue may be recognized earlier as compared to current GAAP,Level 1 inputs in particular term licenses and sales to resellers and OEMs who purchase the Company’s products for resale. The Company expects to recognize license revenue from term licenses upon delivery of the software, rather than over the term of the arrangement.  For reseller and OEM deals, the Company expects to recognize revenue when it transfers control of the products to the reseller or OEM, less potential adjustments for returns or price protection, rather than waiting for the reseller or OEM to sell the products to an end user.  Upon adoption of the new standard, the Company also expects to begin capitalizing certain commissions payable to its sales force and subsequently amortizing these capitalized costs on a straight-line basis over a three-year period.  Further, the Company expects to no longer offset its receivable and deferred revenue balances for unpaid items included in deferred revenue and advance payments.  The Company continues to evaluate the impact of this guidance and its subsequent amendments on its consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows, and any assessments made, including the adoption method, are subject to change.

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-02”), which requires lease assets and lease liabilities be recognized for all leases, in addition to the disclosure of key information to enable users of financial statements to assess the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from an entity’s leasing arrangements.  ASU 2016-02 defines a lease as a contract, or part of a contract, that conveys both (i) the right to obtain economic benefits from and (ii) direct the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration.  Under ASU 2016-02, leases are classified as either finance or operating leases. For finance leases, a lessee shall recognize in profit or loss the amortization of the lease asset and interest on the lease liability.  For operating leases, a lessee shall recognize in profit or loss a single lease cost, calculated so that the remaining cost of the lease is allocated over the remaining lease term, generally on a straight-line basis.  ASU 2016-02 requires the recognition and measurement of leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach and is

7


MICROSTRATEGY INCORPORATED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

effective for interim and annual periods beginning January 1, 2019.  Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on its consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.

In October 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory (“ASU 2016-16”), to improve the accounting for income tax effects of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. Under ASU 2016-16, the deferral of the income tax consequences of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory is eliminated. Entities will be required to recognize the income tax consequences of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory when the transfers occur. The standard requires a cumulative-effect adjustment directly to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption using a modified retrospective approach. ASU 2016-16 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning January 1, 2018. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on its consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.

(3) Fair Value Measurements

The Company estimates the fair value hierarchy) of cashthe bitcoins at any time since their acquisition. Therefore, these fair value measurements were made during the period from their acquisition through September 30, 2023 or December 31, 2022, respectively, and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, accounts payablenot as of September 30, 2023 or December 31, 2022, respectively.

The following table summarizes the Company’s digital asset purchases and accrued expenses, and accrued compensation and employee benefits.digital asset impairment losses (in thousands, except number of bitcoins) for the periods indicated. The Company considers the carrying value of these instruments in the financial statements to approximate fair value due to their short maturities.

(4) Short-term Investments

The Company periodically invests a portiondid not sell any of its excess cash in short-term investment instruments.  Substantially all of the Company’s short-term investments are in U.S. Treasury securities and certificates of deposit, and the Company has the ability and intent to hold these investments to maturity.  The stated maturity dates of these investments are between three months and one year from the purchase date.  These held-to-maturity investments are recorded at amortized cost and included within “Short-term investments” on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.  The fair value of held-to-maturity investments in U.S. Treasury securities and certificates of deposit is determined based on quoted market prices in active markets for identical securities (Level 1 inputs).

The amortized cost, carrying value, and fair value of held-to-maturity investments at September 30, 2017 were $259.2 million, $259.2 million, and $259.2 million, respectively.  The amortized cost, carrying value, and fair value of held-to-maturity investments at December 31, 2016 were $187.3 million, $187.3 million, and $187.3 million, respectively.  The gross unrecognized holding gains and losses were not material for each ofbitcoins during the three and nine months ended September 30, 20172023 or 2022, respectively.

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Approximate number of bitcoins purchased

 

 

5,912

 

 

 

301

 

 

 

25,745

 

 

 

5,609

 

Digital asset purchases

 

$

161,681

 

 

$

5,978

 

 

$

687,959

 

 

$

231,478

 

Digital asset impairment losses

 

$

33,559

 

 

$

727

 

 

$

76,613

 

 

$

1,088,656

 

6


From time to time, the Company may be extended short-term credits from Coinbase or other execution partners to purchase bitcoin in advance of using cash funds in the Company’s trading account. The trade credits are due and 2016.  No other-than-temporary impairments related to these investments have been recognizedpayable in cash within days after they are extended. As of September 30, 2023, the Company had no outstanding trade credits payable.

As of September 30, 2023, approximately 15,731 of the bitcoins held by the Company, which had a carrying value of approximately $251.1 million on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016.  As2023, serve as part of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016,the collateral for the Company’s available-for-sale investments6.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2028 (the “2028 Secured Notes”), as further described in Note 4, Long-term Debt, to the Consolidated Financial Statements. All of the Company’s bitcoins previously serving as collateral for a $205.0 million term loan (the “2025 Secured Term Loan”) issued to MacroStrategy LLC (“MacroStrategy”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, by Silvergate Bank (“Silvergate”) were not material.released from collateral upon the repayment of the 2025 Secured Term Loan during the first quarter of 2023. Refer to Note 4, Long-term Debt, to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details of the 2025 Secured Term Loan and its repayment.

(3) Contract Balances

The Company invoices its customers in accordance with billing schedules established in each contract. The Company’s rights to consideration from customers are presented separately in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets depending on whether those rights are conditional or unconditional.

The Company presents unconditional rights to consideration from customers within “Accounts receivable, net” in its Consolidated Balance Sheets. All of the Company’s contracts are generally non-cancelable and/or non-refundable, and therefore an unconditional right generally exists when the customer is billed or amounts are billable per the contract.

(5) Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable (in thousands) consisted of the following, as of:

 

 

September 30,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Billed and billable

 

$

131,494

 

 

$

191,844

 

Less: allowance for credit losses

 

 

(2,844

)

 

 

(2,564

)

Accounts receivable, net

 

$

128,650

 

 

$

189,280

 

Changes in the allowance for credit losses were not material for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023.

 

 

September 30,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

Billed and billable

 

$

136,340

 

 

$

188,038

 

Less: unpaid deferred revenue

 

 

(65,912

)

 

 

(101,538

)

Accounts receivable, gross

 

 

70,428

 

 

 

86,500

 

Less: allowance for doubtful accounts

 

 

(4,091

)

 

 

(3,181

)

Accounts receivable, net

 

$

66,337

 

 

$

83,319

 

The Company offsets itsRights to consideration that are subject to a condition other than the passage of time are considered contract assets until they are expected to become unconditional and transfer to accounts receivable. Current contract assets included in “Prepaid expenses and other current assets” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets consist of $1.3 million and $0.6 million, as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, related to accrued sales and usage-based royalty revenue and performance obligations or services being rendered in advance of future invoicing associated with multi-year contracts. In royalty-based arrangements, consideration is not billed or billable until the royalty reporting is received, generally in the subsequent quarter, at which time the contract asset transfers to accounts receivable and a true-up adjustment is recorded to revenue. These true-up adjustments are generally not material. Non-current contract assets included in “Deposits and other assets” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets consisted of $1.1 million and $0.7 million, as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, related to performance obligations or services being rendered in advance of future invoicing associated with multi-year contracts. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, there were no significant impairments to the Company’s contract assets, nor were there any significant changes in the timing of the Company’s contract assets being reclassified to accounts receivable.

Contract liabilities are amounts received or due from customers in advance of the Company transferring the software or services to the customer. In the case of multi-year service contract arrangements, the Company generally does not invoice more than one year in advance of services and does not record deferred revenue for anyamounts that have not been invoiced.Revenue is subsequently recognized in the period(s) in which control of the software or services is transferred to the customer. The Company’s contract liabilities are presented as either current or non-current “Deferred revenue and advance payments” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, depending on whether the software or services are expected to be transferred to the customer within the next year.

The Company’s “Accounts receivable, net” and “Deferred revenue and advance payments” balances in the Consolidated Balance Sheets include unpaid items includedamounts related to contracts under which the Company has an enforceable right to invoice the customer for non-cancelable and/or non-refundable software and services. Changes in accounts receivable and changes in deferred revenue and advance payments.

The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts which represents its best estimatepayments are presented net of probable losses inherentthese unpaid amounts in “Operating activities” in the accounts receivable balances.  The Company evaluates specific accounts when it becomes aware that a customer may not be able to meet its financial obligations due to deteriorationConsolidated Statements of its liquidity or financial viability, credit ratings, or bankruptcy.  In addition, the Company periodically adjusts this allowance based on its review and assessment of the aging of receivables.Cash Flows.

87


MICROSTRATEGY INCORPORATED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

(6) Deferred Revenue and Advance Payments

Deferred revenue and advance payments (in thousands) from customers consisted of the following, as of:

 

 

September 30,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred product licenses revenue

 

$

2,814

 

 

$

2,825

 

Deferred subscription services revenue

 

 

45,737

 

 

 

51,861

 

Deferred product support revenue

 

 

126,087

 

 

 

155,366

 

Deferred other services revenue

 

 

4,529

 

 

 

7,376

 

Total current deferred revenue and advance payments

 

$

179,167

 

 

$

217,428

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred product licenses revenue

 

$

9

 

 

$

2,742

 

Deferred subscription services revenue

 

 

2,845

 

 

 

3,030

 

Deferred product support revenue

 

 

4,304

 

 

 

6,387

 

Deferred other services revenue

 

 

480

 

 

 

604

 

Total non-current deferred revenue and advance payments

 

$

7,638

 

 

$

12,763

 

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company recognized revenues of $44.6 million and $187.6 million, respectively, from amounts included in the total deferred revenue and advance payments balances at the beginning of 2023. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company recognized revenues of $42.5 million and $176.3 million, respectively, from amounts included in the total deferred revenue and advance payments balances at the beginning of 2022. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, there were no significant changes in the timing of revenue recognition on the Company’s deferred balances.

 

 

September 30,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

Current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred product licenses revenue

 

$

10,771

 

 

$

13,023

 

Deferred subscription services revenue

 

 

15,583

 

 

 

18,303

 

Deferred product support revenue

 

 

141,496

 

 

 

162,781

 

Deferred other services revenue

 

 

8,743

 

 

 

10,015

 

Gross current deferred revenue and advance payments

 

 

176,593

 

 

 

204,122

 

Less: unpaid deferred revenue

 

 

(61,173

)

 

 

(98,587

)

Net current deferred revenue and advance payments

 

$

115,420

 

 

$

105,535

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred product licenses revenue

 

$

7,320

 

 

$

9,118

 

Deferred subscription services revenue

 

 

406

 

 

 

1,307

 

Deferred product support revenue

 

 

5,790

 

 

 

5,751

 

Deferred other services revenue

 

 

990

 

 

 

690

 

Gross non-current deferred revenue and advance payments

 

 

14,506

 

 

 

16,866

 

Less: unpaid deferred revenue

 

 

(4,739

)

 

 

(2,951

)

Net non-current deferred revenue and advance payments

 

$

9,767

 

 

$

13,915

 

The Company offsets itsCompany’s remaining performance obligation represents all future revenue under contract and includes deferred revenue and advance payments and billable non-cancelable amounts that will be invoiced and recognized as revenue in future periods. The remaining performance obligation excludes contracts that are billed in arrears, such as certain time and materials contracts. The portions of multi-year contracts that will be invoiced in the future are not presented on the balance sheet within accounts receivable and deferred revenuerevenues and are instead included in the following remaining performance obligation disclosure. As of September 30, 2023, the Company had an aggregate transaction price of $282.3 million allocated to the remaining performance obligation related to product support, subscription services, product licenses, and other services contracts. The Company expects to recognize $217.7 million within the next 12 months and the remainder thereafter.

(4) Long-term Debt

The net carrying value of the Company’s long-term debt (in thousands) consisted of the following, as of:

 

 

September 30, 2023

 

 

December 31, 2022

 

2025 Convertible Notes

 

$

643,167

 

 

$

640,888

 

2027 Convertible Notes

 

 

1,036,298

 

 

 

1,033,277

 

2028 Secured Notes

 

 

490,771

 

 

 

489,547

 

2025 Secured Term Loan

 

 

0

 

 

 

204,688

 

Other long-term secured debt

 

 

9,802

 

 

 

10,160

 

Total

 

$

2,180,038

 

 

$

2,378,560

 

Convertible Senior Notes

In December 2020, the Company issued $650.0 million aggregate principal amount of 0.750% Convertible Senior Notes due 2025 (the “2025 Convertible Notes”) in a private offering. The 2025 Convertible Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company and bear interest at a fixed rate of 0.750% per annum, payable semiannually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on June 15, 2021. Holders of the 2025 Convertible Notes may receive additional interest under specified circumstances as outlined in the indenture relating to the issuance of the 2025 Convertible Notes. The 2025 Convertible Notes will mature on December 15, 2025, unless earlier converted, redeemed, or repurchased in accordance with their terms.

In February 2021, the Company issued $1.050 billion aggregate principal amount of 0% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027 (the “2027 Convertible Notes”) in a private offering. The 2027 Convertible Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company and do not bear regular interest. However, holders of the 2027 Convertible Notes may receive special interest under specified circumstances as outlined

8


in the indenture relating to the issuance of the 2027 Convertible Notes. Any special interest is payable semiannually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year, beginning on August 15, 2021. The 2027 Convertible Notes will mature on February 15, 2027, unless earlier converted, redeemed, or repurchased in accordance with their terms.

The terms of the 2025 Convertible Notes and 2027 Convertible Notes (collectively, the “Convertible Notes”) are discussed more fully in Note 8, Long-term Debt, to the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.

There have been no adjustments to the initial conversion rates for each of the Convertible Notes as of September 30, 2023. As of September 30, 2023, the maximum number of shares into which the Convertible Notes could be potentially converted if the conversion features are triggered are 1,633,190 and 733,005 shares for the 2025 Convertible Notes and 2027 Convertible Notes, respectively.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the 2025 Convertible Notes were not convertible at any time. During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, the 2025 Convertible Notes were convertible at the option of the holders of the 2025 Convertible Notes during the first quarter of 2022 only. During the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, the 2027 Convertible Notes were not convertible at any time. No conversions of the Convertible Notes occurred during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 or 2022. The Convertible Notes may be convertible in future periods if one or more of the conversion conditions is satisfied during future measurement periods.

As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the net carrying value of the Convertible Notes was classified as a long-term liability in the “Long-term debt, net” line item in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The following is a summary of the Company’s convertible debt instruments as of September 30, 2023 (in thousands):

 

 

September 30, 2023

 

 

Outstanding

 

 

Unamortized

 

 

Net Carrying

 

 

Fair Value

 

 

Principal Amount

 

 

Issuance Costs

 

 

Value

 

 

Amount

 

 

Leveling

2025 Convertible Notes

 

$

650,000

 

 

$

(6,833

)

 

$

643,167

 

 

$

695,500

 

 

Level 2

2027 Convertible Notes

 

 

1,050,000

 

 

 

(13,702

)

 

 

1,036,298

 

 

 

737,789

 

 

Level 2

Total

 

$

1,700,000

 

 

$

(20,535

)

 

$

1,679,465

 

 

$

1,433,289

 

 

 

The following is a summary of the Company’s convertible debt instruments as of December 31, 2022 (in thousands):

 

 

December 31, 2022

 

 

Outstanding

 

 

Unamortized

 

 

Net Carrying

 

 

Fair Value

 

 

Principal Amount

 

 

Issuance Costs

 

 

Value

 

 

Amount

 

 

Leveling

2025 Convertible Notes

 

$

650,000

 

 

$

(9,112

)

 

$

640,888

 

 

$

364,000

 

 

Level 2

2027 Convertible Notes

 

 

1,050,000

 

 

 

(16,723

)

 

 

1,033,277

 

 

 

394,800

 

 

Level 2

Total

 

$

1,700,000

 

 

$

(25,835

)

 

$

1,674,165

 

 

$

758,800

 

 

 

The fair value of the Convertible Notes is determined using observable market data other than quoted prices, specifically the last traded price at the end of the reporting period of identical instruments in the over-the-counter market (Level 2).

For the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, interest expense related to the Convertible Notes was as follows (in thousands):

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2023

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2022

 

 

 

Contractual

 

 

Amortization of

 

 

 

 

 

Contractual

 

 

Amortization of

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest Expense

 

 

Issuance Costs

 

 

Total

 

 

Interest Expense

 

 

Issuance Costs

 

 

Total

 

2025 Convertible Notes

 

$

1,218

 

 

$

762

 

 

$

1,980

 

 

$

1,218

 

 

$

753

 

 

$

1,971

 

2027 Convertible Notes

 

 

0

 

 

 

1,008

 

 

 

1,008

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

1,004

 

 

 

1,004

 

Total

 

$

1,218

 

 

$

1,770

 

 

$

2,988

 

 

$

1,218

 

 

$

1,757

 

 

$

2,975

 

9


For the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, interest expense related to the Convertible Notes was as follows (in thousands):

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022

 

 

 

Contractual

 

 

Amortization of

 

 

 

 

 

Contractual

 

 

Amortization of

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest Expense

 

 

Issuance Costs

 

 

Total

 

 

Interest Expense

 

 

Issuance Costs

 

 

Total

 

2025 Convertible Notes

 

$

3,656

 

 

$

2,279

 

 

$

5,935

 

 

$

3,656

 

 

$

2,251

 

 

$

5,907

 

2027 Convertible Notes

 

 

0

 

 

 

3,021

 

 

 

3,021

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

3,009

 

 

 

3,009

 

Total

 

$

3,656

 

 

$

5,300

 

 

$

8,956

 

 

$

3,656

 

 

$

5,260

 

 

$

8,916

 

The Company did not pay any interest related to the 2025 Convertible Notes during the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022. For each of the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company paid $2.4 million in interest related to the 2025 Convertible Notes. The Company has not paid any additional interest or special interest related to the 2025 Convertible Notes or the 2027 Convertible Notes, respectively, to date.

Senior Secured Notes

On June 14, 2021, the Company issued $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2028 Secured Notes in a private offering. The 2028 Secured Notes bear interest at a fixed rate of 6.125% per annum, payable semiannually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on December 15, 2021. The 2028 Secured Notes have a stated maturity date of June 15, 2028, unless earlier redeemed or repurchased in accordance with their terms and subject to a springing maturity date of September 15, 2025 or November 16, 2026 as discussed further below.

The 2028 Secured Notes include a springing maturity feature that will cause the stated maturity date to spring ahead to: (1) September 15, 2025 (the “First Springing Maturity Date”), unless on the First Springing Maturity Date (i) the Company has Liquidity (as defined in the 2028 Secured Notes Indenture) in excess of 130% of the amount required to pay in full in cash the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of, and accrued interest on, the 2025 Convertible Notes or (ii) less than $100,000,000 of the aggregate principal amount of the 2025 Convertible Notes remains outstanding, (2) November 16, 2026 (the “Second Springing Maturity Date”), unless on the Second Springing Maturity Date (i) the Company has Liquidity in excess of 130% of the amount required to pay in full in cash the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of, and accrued interest on, the 2027 Convertible Notes or (ii) less than $100,000,000 of the aggregate principal amount of the 2027 Convertible Notes remains outstanding, or (3) the date (such date, an “FCCR Springing Maturity Date”) that is 91 days prior to the maturity date of any future convertible debt that we may issue that is then outstanding (the “FCCR Convertible Indebtedness”), unless on the FCCR Springing Maturity Date (i) the Company has Liquidity in excess of 130% of the amount required to pay in full in cash the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of and accrued interest on such FCCR Convertible Indebtedness or (ii) less than $100,000,000 of the aggregate principal amount of such FCCR Convertible Indebtedness remains outstanding. “Liquidity” is defined in the 2028 Secured Notes Indenture and includes the Digital Asset Market Value (as defined in the 2028 Secured Notes Indenture) of the bitcoin owned by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (as defined in the 2028 Secured Notes Indenture) immediately prior to the issuance of the 2028 Secured Notes (which are referred to as “Existing Digital Assets”). As of September 30, 2023, for purposes of calculating Liquidity, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries owned approximately 92,079 Existing Digital Assets, all of which were unencumbered.

The terms of the 2028 Secured Notes are discussed more fully in Note 8, Long-term Debt, to the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.

The 2028 Secured Notes are governed by an indenture containing certain covenants with which the Company must comply, including covenants with respect to limitations on (i) additional indebtedness, (ii) liens, (iii) certain payments and investments, (iv) the ability to merge or consolidate with another person, or sell or otherwise dispose of substantially all the Company’s assets, and (v) certain transactions with affiliates. The Company was in compliance with its debt covenants as of September 30, 2023.

As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the net carrying value of the 2028 Secured Notes was classified as a long-term liability in the “Long-term debt, net” line item in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The following is a summary of the 2028 Secured Notes as of September 30, 2023 (in thousands):

 

 

September 30, 2023

 

 

Outstanding

 

 

Unamortized

 

 

Net Carrying

 

 

Fair Value

 

 

Principal Amount

 

 

Issuance Costs

 

 

Value

 

 

Amount

 

 

Leveling

2028 Secured Notes

 

$

500,000

 

 

$

(9,229

)

 

$

490,771

 

 

$

444,850

 

 

Level 2

10


The following is a summary of the 2028 Secured Notes as of December 31, 2022 (in thousands):

 

 

December 31, 2022

 

 

Outstanding

 

 

Unamortized

 

 

Net Carrying

 

 

Fair Value

 

 

Principal Amount

 

 

Issuance Costs

 

 

Value

 

 

Amount

 

 

Leveling

2028 Secured Notes

 

$

500,000

 

 

$

(10,453

)

 

$

489,547

 

 

$

369,800

 

 

Level 2

The fair value of the 2028 Secured Notes is determined using observable market data other than quoted prices, specifically the last traded price at the end of the reporting period of identical instruments in the over-the-counter market (Level 2).

For the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, interest expense related to the 2028 Secured Notes was as follows (in thousands):

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2023

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2022

 

 

 

Contractual

 

 

Amortization of

 

 

 

 

 

Contractual

 

 

Amortization of

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest Expense

 

 

Issuance Costs

 

 

Total

 

 

Interest Expense

 

 

Issuance Costs

 

 

Total

 

2028 Secured Notes

 

$

7,657

 

 

$

415

 

 

$

8,072

 

 

$

7,657

 

 

$

388

 

 

$

8,045

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, interest expense related to the 2028 Secured Notes was as follows (in thousands):

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022

 

 

 

Contractual

 

 

Amortization of

 

 

 

 

 

Contractual

 

 

Amortization of

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest Expense

 

 

Issuance Costs

 

 

Total

 

 

Interest Expense

 

 

Issuance Costs

 

 

Total

 

2028 Secured Notes

 

$

22,969

 

 

$

1,224

 

 

$

24,193

 

 

$

22,969

 

 

$

1,146

 

 

$

24,115

 

The Company did not pay any interest related to the 2028 Secured Notes during the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022. For each of the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company paid $15.3 million in interest related to the 2028 Secured Notes.

Secured Term Loan

On March 23, 2022, MacroStrategy, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into a Credit and Security Agreement (the “Credit and Security Agreement”) with Silvergate pursuant to which Silvergate issued the $205.0 million 2025 Secured Term Loan to MacroStrategy. The terms of the 2025 Secured Term Loan are discussed more fully in Note 8, Long-term Debt, to the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. On March 24, 2023, MacroStrategy and Silvergate entered into a Prepayment, Waiver and Payoff to Credit and Security Agreement, pursuant to which MacroStrategy voluntarily prepaid Silvergate approximately $161.0 million (the “Payoff Amount”), in full repayment, satisfaction, and discharge of the 2025 Secured Term Loan and all other obligations under the Credit and Security Agreement. Upon Silvergate’s receipt of the Payoff Amount on March 24, 2023, the Credit and Security Agreement was terminated and Silvergate released its security interest in all of MacroStrategy’s assets collateralizing the 2025 Secured Term Loan, including the bitcoin that was serving as collateral.

The Payoff Amount consisted of a $159.9 million payment to repay the full $205.0 million outstanding principal amount of the 2025 Secured Term Loan as of March 24, 2023 and a $1.1 million payment for accrued unpaid interest on the 2025 Secured Term Loan as of March 24, 2023. The Company also incurred $0.1 million in third party fees in connection with the repayment of the 2025 Secured Term Loan. The net carrying value of the 2025 Secured Term Loan as of March 24, 2023, immediately prior to the loan’s repayment, was $204.7 million, which resulted in a $44.7 million gain on debt extinguishment recognized in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations in the first quarter of 2023.

MacroStrategy previously maintained a $5.0 million cash reserve account (the “Reserve Account”) with Silvergate to serve as additional collateral for the 2025 Secured Term Loan. On March 24, 2023, the $5.0 million then held in the Reserve Account was applied against the Payoff Amount, reducing the amount of additional funds that were required to be paid by MacroStrategy to Silvergate in connection with the payoff of the 2025 Secured Term Loan.

As of December 31, 2022, the net carrying value of the 2025 Secured Term Loan was classified as a long-term liability in the “Long-term debt, net” line item in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet.

11


The following is a summary of the 2025 Secured Term Loan as of December 31, 2022 (in thousands):

 

 

December 31, 2022

 

 

Outstanding

 

 

Unamortized

 

 

Net Carrying

 

 

Fair Value

 

 

Principal Amount

 

 

Issuance Costs

 

 

Value

 

 

Amount

 

 

Leveling

2025 Secured Term Loan

 

$

205,000

 

 

$

(312

)

 

$

204,688

 

 

$

205,000

 

 

Level 3

The outstanding principal amount of the 2025 Secured Term Loan approximated its fair value as of December 31, 2022 as the 2025 Secured Term Loan bore interest at a floating rate and was over-collateralized (the Company was required to maintain an LTV ratio of less than 50%). Additionally, the Company had approximately 82,991 unencumbered bitcoins that were available to be pledged as additional collateral at December 31, 2022.

No interest expense related to the 2025 Secured Term Loan was recognized after the debt was repaid in full during the first quarter of 2023. For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, interest expense related to the 2025 Secured Term Loan was as follows (in thousands):

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023

 

 

 

Contractual

 

 

Amortization of

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest Expense

 

 

Issuance Costs

 

 

Total

 

2025 Secured Term Loan

 

$

3,781

 

 

$

31

 

 

$

3,812

 

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, interest expense related to the 2025 Secured Term Loan was as follows (in thousands):

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2022

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022

 

 

 

Contractual

 

 

Amortization of

 

 

 

 

 

Contractual

 

 

Amortization of

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest Expense

 

 

Issuance Costs

 

 

Total

 

 

Interest Expense

 

 

Issuance Costs

 

 

Total

 

2025 Secured Term Loan

 

$

2,931

 

 

$

33

 

 

$

2,964

 

 

$

5,314

 

 

$

69

 

 

$

5,383

 

The Company paid a final $5.1 million in interest related to the 2025 Secured Term Loan during the first quarter of 2023, $1.1 million of which was included in the Payoff Amount. The Company paid $2.7 million and $4.3 million in interest related to the 2025 Secured Term Loan during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively.

Other long-term secured debt

In June 2022, the Company, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, entered into a secured term loan agreement in the amount of $11.1 million, bearing interest at an annual rate of 5.2%, and maturing in June 2027. The loan is secured by certain non-bitcoin assets of the Company that are not otherwise serving as collateral for any unpaid itemsof the Company’s other indebtedness. As of September 30, 2023, the loan had a net carrying value of $10.3 million and an outstanding principal balance of $10.5 million, after monthly payments made under the terms of the agreement. As of September 30, 2023, $0.5 million of the net carrying value is short-term and is presented in “Current portion of long-term debt, net” in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Maturities

The following table shows the maturities of the Company’s debt instruments as of September 30, 2023 (in thousands). The principal payments related to the 2028 Secured Notes are included in deferred revenue and advance payments.the table below based on the First Springing Maturity Date of September 15, 2025, as if the springing maturity feature discussed above were triggered. As of September 30, 2023, the Company expects to be able to satisfy the requirements in the 2028 Secured Notes Indenture to avoid triggering the springing maturity feature of the 2028 Secured Notes.

Payments due by period ended September 30,

 

2025 Convertible Notes

 

 

2027 Convertible Notes

 

 

2028 Secured Notes

 

 

Other long-term secured debt

 

 

Total

 

2024

 

$

0

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

532

 

 

$

532

 

2025

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

500,000

 

 

 

562

 

 

 

500,562

 

2026

 

 

650,000

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

592

 

 

 

650,592

 

2027

 

 

0

 

 

 

1,050,000

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

8,787

 

 

 

1,058,787

 

2028

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

Thereafter

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

Total

 

$

650,000

 

 

$

1,050,000

 

 

$

500,000

 

 

$

10,473

 

 

$

2,210,473

 

12


(7)

(5) Commitments and Contingencies

(a) Commitments

From time to time, the Company enters into certain types of contracts that require it to indemnify parties against third-party claims. These contracts primarily relate to agreements under which the Company assumes indemnity obligations for intellectual property infringement, as well as other obligations from time to time depending on arrangements negotiated with customers and other third parties. The conditions of these obligations vary. Thus, the overall maximum amount of the Company’s indemnification obligations cannot be reasonably estimated. Historically, the Company has not been obligated to make significant payments for these obligations and does not currently expect to incur any material obligations in the future. Accordingly, the Company has not recorded an indemnification liability on its balance sheetsConsolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 20172023 or December 31, 2016.2022.

(b) Contingencies

Following an internal review initiated in 2018, the Company believes that its Brazilian subsidiary failed or likely failed to comply with local procurement regulations in conducting business with certain Brazilian government entities.

On February 6, 2020, the Company learned that a Brazilian court authorized the Brazilian Federal Police to use certain investigative measures in its investigation into alleged corruption and procurement fraud involving certain government officials, pertaining to a particular transaction. The transaction at issue is part of the basis of the previously reported failure or likely failure of the Company’s Brazilian subsidiary to comply with local procurement regulations. The Company leases office spaceis not aware of any allegations that any former employee or the Company made any payments to Brazilian government officials. The Brazilian Federal Police expanded the investigation to include other possible cases of procurement fraud involving Brazilian government entities. Criminal penalties may be imposed against individuals; however, neither employees of the Company’s Brazilian subsidiary nor the subsidiary itself have been targets of the Federal Police investigation.

The Company has also learned that Brazil’s Federal Comptroller General filed an administrative action against the Company’s Brazilian subsidiary with respect to the alleged procurement violations. These matters remain the subject of investigation by Brazilian authorities. The Company is taking measures to attempt to resolve these matters.

On January 18, 2023, Brazil’s General Superintendence of the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (“SG/CADE”) launched an administrative proceeding to investigate potentially anticompetitive conduct, naming various individuals and computercompanies as defendants including the Company’s Brazilian subsidiary. The proceeding involves conduct relating to transactions with certain Brazilian public and other equipment underprivate entities that is part of the basis of the foregoing failure or likely failure of the Brazilian subsidiary to comply with local procurement regulations. The proceeding was precipitated by the Company’s Brazilian subsidiary’s voluntary disclosure of information to SG/CADE that arose out of the internal review initiated in 2018, and the Company’s Brazilian subsidiary has secured a leniency agreement with SG/CADE. If at the end of the proceeding, CADE’s Tribunal confirms that the leniency agreement obligations have been fulfilled, the Company’s Brazilian subsidiary will receive full immunity from fines.

The Company believes that a loss is probable in connection with these Brazilian matters. The Company has previously estimated a minimum loss of $1.2 million in respect of these matters. Given the stage of these matters, as of September 30, 2023, the Company remains unable to reasonably estimate a range of loss beyond such minimum loss. The aggregate accrued amount for these matters is included as a component of “Accounts payable, accrued expenses, and operating lease agreements.  It also leases certain computerliabilities” in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2023. The final outcome of these matters may result in a loss that is significantly greater than this accrued amount. Any loss associated with the final outcome of these matters may result in a material impact on the Company’s earnings and other equipment under capital lease agreements and licenses certain software under other financing arrangements.  Underfinancial results for the lease agreements,period in addition to base rent,which any such additional liability is accrued. However, the Company is generally responsible for certain taxes, utilities and maintenance costs, and other fees; and several leases include options for renewal or purchase.  The Company leases approximately 214,000 square feetbelieves that any loss associated with the final outcome of office space atthese matters will not have a location in Northern Virginia that began serving as its corporate headquarters in October 2010. The term ofmaterial effect on the lease expires in December 2020.Company’s financial position.

At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, deferred rent of $9.5 million and $12.3 million, respectively, was included in other long-term liabilities, and $3.7 million and $3.5 million, respectively, was included in current accrued expenses.

9


MICROSTRATEGY INCORPORATED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

(b) Contingencies

In December 2011, DataTern, Inc. (“DataTern”) filedOn November 4, 2020, a complaint for patent infringementwas filed against the Company in the United StatesU.S. District Court for the Eastern District of MassachusettsVirginia by a patent assertion entity called Daedalus Blue, LLC (“Daedalus”). In its complaint, Daedalus alleges that the Company has infringed U.S. Patent Nos. 8,341,172 (the “District Court”“’172 Patent”). and 9,032,076 (the “’076 Patent”) based on specific functionality in the MicroStrategy platform. The ’172 Patent relates to a method for providing aggregate data access in response to a query, whereas the ’076 Patent relates to a role-based access control system.

On March 1, 2021, Daedalus provided its formal infringement contentions which included additional accused functionality as part of its infringement allegations from the complaint, materially expanding the scope of its case. The Company has filed a motion to dismiss the complaint with prejudice, asking the court to rule that the asserted claims are invalid as being directed to patent ineligible matter. The

13


court conducted a claim construction hearing on July 15, 2021. The court appointed a special master on October 28, 2021 and directed the special master to submit a Report and Recommendation as to the issue of claim construction and the pending motion to dismiss by February 1, 2022. On January 21, 2022, the special master issued two separate Reports and Recommendations. The first Report and Recommendation recommended constructions of certain patent claim terms and the second Report and Recommendation recommended, without reaching the merits, dismissing the Company’s motion to dismiss without prejudice to re-filing after discovery ends. The parties filed their respective objections to the special master’s Reports and Recommendations on February 4, 2022, and their oppositions to the other party’s objections on February 18, 2022. On March 9, 2022, the court issued an order overruling all parties’ objections and adopting the special master’s Reports and Recommendations in full. As per court order, the parties submitted a joint proposed schedule, which the court adopted on April 7, 2022, providing new deadlines for the close of fact discovery, expert reports, expert discovery, and dispositive motions. Fact discovery reopened on April 18, 2022 and closed on June 1, 2022. In July 2022, the case proceeded to expert discovery and the parties exchanged their opening expert reports on issues for which they bear the burden of proof on July 1, 2022, their rebuttal reports on July 29, 2022, and their reply reports on August 12, 2022. The parties engaged in expert depositions the weeks of August 22 and August 29, 2022. On September 21, 2022, the parties filed their respective motions for summary judgment, and on October 12, 2022 and October 19, 2022, the parties filed their opposition and reply briefs. The court also re-appointed the special master to assist in addressing the parties’ motions for summary judgment and other pending pre-trial motions. The special master has provided his Reports and Recommendations for the parties’ evidentiary motions and summary judgment motions and the court has ruled on all of the special master’s Reports and Recommendations, including denying the contested portions of Daedalus’s motion for summary judgment and denying MicroStrategy’s motion for summary judgment. The court also ordered two mediation sessions, the first of which the Company attended in August 2023, with the second scheduled for November 2023. The court also set a trial date of January 8, 2024. The outcome of this matter is not presently determinable.

On August 31, 2022, the District of Columbia (the “District”), through its Office of the Attorney General, filed a civil complaint in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia naming as defendants (i) Michael J. Saylor, the Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors and the Company’s Executive Chairman, in his personal capacity, and (ii) the Company. The District sought, among other relief, monetary damages under the District’s False Claims Act for the alleged failure of Mr. Saylor to pay personal income taxes to the District over a number of years together with penalties, interest, and treble damages. The complaint alleged that the Company infringes U.S. Patent No. 6,101,502 (the “’502 Patent”), allegedly owned by DataTern, by making, selling, or offering for sale severalamount of the Company’s products and services including MicroStrategy 9™, MicroStrategy Intelligence Server™, MicroStrategy Business Intelligence Platform™, MicroStrategy Cloud Personal, and other MicroStrategy applications for creating or using data mining, dashboards, business analytics, data storage and warehousing, and web hosting support.personal income taxes purportedly involved was more than $25 million. The complaint accusedalso alleged in the sole claim against the Company of willful infringement and sought an unspecified amount of damages, an award of attorneys’ fees, and preliminary and permanent injunctive relief.  In light of a judgment in a separate action involving DataTern in another jurisdiction, in February 2013, MicroStrategy and DataTern filed motions for summary judgment of non-infringement andthat it violated the District Court entered summary judgment against DataTern.  In March 2013, DataTern filed a notice of appeal withDistrict’s False Claims Act by conspiring to assist Mr. Saylor’s alleged failure to pay personal income taxes. On October 26, 2022, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (the “Federal Circuit”).  In December 2014, the Federal Circuit issued an opinion vacating the District Court’s summary judgment, stating that the claim construction on which the summary judgment was based was incorrect.  In January 2015, the case was remanded to the District Court for further proceedings.  A claim construction ruling was issued in February 2017.  In August 2017, counsel for DataTernCompany filed a motion to withdraw fromdismiss the lawsuit.District’s complaint. On February 28, 2023, the court ruled on the motion to dismiss, dismissing the sole claim against the Company as well as a claim against Mr. Saylor alleging that Mr. Saylor violated the District’s False Claims Act. The court did not dismiss claims against Mr. Saylor alleging that Mr. Saylor failed to pay personal income taxes, interest and penalties due. On April 13, 2023, the District, Court initially gave DataTernthrough its Office of the Attorney General, filed a deadlinemotion to amend its complaint to attempt to restore claims under the False Claims Act against both Mr. Saylor and the Company. On May 10, 2023, the court granted the District’s motion to amend its complaint, reinstating the Company as a defendant in the case. The amended complaint alleges that the Company violated the District’s False Claims Act by making and using false records and statements in the form of September 18, 2017false withholding filings with the District Office of Tax and Revenue. The amended complaint also alleges that Mr. Saylor violated the District’s False Claims Act by making and using false records and statements and by causing the Company to find replacement counsel, which was later extendedmake and use false records and statements. On June 7, 2023, Mr. Saylor and the Company filed a motion to October 20, 2017.dismiss the District’s amended complaint with prejudice. On July 5, 2023, the District filed an opposition to the motion to dismiss made by Mr. Saylor and the Company. On July 19, 2023, Mr. Saylor and the Company filed a reply in support of their motion to dismiss. On July 31, 2023, the court denied Mr. Saylor’s and the Company’s motion to dismiss the amended complaint. On August 22, 2023, the Company and Mr. Saylor filed a motion asking the court to reconsider its July 31 decision or, in the alternative, to certify for interlocutory review two case-dispositive issues relating to the validity of tax-related amendments to the District’s False Claims Act and authority of the Office of the Attorney General to sue for allegedly unpaid taxes. On October 20, 2017,31, 2023, the District Court dismissedcourt denied Mr. Saylor’s and the caseCompany’s motion for failure to prosecute when DataTern failed to identify substitute counsel.  The Company has received indemnification requests from certain of its channel partners and customers who were sued by DataTernreconsideration or, in the District Court in lawsuits alleging infringement of the ‘502 Patent.alternative, certification for interlocutory review. The proceedings against these channel partners and customers have been stayed pending the resolution of DataTern’s lawsuit against the Company.  Thefinal outcome of these mattersthis matter is not presently determinable, and the Company cannot make a reasonable estimate of the possible loss or range of loss with respect to these matters at this time.  Accordingly, no estimated liability for these matters has been accrued in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements.determinable.

The Company is also involved in various other legal proceedings arising in the normal course of business. Although the outcomes of these other legal proceedings are inherently difficult to predict, management does not expect the resolution of these other legal proceedings to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

The Company has contingent liabilities that, in management’s judgment, are not probable of assertion. If such unasserted contingent liabilities were to be asserted, or become probable of assertion, the Company may be required to record significant expenses and liabilities in the period in which these liabilities are asserted or become probable of assertion.

(8)(6) Treasury Stock

The Board of Directors haspreviously authorized the Company’s repurchase of up to an aggregate of $800.0$800.0 million of its class A common stock from time to time on the open market through April 29, 20182023 (the “2005 Share“Share Repurchase Program”), although the program may be suspended or discontinued by the Company at any time.. The timing and amount of any shares repurchased will be determined by the Company’s management based on its evaluation of market conditions and other factors.  The 2005 Share Repurchase Program may be funded usingexpired by its own terms on April 29, 2023, and no shares of the Company’s working capital, as well as proceeds from any other funding arrangements that the Company may enter into in the future.  During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, the Company did not repurchase any shares of its class A common stock pursuant toremain available for repurchase under the 2005 Share Repurchase Program. AsAt the time of September 30, 2017,expiration, the Company had repurchased an aggregate of 3,826,9475,674,226 shares of its

14


class A common stock at an average price per share of $90.23$104.13 and an aggregate cost of $345.3 million.$590.9 million pursuant to the Share Repurchase Program. The average price per share and aggregate cost amounts disclosed above include broker commissions. During 2023 and 2022, the Company did not repurchase any shares of its class A common stock pursuant to the Share Repurchase Program.

(9)(7) Income Taxes

The Company andcomputes its subsidiaries conduct business in the United States and various foreign countries and are subject to taxation in numerous domestic and foreign jurisdictions.  As a result of its business activities, the Company files tax returns that are subject to examination by various federal, state and local, and foreign tax authorities.  With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state and local, or foreign income tax examination by tax authorities for years before 2013.  However, due to its use of state net operating loss (“NOL”) and federal tax credit carryovers in the United States, U.S. tax authorities may attempt to reduce or fully offset the amount of state NOL or federal tax credit carryovers from tax years ended 2006 and forward that were used in later tax years.  The Company’s major foreign tax jurisdictions and tax years that remain subject to potential examination are Germany for tax years 2016 and forward, Poland and China for tax years 2012 and forward, Spain for tax years 2014 and forward, and the United

10


MICROSTRATEGY INCORPORATED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

Kingdom for tax years 2015 and forward. To date there have been no material audit assessments related to audits in any of the applicable foreign jurisdictions.

As of September 30, 2017, the Company had unrecognized tax benefits of $4.3 million, which are recorded in “Other long-term liabilities” in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet.  If recognized, $3.5 million of these unrecognized tax benefits would impact the effective tax rate.  The Company recognizes estimated accrued interest related to unrecognized income tax benefits in theyear-to-date provision for income tax accounts.  Penalties relating to(benefit from) income taxes if incurred, would also be recognized as a component ofby applying the Company’s provision for income taxes.  Over the next 12 months, the amount of the Company’s liability for unrecognized tax benefits is not expected to change by a material amount.  As of September 30, 2017, the amount of cumulative accrued interest expense on unrecognized income tax benefits was approximately $0.7 million.

The following table summarizes the Company’s deferred tax assets, net of deferred tax liabilities and valuation allowance (in thousands), as of:

 

 

September 30,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

Deferred tax assets, net of deferred tax liabilities

 

$

18,773

 

 

$

12,242

 

Valuation allowance

 

 

(944

)

 

 

(832

)

Deferred tax assets, net of deferred tax liabilities and valuation allowance

 

$

17,829

 

 

$

11,410

 

The valuation allowance as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 related to certain foreign tax credit carryforwards that, in our present estimation, more likely than not will not be realized.

The Company has estimated its annual effective tax rate forto year-to-date pretax income or loss and adjusts the full fiscal year 2017 and applied that rate to its income before income taxes in determining its provision for (benefit from) income taxes for discrete tax items recorded in the nine months ended September 30, 2017.  The Company also records discrete items in each respective period as appropriate.period. The estimated effective tax rate is subject to fluctuation based on the level and mix of earnings and losses by tax jurisdiction, foreign tax rate differentials, and the relative impact of permanent book to tax differences (e.g., non-deductible expenses).differences. Each quarter, a cumulative adjustment is recorded for any fluctuations in the estimated annual effective tax rate as compared to the prior quarter. As a result of these factors, and due to potential changes in the Company’s period-to-period results, fluctuations in the Company’s effective tax rate and respective tax provisions or benefits may occur.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017,2023, the Company recorded a benefit from income taxes of $403.9 million on a pretax loss of $63.9 million, which resulted in an effective tax rate of 632.2%. For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company recorded a provision for income taxes of $8.8$112.0 million thaton a pretax loss of $1.108 billion, which resulted in an effective tax rate of 16.7%, as compared to a provision for income taxes of $12.2 million that resulted in an effective tax rate of 16.9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.(10.1)%. The change in the effective tax rate, as compared to the same period in 2017the prior year, is mainlyprimarily due to (i) the change inrelease of a portion of the expected proportion of U.S. versus foreign income and certain discretevaluation allowance during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 on the Company's deferred tax items.

Except as discussed below, the Company intends to indefinitely reinvest its undistributed earnings of all of its foreign subsidiaries.  Therefore, the annualized effective tax rate appliedasset related to the Company’s pre-tax income does not include any provision for U.S. federal and state income taxesimpairment on its bitcoin holdings, attributable to the increase in market value of bitcoin as of September 30, 2023 compared to December 31, 2022, compared to (ii) the establishment of a valuation allowance during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 on the amount of the undistributed foreign earnings.  U.S. federalCompany’s deferred tax laws, however, require the Company to include in its U.S. taxable income certain investment income earned outside of the United States in excess of certain limits (“Subpart F deemed dividends”).  Because Subpart F deemed dividends are already required to be recognized in the Company’s U.S. federal income tax return, the Company regularly repatriates Subpart F deemed dividendsasset related to the United States and no additional tax is incurredimpairment on its bitcoin holdings, attributable to the distribution.  decrease in market value of bitcoin as of September 30, 2022 compared to December 31, 2021.

As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016,2023, the amountCompany had a valuation allowance of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments held by$118.4 million primarily related to the Company’s U.S. entities was $284.1 million and $279.8 million, respectively, and bydeferred tax asset related to the impairment on its bitcoin holdings that, in the Company’s non-U.S. entities was $362.0 million and $309.6 million, respectively.present estimation, more likely than not will not be realized. If the cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments held by the Company’s non-U.S. entities were to be repatriated to the United States, the Company would generate U.S. taxable income to the extentmarket value of the Company’s undistributed foreign earnings, which amounted to $322.0 million at December 31, 2016.  Although the tax impact of repatriating these earnings is difficult to determine,bitcoin declines or the Company does not expect the maximum effective tax rate applicable to such repatriation to exceed the U.S. statutory rate of 35.0%, after considering applicable foreign tax credits.

In determining the Company’s provision or benefit for income taxes, net deferred tax assets, liabilities, and valuation allowances, management is required to make judgments and estimates related to projections of domestic and foreign profitability, the timing and extent of the utilization of NOL carryforwards, applicable tax rates, transfer pricing methods, and prudent and feasible tax planning strategies.  As a multinational company, the Company is required to calculate and provide for estimated income tax liabilities for each of the tax jurisdictions in which it operates.  This process involves estimating current tax obligations and exposures in each jurisdiction, as well as making judgments regarding the future recoverability of deferred tax assets.  Changes in the estimated level of

11


MICROSTRATEGY INCORPORATED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

annual pre-tax income, changes in tax laws, particularly changes related to the utilization of NOLs in various jurisdictions, and changes resulting from tax audits can all affect the overall effective income tax rate which, in turn, impacts the overall level of income tax expense or benefit and net income.

Judgments and estimates related to the Company’s projections and assumptions are inherently uncertain. Therefore, actual results could differ materially from projections.  The timing and manner in which the Company will use research and development tax credit carryforward tax assets, alternative minimum tax credit carryforward tax assets, and foreign tax credit carryforward tax assets in any year, or in total, may be limited by provisions of the Internal Revenue Code regarding changes in the Company’s ownership.  Currently, the Company expects to use these tax assets, subject to Internal Revenue Code limitations, within the carryforward periods.  Valuation allowances have been established where the Company has concluded that it is more likely than not that such deferred tax assets are not realizable.  If the Company is unable to sustainachieve profitability in future periods, itthe Company may be required to increase the valuation allowance against theits deferred tax assets, which could result in a charge that would materially adversely affect net income (loss) in the period in which the charge is incurred. To the extent the market value of bitcoin rises, the Company may decrease the valuation allowance against its deferred tax asset. The Company will continue to regularly assess the realizability of deferred tax assets.

The Company records liabilities related to its uncertain tax positions. As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had total gross unrecognized tax benefits, including accrued interest, of $6.3 million and $6.1 million, respectively, all of which were recorded in “Other long-term liabilities” in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

(10)(8) Share-based Compensation

TheStock Incentive Plans

On May 24, 2023, the Company’s stockholders approved the Company’s 2023 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2023 Equity Plan”) and the 2023 Equity Plan became effective as of such date. No awards may be granted under the 2023 Equity Plan more than 10 years after the 2023 Equity Plan’s effective date. No new awards will be granted under the Company’s 2013 Stock Incentive Plan (as amended, the “2013 Equity Plan”) authorizesfollowing the issuancedate of various types of share-basedsuch approval, though awards topreviously granted under the 2013 Equity Plan will remain outstanding in accordance with their terms. Under the 2023 Equity Plan and the 2013 Equity Plan (together, the “Stock Incentive Plans”), the Company’s employees, officers, directors, and other eligible participants.  Asparticipants may be (with respect to the 2023 Equity Plan) and have been (with respect to both the 2023 Equity Plan and the 2013 Equity Plan) awarded various types of September 30, 2017,share-based compensation, including options to purchase shares of the total numberCompany’s class A common stock, restricted stock units, and other stock-based awards. Under the 2023 Equity Plan, awards may also be granted that are subject to the achievement of one or more performance measures established by the Company’s Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof. Any shares issued under the Stock Incentive Plans may consist in whole or in part of authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares.

With the exception of awards granted subject to the achievement of a performance measure (as discussed further below), the accounting policies in place for awards granted under the 2023 Equity Plan are the same as those for the awards previously granted under the 2013 Equity Plan. With the exception of awards to non-employee members of the Company’s Board of Directors which vest in full after one year, and awards whose vesting is subject to the achievement of a performance measure (as discussed further below), awards granted under the 2023 Equity Plan generally vest over four years.

15


An aggregate of up to 1,932,703 shares of the Company’s class A common stock were initially authorized for issuance under the 2023 Equity Plan, comprised of (i) 200,000 shares of the Company’s class A common stock authorized under the 2023 Equity Plan and (ii) up to an aggregate of 1,732,703 shares of the Company’s class A common stock consisting of: (a) the shares of class A common stock reserved for issuance under the 2013 Equity Plan was 1,700,000 shares.

During the three months ended September 30, 2017that remained available for grant as of May 23, 2023, and 2016, no(b) shares of class A common stock optionsubject to awards were granted pursuant tounder the 2013 Equity Plan.Plan that were outstanding as of May 23, 2023 and which subsequently expire, terminate or are otherwise surrendered, cancelled or forfeited or repurchased by the Company at their original issuance price pursuant to a contractual repurchase right, including shares subject to awards granted under the 2013 Equity Plan that are delivered (either by actual delivery, attestation or net exercise) to the Company by a participant to (x) purchase shares upon the exercise of such award or (y) satisfy tax withholding obligations with respect to such awards, including shares retained from the award creating the tax obligation, subject, in the case of incentive stock options, to any limitations under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. As of September 30, 2017,2023, there were 232,327 shares of class A common stock reserved and available for future issuance under the 2023 Equity Plan.

Stock option awards

As of September 30, 2023, there were options to purchase 941,6331,380,741 shares of class A common stock outstanding under the 2013 Equity Plan.  As of September 30, 2017, there were 535,000 remaining shares of class A common stock authorized for future issuance under the 2013 Equity Plan.Stock Incentive Plans.

The following table summarizes the Company’s stock option activity (in thousands, except per share data and years) for the threenine months ended September 30, 2017:2023:

 

 

Stock Options Outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted Average

 

 

Aggregate

 

 

Weighted Average

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercise Price

 

 

Intrinsic

 

 

Remaining Contractual

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

Per Share

 

 

Value

 

 

Term (Years)

 

Balance as of January 1, 2023

 

 

1,577

 

 

$

288.30

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Granted

 

 

36

 

 

$

284.06

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercised

 

 

(93

)

 

$

153.10

 

 

$

13,254

 

 

 

 

Forfeited/Expired

 

 

(139

)

 

$

431.62

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as of September 30, 2023

 

 

1,381

 

 

$

282.86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercisable as of September 30, 2023

 

 

875

 

 

$

228.00

 

 

$

133,368

 

 

 

3.5

 

Expected to vest as of September 30, 2023

 

 

506

 

 

$

377.78

 

 

$

27,187

 

 

 

8.0

 

Total

 

 

1,381

 

 

$

282.86

 

 

$

160,555

 

 

 

5.2

 

 

 

Stock Options Outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted Average

 

 

Aggregate

 

 

Weighted Average

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercise Price

 

 

Intrinsic

 

 

Remaining Contractual

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

Per Share

 

 

Value

 

 

Term (Years)

 

Balance as of July 1, 2017

 

 

949

 

 

$

146.79

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Granted

 

 

0

 

 

 

0.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercised

 

 

0

 

 

 

0.00

 

 

$

0

 

 

 

 

 

Forfeited/Expired

 

 

(7

)

 

 

201.25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as of September 30, 2017

 

 

942

 

 

$

146.36

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercisable as of September 30, 2017

 

 

529

 

 

$

135.31

 

 

$

2,524

 

 

 

6.8

 

Expected to vest as of September 30, 2017

 

 

413

 

 

$

160.54

 

 

 

906

 

 

 

7.8

 

Total

 

 

942

 

 

$

146.36

 

 

$

3,430

 

 

 

7.3

 

Stock options outstanding as of September 30, 20172023 are comprised of the following range of exercise prices per share (in thousands, except per share data and years):

 

 

Stock Options Outstanding at September 30, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted Average

 

 

Weighted Average

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercise Price

 

 

Remaining Contractual

 

Range of Exercise Prices per Share

 

Shares

 

 

Per Share

 

 

Term (Years)

 

$117.85 - $120.00

 

 

25

 

 

$

118.55

 

 

 

6.6

 

$120.01 - $150.00

 

 

510

 

 

$

121.43

 

 

 

6.6

 

$150.01 - $180.00

 

 

209

 

 

$

167.41

 

 

 

7.4

 

$180.01 - $201.25

 

 

198

 

 

$

191.90

 

 

 

8.9

 

Total

 

 

942

 

 

$

146.36

 

 

 

7.3

 

 

 

Stock Options Outstanding at September 30, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted Average

 

 

Weighted Average

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercise Price

 

 

Remaining Contractual

 

Range of Exercise Prices per Share

 

Shares

 

 

Per Share

 

 

Term (Years)

 

$121.43 - $200.00

 

 

795

 

 

$

137.02

 

 

 

3.1

 

$200.01 - $300.00

 

 

111

 

 

$

251.58

 

 

 

9.1

 

$300.01 - $400.00

 

 

3

 

 

$

301.63

 

 

 

9.7

 

$400.01 - $500.00

 

 

261

 

 

$

409.60

 

 

 

8.2

 

$600.01 - $691.23

 

 

211

 

 

$

691.23

 

 

 

7.2

 

Total

 

 

1,381

 

 

$

282.86

 

 

 

5.2

 

12


MICROSTRATEGY INCORPORATED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

An aggregate of 15,000189,125 stock options with an aggregate grant date fair value of $1.2$47.3 million vested during the threenine months ended September 30, 2017. Beginning January 1, 2017,2023. The weighted average grant date fair value of stock option awards using the Company made an accounting policy electionBlack-Scholes valuation model was $190.86 and $209.85 for each share subject to prospectively account for forfeitures as they occur.  Therefore, share-based compensation expense has not been adjusted for any estimated forfeitures. Prior periods have not been restated.  a stock option granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, based on the following assumptions:

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

September 30,

 

 

2023

 

2022

Expected term of award in years

 

5.5 - 6.3

 

6.3

Expected volatility

 

71.8% - 74.1%

 

58.4% - 70.9%

Risk-free interest rate

 

3.7% - 3.9%

 

1.9% - 3.5%

Expected dividend yield

 

0.0%

 

0.0%

16


For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017,2023, the Company recognized approximately $3.7$10.5 million and $10.6$33.9 million, respectively, in share-based compensation expense from stock options granted under the 2013 Equity Plan.Stock Incentive Plans. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016,2022, the Company recognized approximately $3.3$12.7 million and $8.4$35.4 million, respectively, in share-based compensation expense from stock options granted under the 2013 Equity Plan.Stock Incentive Plans. As of September 30, 2017,2023, there was approximately $20.8$81.4 million of total unrecognized share-based compensation expense related to unvested stock options.  Theoptions, which the Company expects to recognize this remaining share-based compensation expense over a weighted average vesting period of approximately 2.12.2 years.

Share-settled restricted stock units

As of September 30, 2023, there were 198,993 share-settled restricted stock units outstanding under the Stock Incentive Plans. The following table summarizes the Company’s share-settled restricted stock unit activity (in thousands) for the periods indicated:

 

 

Share-Settled Restricted Stock Units Outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aggregate

 

 

 

Units

 

 

Intrinsic Value

 

Balance as of January 1, 2023

 

 

120

 

 

 

 

Granted

 

 

115

 

 

 

 

Vested

 

 

(19

)

 

$

5,920

 

Forfeited

 

 

(17

)

 

 

 

Balance as of September 30, 2023

 

 

199

 

 

 

 

Expected to vest as of September 30, 2023

 

 

199

 

 

$

65,325

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company was able2023, 18,891 share-settled restricted stock units having an aggregate grant date fair value of $9.0 million vested, and 4,817 shares were withheld to recognize and utilizesatisfy tax deductions related to equity compensationobligations, resulting in excess14,074 issued shares. The weighted average grant date fair value of compensation recognized for financial reporting that was generated under the 2013 Equity Plan.  Accordingly, additional paid-in capital increased by $1.2 millionshare-settled restricted stock units granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Beginning January 1, 2017, excess tax benefits are no longer2023 and 2022 was $280.09 and $269.14, respectively, based on the fair value of the Company’s class A common stock.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company recognized approximately $4.9 million and $12.2 million, respectively, in share-based compensation expense from share-settled restricted stock units granted under the Stock Incentive Plans. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company recognized approximately $3.6 million and $10.0 million, respectively, in share-based compensation expense from share-settled restricted stock units granted under the Stock Incentive Plans. As of September 30, 2023, there was approximately $52.2 million of total unrecognized share-based compensation expense related to unvested share-settled restricted stock units, which the Company expects to recognize over a weighted average vesting period of approximately 2.9 years.

Share-settled performance stock units

During the second quarter of 2023, the Company granted performance stock units under the 2023 Equity Plan. Performance stock units entitle recipients to receive a number of shares of the Company’s class A common stock at a specified date in the future based on achievement of one or more performance measures, as additional paid-in capital; instead, they are prospectively included withinspecified in the applicable performance stock unit agreement. Although the Company may in its sole discretion elect to pay fully or partially in cash in lieu of settling solely in shares, it does not currently intend to do so.

The vesting of each performance stock unit granted is subject to the Company’s achievement of a relative total shareholder return (“TSR”) performance goal over a three-year performance period with the number of performance stock units granted representing the number of performance stock units that would vest based on target performance. As more fully specified in the applicable grant agreements, the number of performance stock units that will vest will be based on the percentile ranking of the Company’s TSR over the three-year performance period as compared to the TSR of the members of the Nasdaq Composite Index over the same period (the “TSR Goal”), with the payout factor ranging from 0% to 200% of the number of performance stock units granted. The performance stock units, to the extent vested, will vest on the date the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors certifies the level of achievement of the TSR Goal.

Vesting of the performance stock units is also generally subject to the provision of service through the vesting date of the award (unless accelerated in connection with a termination following a change in control event as set forth in the applicable performance stock unit agreement or otherwise in accordance with provisions of the 2023 Equity Plan or applicable performance stock unit agreement).

17


The TSR Goal is considered a “market condition” under ASC 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation. The Company uses a Monte Carlo simulation model to determine the grant date fair value of performance awards with a market condition. The Monte Carlo simulation takes into consideration the assumptions noted below, in addition to the probability that the market condition will be achieved based on predicted stock price paths compared to peer companies in the Nasdaq Composite Index. The Company did not grant any performance awards prior to June 2023. The weighted average grant date fair value of performance stock units using the Monte-Carlo simulation model was $486.18for income taxes. Prioreach performance stock unit granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 based on the following assumptions:

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

2023

Expected term of award in years

3.0

Expected volatility

95.6

%

Risk-free interest rate

4.1

%

Expected dividend yield

0.0

%

Since the Company continues to account for forfeitures as they occur, as long as the performance stock unit recipient provides service to the Company during the requisite service period, share-based compensation expense associated with the grant date fair value of the performance stock units is recognized ratably over the performance period, regardless of the Company’s actual level of achievement against the TSR Goal.

As of September 30, 2023, there were 25,375 performance stock units outstanding under the 2023 Equity Plan. The following table summarizes the Company’s performance stock unit activity (in thousands) for the periods haveindicated:

 

 

Share-Settled Performance Stock Units Outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aggregate

 

 

 

Units

 

 

Intrinsic Value

 

Balance as of January 1, 2023

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

Granted

 

 

27

 

 

 

 

Vested

 

 

0

 

 

$

0

 

Forfeited

 

 

(2

)

 

 

 

Balance as of September 30, 2023

 

 

25

 

 

 

 

Expected to vest as of September 30, 2023

 

 

25

 

 

$

16,660

 

No performance stock units vested during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company recognized approximately $1.0 million and $1.3 million, respectively, in share-based compensation expense from performance stock units granted under the 2023 Equity Plan. As of September 30, 2023, there was approximately $11.0 million of total unrecognized share-based compensation expense related to unvested performance stock units, which the Company expects to recognize over a weighted average vesting period of approximately 2.7 years.

Other stock-based awards and cash-settled restricted stock units

From time to time the Company has granted “other stock-based awards” and “cash-settled restricted stock units” under the 2013 Equity Plan. Other stock-based awards are similar to stock options, and cash-settled restricted stock units are similar to the Company’s share-settled restricted stock units, except in each case these awards are settled in cash only and not in shares of the Company’s class A common stock. Due to their required cash settlement feature, these awards are classified as liabilities in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets and the fair value of the awards is remeasured each quarterly reporting period. For the three months ended September 30, 2023, the share-based compensation expense from other stock-based awards and cash-settled restricted stock units was not material. For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company recognized approximately $1.1 million in share-based compensation expense from other stock-based awards and cash-settled restricted stock units. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company recognized approximately $0.2 million in share-based compensation expense and a reduction of $0.4 million in share-based compensation expense, respectively, from other stock-based awards and cash-settled restricted stock units. As of September 30, 2023, there was approximately $0.6 million of total unrecognized share-based compensation expense related to other stock-based awards and cash-settled restricted stock units, which the Company expects to recognize over a weighted average vesting period of approximately 1.4 years, subject to additional fair value adjustments through the earlier of settlement or expiration.

18


2021 ESPP

The Company also maintains the 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “2021 ESPP”). The purpose of the 2021 ESPP is to provide eligible employees of the Company and certain of its subsidiaries with opportunities to purchase shares of the Company’s class A common stock in 6-month offering periods commencing on each March 1 and September 1. An aggregate of 100,000 shares of the Company’s class A common stock has been restated.

authorized for issuance under the 2021 ESPP. During the nine months ended September 30, 2016,2023, 19,856 shares of class A common stock were issued in connection with the Company wrote off $1.7 million2021 ESPP. As of deferred tax assets related to certain vestedSeptember 30, 2023, 59,607 shares of the Company’s class A common stock options that were no longer exercisable. Accordingly, additional paid-in capital decreased by $1.7 million duringremained available for issuance under the 2021 ESPP.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016.  No such adjustment was made during2023, the Company recognized approximately $0.4 million and $1.4 million, respectively, in share-based compensation expense related to the 2021 ESPP. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017.2022, the Company recognized approximately $0.5 million and $1.6 million, respectively, in share-based compensation expense related to the 2021 ESPP. As of September 30, 2023, there was approximately $0.9 million of total unrecognized share-based compensation expense related to the 2021 ESPP, which the Company expects to recognize over a period of approximately 0.4 years.

DuringTax Benefits Related to Equity Plans

The following table summarizes the tax (benefit) expense related to the Company’s equity plans (in thousands) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company paid $3.7 million to tax authorities related to the net exercise of a stock option under the 2013 Equity Plan.  This payment resulted in a $3.7 million reduction to additional paid-in capital during the nine months ended September 30, 2016.  No net exercises of stock options were made during the nine months ended September 30, 2017.2023 and 2022:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Tax (benefit) expense related to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share-based compensation expense

 

$

(3,417

)

 

$

(2,906

)

 

$

(9,396

)

 

$

(9,146

)

Exercises of stock options and vesting of share-settled restricted stock units

 

 

813

 

 

 

680

 

 

 

1,098

 

 

 

790

 

Total tax benefit related to the Company's equity plans

 

$

(2,604

)

 

$

(2,226

)

 

$

(8,298

)

 

$

(8,356

)

(11) Common Equity(9) Basic and Diluted (Loss) Earnings per Share

The Company has two classes of common stock: class A common stock and class B common stock. Holders of class A common stock generally have the same rights, including rights to dividends, as holders of class B common stock, except that holders of class A common stock have one vote per share while holders of class B common stock have ten votes per share. Each share of class B common stock is convertible at any time, at the option of the holder, into one share of class A common stock. As such, basic and fully diluted earnings per share for class A common stock and for class B common stock are the same. The Company has never declared or paid any cash dividends on either class A or class B common stock. As of September 30, 20172023 and December 31, 2016,2022, there were no shares of preferred stock issued or outstanding.

PotentialThe impact from potential shares of common stock are included inon the diluted earnings per share calculation are included when dilutive. Potential shares of common stock, consisting ofclass A common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options, the vesting of restricted stock units and performance stock units considered probable of achievement, and in connection with the 2021 ESPP are calculatedcomputed using the treasury stock method. Beginning January 1, 2017, excess tax benefitsPotential shares of class A common stock issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Notes are no longer included incomputed using the calculation ofif-converted method. In computing diluted earnings per share, onthe Company first calculates the earnings per incremental share (“EPIS”) for each class of potential shares of common stock and ranks the classes from the most dilutive (i.e., lowest EPIS) to the least dilutive (i.e., highest EPIS). Basic earnings per share is then adjusted for the effect of each class of shares, in sequence and cumulatively, until a prospective basis.  particular class no longer produces further dilution.

19


The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share (in thousands, except per share data) for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Numerator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (loss) income - Basic

 

$

(143,441

)

 

$

(27,079

)

 

$

339,995

 

 

$

(1,220,128

)

Effect of dilutive shares on net (loss) income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense on 2025 Convertible Notes, net of tax

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

4,255

 

 

 

0

 

Interest expense on 2027 Convertible Notes, net of tax

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

2,165

 

 

 

0

 

Net (loss) income - Diluted

 

$

(143,441

)

 

$

(27,079

)

 

$

346,415

 

 

$

(1,220,128

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denominator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares of class A common stock

 

 

12,257

 

 

 

9,344

 

 

 

9,701

 

 

 

9,335

 

Weighted average common shares of class B common stock

 

 

1,964

 

 

 

1,964

 

 

 

1,964

 

 

 

1,964

 

Total weighted average shares of common stock outstanding - Basic

 

 

14,221

 

 

 

11,308

 

 

 

11,665

 

 

 

11,299

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of dilutive shares on weighted average common shares outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock options

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

430

 

 

 

0

 

Restricted stock units

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

43

 

 

 

0

 

Performance stock units

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

8

 

 

 

0

 

Employee stock purchase plan

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

2025 Convertible Notes

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

1,633

 

 

 

0

 

2027 Convertible Notes

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

733

 

 

 

0

 

Total weighted average shares of common stock outstanding - Diluted

 

 

14,221

 

 

 

11,308

 

 

 

14,512

 

 

 

11,299

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Loss) earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic (loss) earnings per share (1)

 

$

(10.09

)

 

$

(2.39

)

 

$

29.15

 

 

$

(107.99

)

Diluted (loss) earnings per share (1)

 

$

(10.09

)

 

$

(2.39

)

 

$

23.87

 

 

$

(107.99

)

(1) Basic and fully diluted (loss) earnings per share for class A and class B common stock are the same.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, stock options issued under2023 and 2022, the 2013 Equity Plan to purchase afollowing weighted average of approximately 412,000 and 385,000 shares of potential class A common stock respectively, were excluded from the diluted (loss) earnings per share calculation because their impact would have been anti-dilutive. Foranti-dilutive (in thousands):

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Stock options

 

 

1,406

 

 

 

1,497

 

 

 

633

 

 

 

1,428

 

Restricted stock units

 

 

204

 

 

 

130

 

 

 

34

 

 

 

118

 

Performance stock units

 

 

52

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

Employee stock purchase plan

 

 

3

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

2

 

2025 Convertible Notes

 

 

1,633

 

 

 

1,633

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

1,633

 

2027 Convertible Notes

 

 

733

 

 

 

733

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

733

 

Total

 

 

4,031

 

 

 

3,998

 

 

 

669

 

 

 

3,914

 

20


(10) At-the-Market Equity Offerings

During 2022 and 2023, the Company entered into sales agreements with agents pursuant to which the Company could issue and sell shares of its class A common stock through at-the-market equity offering programs. Pursuant to these agreements, the Company agreed to pay the sales agents commissions for their services in acting as agents with respect to the sale of shares through the at-the-market equity offering programs and also agreed to provide the sales agents with reimbursement for certain incurred expenses and customary indemnification and contribution rights. The following table summarizes the terms and provisions of each sales agreement, and sales activity pursuant to each at-the-market equity offering program that was active during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 or 2022. The maximum aggregate offering price and net proceeds (less sales commissions and expenses) for each at-the-market equity offering program in the following table are reported in thousands.

 

 

2022 Sales Agreement

 

 

May 2023 Sales Agreement

 

 

August 2023 Sales Agreement

 

Agreement effective date

 

September 9, 2022

 

 

May 1, 2023

 

 

August 1, 2023

 

Sales agents

 

Cowen and Company, LLC and BTIG, LLC ("2022 Sales Agents")

 

 

Cowen and Company, LLC and Canaccord Genuity LLC ("May 2023 Sales Agents")

 

 

Cowen and Company, LLC, Canaccord Genuity LLC, and Berenberg Capital Markets LLC ("August 2023 Sales Agents")

 

Maximum aggregate offering price

 

$

500,000

 

 

$

625,000

 

 

$

750,000

 

Maximum commissions payable to sales agents on gross proceeds from the sale of shares

 

 

2.0

%

 

 

2.0

%

 

 

2.0

%

Date terminated

 

May 1, 2023

 

 

August 1, 2023

 

 

n/a

 

Shares sold under such sales agreement during the three months ended September 30, 2023

 

n/a

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

403,362

 

Net proceeds received from shares sold under such sales agreement during the three months ended September 30, 2023

 

n/a

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

147,218

 

Shares sold under such sales agreement during the nine months ended September 30, 2023

 

 

1,348,855

 

 

 

1,079,170

 

 

 

403,362

 

Net proceeds received from shares sold under such sales agreement during the nine months ended September 30, 2023

 

$

338,962

 

 

$

333,494

 

 

$

147,218

 

Cumulative shares sold under such sales agreement as of September 30, 2023

 

 

1,567,430

 

 

 

1,079,170

 

 

 

403,362

 

Cumulative net proceeds received from shares sold under such sales agreement as of September 30, 2023

 

$

385,181

 

 

$

333,494

 

 

$

147,218

 

Maximum aggregate offering price remaining under such sales agreement as of September 30, 2023

 

n/a

 

 

n/a

 

 

$

602,124

 

No shares of the Company’s class A common stock were sold pursuant to an at-the-market equity offering program during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, stock options2022. The sales commissions and expenses related to each of the above at-the-market equity offering programs are considered direct and incremental costs and are charged against “Additional paid-in capital” on the Consolidated Balance Sheet in the period in which the corresponding shares are issued under the 2013 Equity Plan to purchase a weighted average of approximately 380,000 and 373,000 shares of class A common stock, respectively, were excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation because their impact would have been anti-dilutive.sold.

1321


MICROSTRATEGY INCORPORATED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

(12)(11) Segment Information

The Company manages its business in one reportable operating segment. The Company’s one reportable operating segment is engaged in the design, development, marketing, and sales of its software platform through licensing arrangements and cloud-basedcloud subscriptions and related services. The following table presents total revenues, gross profit, and long-lived assets excluding long-term deferred tax assets, (in thousands) according to geographic region:

region. Long-lived assets are comprised of right-of-use assets and property and equipment, net.

Geographic regions:

 

Domestic

 

 

EMEA

 

 

Other Regions

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

U.S.

 

 

EMEA

 

 

Other Regions

 

 

Consolidated

 

Three months ended September 30, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended September 30, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenues

 

$

72,439

 

 

$

40,018

 

 

$

12,755

 

 

$

125,212

 

 

$

71,788

 

 

$

40,222

 

 

$

17,452

 

 

$

129,462

 

Gross profit

 

$

57,716

 

 

$

32,716

 

 

$

10,391

 

 

$

100,823

 

 

$

56,723

 

 

$

32,574

 

 

$

13,504

 

 

$

102,801

 

Three months ended September 30, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended September 30, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenues

 

$

82,513

 

 

$

34,636

 

 

$

12,747

 

 

$

129,896

 

 

$

76,720

 

 

$

36,065

 

 

$

12,575

 

 

$

125,360

 

Gross profit

 

$

68,084

 

 

$

28,183

 

 

$

10,694

 

 

$

106,961

 

 

$

62,545

 

 

$

28,798

 

 

$

8,632

 

 

$

99,975

 

Nine months ended September 30, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine months ended September 30, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenues

 

$

220,177

 

 

$

107,761

 

 

$

38,460

 

 

$

366,398

 

 

$

212,892

 

 

$

115,351

 

 

$

43,534

 

 

$

371,777

 

Gross profit

 

$

175,814

 

 

$

86,936

 

 

$

31,752

 

 

$

294,502

 

 

$

167,692

 

 

$

91,080

 

 

$

31,282

 

 

$

290,054

 

Nine months ended September 30, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine months ended September 30, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenues

 

$

228,427

 

 

$

106,833

 

 

$

36,793

 

 

$

372,053

 

 

$

218,358

 

 

$

110,931

 

 

$

37,421

 

 

$

366,710

 

Gross profit

 

$

185,052

 

 

$

86,131

 

 

$

31,011

 

 

$

302,194

 

 

$

177,982

 

 

$

86,835

 

 

$

25,627

 

 

$

290,444

 

As of September 30, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of September 30, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-lived assets

 

$

59,728

 

 

$

3,542

 

 

$

1,540

 

 

$

64,810

 

 

$

77,040

 

 

$

4,561

 

 

$

3,133

 

 

$

84,734

 

As of December 31, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-lived assets

 

$

67,031

 

 

$

3,256

 

 

$

1,341

 

 

$

71,628

 

 

$

83,279

 

 

$

6,466

 

 

$

3,865

 

 

$

93,610

 

The domestic region consists of the United States and Canada.  The EMEA region includes operations in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The other regions include all other foreign countries, generally comprising Latin America, and the Asia Pacific region.region, and Canada. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 20172023 and 2016, 2022, no individual foreign country accounted for 10% or more of total consolidated revenues.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 20172023 and 2016, 2022, no individual customer accounted for 10% or more of total consolidated revenues.

As of September 30, 20172023 and December 31, 2016, 2022, no individual foreign country accounted for 10% or more of total consolidated assets.

(12) Related Party Transactions

On June 24, 2022, concurrently with binding directors and officers (“D&Os”) liability insurance policies (the “Initial Commercial Policies”) with several third-party carriers, the Company and Michael J. Saylor, the Company’s Chairman of the Board of Directors and Executive Chairman, entered into (i) an indemnification agreement (the “Excess Agreement”) for Mr. Saylor to provide $10 million in excess indemnity coverage payable only after the exhaustion of the Initial Commercial Policies, and (ii) an indemnification agreement (the “Tail Agreement”) for Mr. Saylor to provide $40 million in indemnity coverage for claims made at any time based on actions or omissions occurring prior to the inception date of the Initial Commercial Policies. The Company paid Mr. Saylor $600,000 for a one-year term under the Excess Agreement, and $150,000 for a 90-day term under the Tail Agreement. At the option of the Company, the Company was permitted to extend the term under the Tail Agreement for up to a total of twenty-three additional 90-day periods, for $150,000 per additional 90-day term. The Company elected to extend the term of the Tail Agreement for three consecutive additional 90-day periods and paid Mr. Saylor $150,000 for each extension.

On August 30, 2022, the Company bound additional D&O liability insurance policies (the “Excess Commercial Policies”) with third-party carriers for excess coverage payable only after the exhaustion of the Initial Commercial Policies. Effective as of the same date, the Company and Mr. Saylor executed an amendment (the “Amendment”) to the Excess Agreement to limit Mr. Saylor’s obligation to provide indemnification under the Excess Agreement to claims made during the term of the Excess Agreement which arise from wrongful acts occurring upon or after the commencement of the Excess Agreement but prior to the effective date of the Amendment. In connection with the Amendment, Mr. Saylor refunded $489,863 to the Company, representing the pro rata portion of the $600,000 originally paid by the Company to Mr. Saylor under the Excess Agreement attributable to the period from the date of the Amendment through the end of the original term of the Excess Agreement.

On June 12, 2023, the Company bound new D&O liability insurance policies (the “2023 Commercial Policies”) with third-party carriers that provide coverage substantially equivalent to the aggregate coverage provided under the Initial Commercial Policies and the Excess Commercial Policies for a policy period running from June 12, 2023 through June 12, 2024 except that the 2023 Commercial Policies also provide coverage for claims made with respect to wrongful acts or omissions occurring prior to the binding of the Initial Commercial Policies subject to exclusions with respect to claims previously noticed to and accepted by an earlier D&O insurer, claims related to acts

22


or omissions giving rise to such claims, and demands, investigations, suits or other proceedings entered against an insured prior to June 24, 2022, as well as future interrelated wrongful acts.

On June 12, 2023, the Company entered into a new indemnification agreement with Mr. Saylor (the “2023 Tail Agreement”) pursuant to which Mr. Saylor agreed to provide coverage that is similar to the coverage provided under the Tail Agreement, but only for matters excluded from coverage under the 2023 Commercial Policies for an initial one-year term for a payment of $157,000. The Company may elect, at its option, to extend the term under the 2023 Tail Agreement for up to a total of four additional one-year periods, for $157,000 per additional one-year term.

The Excess Agreement, Tail Agreement and other related party transactions between the Company and Mr. Saylor are described more fully in Note 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.


(13) Subsequent Events

Since September 30, 2023 through the date immediately preceding the filing of this Quarterly Report, the Company has purchased approximately 155 bitcoins for $5.3 million, or approximately $34,495 per bitcoin. All of these approximately 155 bitcoins serve as part of the collateral for the 2028 Secured Notes. See Note 2, Digital Assets, to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further detail on accounting for digital assets.

23


Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATIONForward-Looking Information

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Quarterly Report”) contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). For this purpose, any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact, including without limitation, certain statements regarding industry prospects and our results of operations or financial position, may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, the words “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The important factors discussed under “Part II. Item 1A. Risk Factors,” among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by forward-looking statements made herein and presented elsewhere by management from time to time. Such forward-looking statements represent management’s current expectations and are inherently uncertain. Investors are warned that actual results may differ from management’s expectations.

Business Overview

MicroStrategy® pursues two corporate strategies in the operation of its business. One strategy is a leading worldwide provider ofto acquire and hold bitcoin and the other strategy is to grow our enterprise analytics software business. We believe that undertaking these two, interdependent corporate strategies serves as a key differentiator for our business, as our bitcoin acquisition strategy has raised our profile with certain potential software customers while our enterprise analytics software business has provided stable cash flows that allow us to acquire and mobility software. hold bitcoin for the long-term.

Our missionBitcoin Acquisition Strategy

Our bitcoin acquisition strategy generally involves acquiring bitcoin with our liquid assets that exceed working capital requirements, and from time to time, subject to market conditions, issuing debt or equity securities or engaging in other capital raising transactions with the objective of using the proceeds to purchase bitcoin. We view our bitcoin holdings as long-term holdings and expect to continue to accumulate bitcoin. We have not set any specific target for the amount of bitcoin we seek to hold, and we will continue to monitor market conditions in determining whether to engage in additional financings to purchase additional bitcoin. This overall strategy also contemplates that we may (i) periodically sell bitcoin for general corporate purposes, including to generate cash for treasury management or in connection with strategies that generate tax benefits in accordance with applicable law, (ii) enter into additional capital raising transactions that are collateralized by our bitcoin holdings, and (iii) consider pursuing additional strategies to create income streams or otherwise generate funds using our bitcoin holdings.

We believe that bitcoin is attractive because it can serve as a store of value, supported by a robust and public open-source architecture, that is untethered to providesovereign monetary policy. We also believe that, due to its limited supply, bitcoin offers the opportunity for appreciation in value if its adoption increases and has the potential to serve as a hedge against inflation in the long-term. In addition, we believe that our bitcoin acquisition strategy is complementary to our enterprise customersanalytics software business, as we believe that our bitcoin and related activities in support of the bitcoin network enhance awareness of our brand. We are also exploring opportunities to integrate features into our software offerings that leverage the Lightning Network – a decentralized second-layer payment protocol built on top of the Bitcoin blockchain that is intended to enable fast and less costly transactions.

Under our Treasury Reserve Policy, our treasury reserve assets consist of:

cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments (“Cash Assets”) held by us that exceed working capital requirements; and
bitcoin held by us, with bitcoin serving as the primary treasury reserve asset on an ongoing basis, subject to market conditions and anticipated needs of the business for Cash Assets.

During 2022 and 2023, we used proceeds from various capital raising transactions to purchase bitcoin. As of September 30, 2023, we held an aggregate of approximately 158,245 bitcoins, with 15,731 bitcoins held directly by MicroStrategy Incorporated and 142,514 bitcoins held by MacroStrategy LLC (“MacroStrategy”), a world-class software platform and expert services so they can deploy unique intelligence applications.

wholly-owned subsidiary of MicroStrategy. As of September 30, 2023, all of the approximately 15,731 bitcoins held directly by MicroStrategy 10™, our flagship platform offering, consolidates analytics and mobilityIncorporated, which had a market value of $425.2 million based on the $27,030.47 market price of one bitcoin on the Coinbase exchange at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on September 30, 2023, are held in a single unified platform. separate custodial account from those held by MacroStrategy and serve as part of the collateral securing our 2028 Secured Notes. See below for further disclosure surrounding market value calculations of our bitcoin.

24


The MicroStrategy 10 platform is availablefollowing table presents a roll-forward of our bitcoin holdings, including additional information related to our bitcoin purchases, sales, and digital asset impairment losses within the respective periods:

 

 

Source of Capital Used to Purchase Bitcoin

 

Digital Asset Original Cost Basis
(in thousands)

 

 

Digital Asset Impairment Losses
(in thousands)

 

 

Digital Asset Carrying Value
(in thousands)

 

 

Approximate Number of Bitcoins Held (Disposed)

 

 

Approximate Average Purchase or Sale Price Per Bitcoin

 

Balance at December 31, 2021

 

 

 

$

3,751,529

 

 

$

(901,319

)

 

$

2,850,210

 

 

 

124,391

 

 

$

30,159

 

Digital asset purchases

 

(a)

 

 

215,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

215,500

 

 

 

4,827

 

 

 

44,645

 

Digital asset impairment losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(170,091

)

 

 

(170,091

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at March 31, 2022

 

 

 

$

3,967,029

 

 

$

(1,071,410

)

 

$

2,895,619

 

 

 

129,218

 

 

$

30,700

 

Digital asset purchases

 

(b)

 

 

10,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,000

 

 

 

481

 

 

 

20,790

 

Digital asset impairment losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(917,838

)

 

 

(917,838

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at June 30, 2022

 

 

 

$

3,977,029

 

 

$

(1,989,248

)

 

$

1,987,781

 

 

 

129,699

 

 

$

30,664

 

Digital asset purchases

 

(c)

 

 

5,978

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,978

 

 

 

301

 

 

 

19,860

 

Digital asset impairment losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(727

)

 

 

(727

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at September 30, 2022

 

 

 

$

3,983,007

 

 

$

(1,989,975

)

 

$

1,993,032

 

 

 

130,000

 

 

$

30,639

 

Digital asset purchases

 

(d)

 

 

56,443

 

 

 

 

 

 

56,443

 

 

 

3,204

 

 

 

17,616

 

Digital asset impairment losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(198,557

)

 

 

(198,557

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Digital asset sales *

 

 

 

 

(46,260

)

 

 

35,370

 

 

 

(10,890

)

 

 

(704

)

 

 

16,786

 

Balance at December 31, 2022

 

 

 

$

3,993,190

 

 

$

(2,153,162

)

 

$

1,840,028

 

 

 

132,500

 

 

$

30,137

 

Digital asset purchases

 

(e)

 

 

179,275

 

 

 

 

 

 

179,275

 

 

 

7,500

 

 

 

23,903

 

Digital asset impairment losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(18,911

)

 

 

(18,911

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at March 31, 2023

 

 

 

$

4,172,465

 

 

$

(2,172,073

)

 

$

2,000,392

 

 

 

140,000

 

 

$

29,803

 

Digital asset purchases

 

(f)

 

 

347,003

 

 

 

 

 

 

347,003

 

 

 

12,333

 

 

 

28,136

 

Digital asset impairment losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(24,143

)

 

 

(24,143

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at June 30, 2023

 

 

 

$

4,519,468

 

 

$

(2,196,216

)

 

$

2,323,252

 

 

 

152,333

 

 

$

29,668

 

Digital asset purchases

 

(g)

 

 

161,681

 

 

 

 

 

 

161,681

 

 

 

5,912

 

 

 

27,348

 

Digital asset impairment losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(33,559

)

 

 

(33,559

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at September 30, 2023

 

 

 

$

4,681,149

 

 

$

(2,229,775

)

 

$

2,451,374

 

 

 

158,245

 

 

$

29,582

 

* During the fourth quarter of 2022, we sold approximately 704 bitcoins having an original cost basis of $46.3 million and cumulative digital asset impairment losses of $35.4 million, resulting in a carrying value of $10.9 million at the time of sale. The approximately 704 bitcoins were sold for cash proceeds of $11.8 million, net of fees and expenses, resulting in gains on Windows®, Linuxsale of $0.9 million.

(a)
In the first quarter of 2022, we purchased bitcoin using $190.5 million of the net proceeds from the issuance of the 2025 Secured Term Loan and Amazon Web Services (“AWS”),Excess Cash.
(b)
In the second quarter of 2022, we purchased bitcoin using Excess Cash.
(c)
In the third quarter of 2022, we purchased bitcoin using Excess Cash.
(d)
In the fourth quarter of 2022, we purchased bitcoin using $44.6 million of the net proceeds from our sale of class A common stock under our at-the-market offering program and as a hosted service$11.8 million in proceeds from sales of bitcoin.
(e)
In the first quarter of 2023, we purchased bitcoin using $179.3 million of the net proceeds from our sale of class A common stock under our at-the-market offering through MicroStrategy Cloud™. Our enterprise platform offers a comprehensive suiteprogram.
(f)
In the second quarter of business intelligence functionality,2023, we purchased bitcoin using $336.9 million of the net proceeds from data discoveryour sale of class A common stock under our at-the-market offering program, and Excess Cash.
(g)
In the third quarter of 2023, we purchased bitcoin using $147.3 million of the net proceeds from our sale of class A common stock under our at-the-market offering program, and Excess Cash.

Excess Cash refers to mobile analytics, data mining, Big Data analytics, enterprise reporting and powerful identity intelligencecash in excess of the minimum Cash Assets that we are required to hold under our Treasury Reserve Policy, which may include cash generated by digital credentials.  MicroStrategy 10 builds on proven enterprise capabilities to make sophisticated, high-performance analytics more accessible, easier to use,operating activities and faster. cash from the proceeds of financing activities.

MicroStrategy Analytics™ empowers large organizations to analyze vast amounts25


The following table shows the approximate number of data and securely distribute actionable business insight throughout an enterprise, while also being able to cater to smaller workgroups and departmental use via MicroStrategy Desktop™.  MicroStrategy Analytics delivers reports and dashboards, and enables users to conduct ad hoc analysis and share insights anywhere, anytime, via mobile devices (via MicroStrategy Mobile™) orbitcoins held at the web (via MicroStrategy Web™).  It also combines the agility and productivityend of self-service visual data discovery with the security, scalability, and governance features of enterprise-grade business intelligence.  Additionally, MicroStrategy Analytics delivers powerful identity intelligence on user behavior and resource utilization (via Usher™).

MicroStrategy Web is the primary interface for analysts, data scientists, consumers and developers, offering interactive reporting, dashboarding, and ad-hoc data discovery capabilities through a web browser. With MicroStrategy Web, a user can design and deliver dashboards across various styles of business intelligence, including scorecards, pixel-perfect documents and invoices, and interactive reports and statements,each respective period, as well as market value calculations of our bitcoin holdings based on the lowest, highest, and ending market prices of one bitcoin on the Coinbase exchange (our principal market) for visual data discovery. MicroStrategy Web can also connecteach respective quarter, as further defined below:

 

 

Approximate Number of Bitcoins Held at End of Quarter

 

 

Lowest Market Price Per Bitcoin During Quarter (a)

 

 

Market Value of Bitcoin Held at End of Quarter Using Lowest Market Price (in thousands) (b)

 

 

Highest Market Price Per Bitcoin During Quarter (c)

 

 

Market Value of Bitcoin Held at End of Quarter Using Highest Market Price (in thousands) (d)

 

 

Market Price Per Bitcoin at End of Quarter (e)

 

 

Market Value of Bitcoin Held at End of Quarter Using Ending Market Price (in thousands) (f)

 

 December 31, 2021

 

 

124,391

 

 

$

42,333.00

 

 

$

5,265,844

 

 

$

69,000.00

 

 

$

8,582,979

 

 

$

45,879.97

 

 

$

5,707,055

 

 March 31, 2022

 

 

129,218

 

 

$

32,933.33

 

 

$

4,255,579

 

 

$

48,240.00

 

 

$

6,233,476

 

 

$

45,602.79

 

 

$

5,892,701

 

 June 30, 2022

 

 

129,699

 

 

$

17,567.45

 

 

$

2,278,481

 

 

$

47,469.40

 

 

$

6,156,734

 

 

$

18,895.02

 

 

$

2,450,665

 

 September 30, 2022

 

 

130,000

 

 

$

18,153.13

 

 

$

2,359,907

 

 

$

25,214.57

 

 

$

3,277,894

 

 

$

19,480.51

 

 

$

2,532,466

 

 December 31, 2022

 

 

132,500

 

 

$

15,460.00

 

 

$

2,048,450

 

 

$

21,478.80

 

 

$

2,845,941

 

 

$

16,556.32

 

 

$

2,193,712

 

 March 31, 2023

 

 

140,000

 

 

$

16,490.00

 

 

$

2,308,600

 

 

$

29,190.04

 

 

$

4,086,606

 

 

$

28,468.44

 

 

$

3,985,582

 

 June 30, 2023

 

 

152,333

 

 

$

24,750.00

 

 

$

3,770,242

 

 

$

31,443.67

 

 

$

4,789,909

 

 

$

30,361.51

 

 

$

4,625,060

 

 September 30, 2023

 

 

158,245

 

 

$

24,900.00

 

 

$

3,940,301

 

 

$

31,862.21

 

 

$

5,042,035

 

 

$

27,030.47

 

 

$

4,277,437

 

(a)
The "Lowest Market Price Per Bitcoin During Quarter" represents the lowest market price for one bitcoin reported on the Coinbase exchange during the respective quarter, without regard to when we purchased any of our bitcoin.
(b)
The "Market Value of Bitcoin Held at End of Quarter Using Lowest Market Price" represents a wide rangemathematical calculation consisting of data sources,the lowest market price for one bitcoin reported on the Coinbase exchange during the respective quarter multiplied by the number of bitcoins we held at the end of the applicable period.
(c)
The "Highest Market Price Per Bitcoin During Quarter" represents the highest market price for one bitcoin reported on the Coinbase exchange during the respective quarter, without regard to when we purchased any of our bitcoin.
(d)
The "Market Value of Bitcoin Held at End of Quarter Using Highest Market Price" represents a mathematical calculation consisting of the highest market price for one bitcoin reported on the Coinbase exchange during the respective quarter multiplied by the number of bitcoins we held at the end of the applicable period.
(e)
The "Market Price Per Bitcoin at End of Quarter" represents the market price of one bitcoin on the Coinbase exchange at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the last day of the respective quarter.
(f)
The "Market Value of Bitcoin Held at End of Quarter Using Ending Market Price" represents a mathematical calculation consisting of the market price of one bitcoin on the Coinbase exchange at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the last day of the respective quarter multiplied by the number of bitcoins we held at the end of the applicable period.

The amounts reported as “Market Value” in the above table represent only a mathematical calculation consisting of the price for one bitcoin reported on the Coinbase exchange (our principal market) in each scenario defined above multiplied by the number of bitcoins held by us at the end of the applicable period. The Securities and Exchange Commission has previously stated that there has not been a demonstration that (i) bitcoin and bitcoin markets are inherently resistant to manipulation or that the spot price of bitcoin may not be usedsubject to build sophisticated advanced analytical models thatfraud and manipulation; and (ii) adequate surveillance-sharing agreements with bitcoin-related markets are in place, as bitcoin-related markets are either not significant, not regulated, or both. Accordingly, the Market Value amounts reported above may not accurately represent fair market value, and the actual fair market value of our bitcoin may be inserted within dashboardsdifferent from such amounts and reports.  MicroStrategy reportssuch deviation may be material. Moreover, (i) the bitcoin market historically has been characterized by significant volatility in price, limited liquidity and dashboards can be personalizedtrading volumes compared to sovereign currencies markets, relative anonymity, a developing regulatory landscape, potential susceptibility to market abuse and automatically delivered to thousands of users with MicroStrategy Server™’s advanced distribution capabilities. Web applications can also be extensively customizedmanipulation, compliance and embedded intointernal control failures at exchanges, and various other applications using MicroStrategy Web SDK for a branded experience.

MicroStrategy Desktop is a free, standalone, on-premise, single-user tool for fast, powerful, and easy-to-use self-service visual data discovery.  It enables business users to analyze and gain valuable insight and understanding into their organizations’ data by quickly creating stunning and useful visualizations and dashboards, without assistance from the IT department.  MicroStrategy Desktop can be readily downloaded and installed on a PC or Mac, making the power of MicroStrategy 10 easily available. MicroStrategy Desktop can be used while offline and while not connected to MicroStrategy Server.  MicroStrategy Desktop connects to the MicroStrategy Server when needed, allowing for governance workflows that deliver data discovery capabilities to the enterprise at scale.

MicroStrategy Mobile is fully integrated into the MicroStrategy Analytics platform, so it is easy to leverage existing visualizations, reports and dashboards to instantly deploy mobile business intelligence. In addition, MicroStrategy Mobile extends beyond analytics to enable organizations to rapidly build custom enterprise mobility applications that deliver analytics combined with transactions, multimedia and mapping to support business workflows. The robust code-free application development platform is designed to reduce development costs and accelerate the deployment of native mobile business apps optimized for both iOS® and Android™. Companies can build fully native iOS and Android apps that take advantage of the unique device and operating system capabilities (e.g., GPS/location, calendar, and camera) on those devices. MicroStrategy Mobile is an easy, fast, and cost-effective vehicle for mobilizing an organization’s information systems, including its data warehouses, business intelligence, ERP, CRM, and web applicationsrisks that are, currently accessible onlyor may be, inherent in its entirely electronic, virtual form and decentralized network and (ii) we may not be able to sell our bitcoins at the Market Value amounts indicated above, at the market price as reported on the desktop.  With MicroStrategy Mobile, businesses can transform their entire workforce into aCoinbase exchange (our principal market) on the date of sale, or at all.


connected and more productive mobile workforce.  With mobile accessOur digital asset impairment losses have significantly contributed to critical corporate data and systems that drive the business, employees can have a virtual office in their hands at all times.  MicroStrategy Mobile also enables companies to deploy customized, white-labeled mobile apps to business partners and customers. These apps can serve as new or enhanced offerings that differentiate an organization’s product or service to partners or customers.

Usher provides a highly secure, convenient way for organizations to deliver to its users a single mobile identity badge cryptographically linked to its owner’s smartphone and dynamically linked to an enterprise’s existing identity repositories.  In the Enterprise Internet of Things (“EIoT”) paradigm, interactions between Usher users and enterprise resources generate real-time telemetry, which can be efficiently harnessed in Usher Analytics™, creating actionable intelligence. Usher badges work on standard smartphones running on iOS or the Android platform and include an Apple Watch® integration.  Through the use of Bluetooth®, QR codes, biometrics, push notifications, time-limited PIN codes, and other authentication methods, Usher badge users can log into applications, VPNs, and workstations, unlock doors and other physical gateways, and validate each other’s identities.  Usher badge users are also able to scan barcodes for asset tracking applications.  Usher can additionally serve as a powerful enterprise productivity tool by enabling managers to gain insight into the location and activity of their distributed workforces via the Usher Professional™ application, where managers can see badge user activity on a nearly real-time map and engage in two-way communication with badge users to manage or direct a workforce.  By delivering strong yet convenient authentication that can be extended to nearly every corporate system, Usher as an EIoT solution can uncover insights, reduce infrastructure complexity, and secure assets -- all to help businesses flourish in the age of connected devices and connected people.  Usher addresses some of the biggest challenges facing corporations today, including authentication, identity and access management, and resource authorization, while applying industry-leading business intelligence and analytics to an enterprise’s infrastructure.

MicroStrategy on AWS allows organizations to harness the power of data through our enterprise solutions via the cloud.  Compared to traditional on-premise approaches, MicroStrategy on AWS is architected to deliver best-of-breed MicroStrategy software via the cloud, with pre-configured, ready-to-go servers, coupled with the required supporting infrastructure.  With MicroStrategy on AWS, customers can launch enterprise analytics environments within minutes via a web-based provisioning tool, and use the full MicroStrategy 10 offering.  MicroStrategy on AWS deploys MicroStrategy directly into the customer’s AWS account where the customer maintains and manages the environment.

For customers looking for a Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) experience, MicroStrategy Cloud offers managed services that deliver the full breadth of platform capabilities along with a dedicated cloud operations team to deploy the platform in the cloud.  MicroStrategy Cloud is well suited for organizations without extensive IT resources to maintain and manage the cloud infrastructure on their own.  MicroStrategy Cloud offers a 99.9% Service Level Agreement for availability, and is backed by a team of experts and dedicated tech support staff that provides continuous monitoring and alerting.  MicroStrategy Cloud maintains and keeps up to date on compliance and security certifications to help ensure the environments adhere to the Service Organization Control 2, ISO 27001, Payment Card Industry, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, and Privacy Shield standards.

System integrators, value-added resellers, and OEMs around the world rely on MicroStrategy’s capabilities, including its functionality, workflows, report presentation, user management, security, administration, system configuration, and monitoring to build branded and custom applications of their own. MicroStrategy’s open architecture and APIs make it especially suitable for developing custom functionality or integrating with other applications.  Organizations seeking to add analytics features to their own offerings can easily and directly embed the platform into their business applications or portals with white labeling and single sign-on options.


The following table sets forth certain operating highlights (in thousands) forexpenses. During the three andmonths ended September 30, 2023, digital asset impairment losses of $33.6 million represented 26.2% of our operating expenses, compared to digital asset impairment losses of $0.7 million, representing 0.8% of our operating expenses, during the three months ended September 30, 2022. During the nine months ended September 30, 20172023, digital asset impairment losses of $76.6 million represented 21.1% of our operating expenses, compared to digital asset impairment losses of $1.089 billion, representing 79.3% of our operating expenses, during the nine months ended September 30, 2022.

As of October 31, 2023, we held approximately 158,400 bitcoins that were acquired at an aggregate purchase price of $4.686 billion and 2016:an average purchase price of approximately $29,586 per bitcoin, inclusive of fees and expenses. As of October 31, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, the market price of one bitcoin reported on the Coinbase exchange was $34,555.58.

26

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Product licenses

 

$

21,553

 

 

$

29,632

 

 

$

61,683

 

 

$

75,490

 

Subscription services

 

 

7,725

 

 

 

7,639

 

 

 

23,843

 

 

 

22,775

 

Total product licenses and subscription services

 

 

29,278

 

 

 

37,271

 

 

 

85,526

 

 

 

98,265

 

Product support

 

 

72,886

 

 

 

72,460

 

 

 

214,142

 

 

 

212,408

 

Other services

 

 

23,048

 

 

 

20,165

 

 

 

66,730

 

 

 

61,380

 

Total revenues

 

 

125,212

 

 

 

129,896

 

 

 

366,398

 

 

 

372,053

 

Cost of revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Product licenses

 

 

1,763

 

 

 

2,370

 

 

 

5,182

 

 

 

6,828

 

Subscription services

 

 

3,592

 

 

 

3,219

 

 

 

10,031

 

 

 

9,667

 

Total product licenses and subscription services

 

 

5,355

 

 

 

5,589

 

 

 

15,213

 

 

 

16,495

 

Product support

 

 

4,218

 

 

 

3,959

 

 

 

13,094

 

 

 

10,919

 

Other services

 

 

14,816

 

 

 

13,387

 

 

 

43,589

 

 

 

42,445

 

Total cost of revenues

 

 

24,389

 

 

 

22,935

 

 

 

71,896

 

 

 

69,859

 

Gross profit

 

 

100,823

 

 

 

106,961

 

 

 

294,502

 

 

 

302,194

 

Operating expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales and marketing

 

 

41,806

 

 

 

39,169

 

 

 

122,635

 

 

 

113,448

 

Research and development

 

 

19,360

 

 

 

18,069

 

 

 

57,347

 

 

 

54,804

 

General and administrative

 

 

19,082

 

 

 

19,703

 

 

 

58,921

 

 

 

63,014

 

Restructuring costs

 

 

0

 

 

 

12

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

45

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

80,248

 

 

 

76,953

 

 

 

238,903

 

 

 

231,311

 

Income from operations

 

$

20,575

 

 

$

30,008

 

 

$

55,599

 

 

$

70,883

 


Our Enterprise Analytics Software Strategy

MicroStrategy is a global leader in enterprise analytics software and services. We provide software and services that turn data into actionable insights for organizations. Our vision is to enable Intelligence Everywhere™.

Our analytics platform, MicroStrategy ONE, is a comprehensive and highly versatile analytics solution. It is used by many of the world’s most admired Fortune 500 brands. Our customers span a wide range of industries, including retail, banking, technology, consulting, manufacturing, insurance, healthcare, telecommunications, and the public sector.

As we continue to transition our business strategy and product offerings to a cloud-native model, we are enhancing our go-to-market and sales strategies with the goal of focusing on acquiring new customers, driving revenue growth, increasing margins, and streamlining our operations. As part of this strategic transformation, we have taken and will continue to take measures to reorganize and optimize efficiency across our business functions, including sales, marketing, consulting, product, engineering, as well as other corporate functions.

AI/BI Application Development

MicroStrategy ONE facilitates the development and deployment of secure, compliant, and efficient applications at scale. Its support for over 200 data connectors enhances adaptability, reinforcing interoperability with diverse data ecosystems. With MicroStrategy ONE, organizations can build and deploy ad-hoc analytics, operational reporting, front-end applications, and embedded analytics easily and quickly. The platform actively promotes data use, offering visualizations, application customization, and analytics integration into workflows. Accessibility is available via web, mobile, and desktop applications.

MicroStrategy ONE enables organizations to develop artificial intelligence (AI) powered applications built on a foundation of trusted data through the integration of generative AI capabilities, backed by Azure OpenAI, into our established Business Intelligence (BI) framework.

MicroStrategy ONE also includes HyperIntelligence, an innovative and powerful functionality that provides zero-click insights. It enables key information to be readily available to every user in an organization without requiring them to actively search for it.

AI-Powered Analytics

Integral to the MicroStrategy ONE platform are AI-powered services that facilitate data-driven decision-making. These AI capabilities are integrated into the platform's fabric, enhancing anomaly detection, pattern recognition, and AI-driven content creation. The AI functionalities enable real-time predictive insights and automated data discovery, further amplifying our vision of Intelligence Everywhere.

The quality of AI-powered services depends on the data fueling it. Our AI capabilities leverage our years of experience in data governance and BI to enable our clients to receive actionable insights. We believe the fusion of AI and BI will provide us with a competitive advantage and reinforce our standing as an industry leader in enterprise analytics.

Open, Multi-Cloud Architecture

MicroStrategy ONE is designed with cloud optimization at its core, offering flexibility and scalability for organizations seeking to deploy analytics solutions in a cloud environment. Engineered to be platform-agnostic, MicroStrategy ONE supports deployment across leading cloud service providers.

Built on an organically grown and open architecture, MicroStrategy ONE demonstrates our commitment to seamless scalability and exceptional integration capabilities. Organizations can leverage our extensive application programming interface (API) library to incorporate the platform into their existing applications and workflows.

MicroStrategy ONE provides advanced security measures and rigorous data governance to enable the effective management and protection of sensitive data.

Competitive Factors

27


The analytics market is highly competitive and our results of operations depend on our ability to market and sell offerings that provide customers with greater value than those offered by our competitors.competitive. Our success depends on the effectiveness with which we can differentiate our productsofferings from boththose offered by large software vendors that provide products across multiple lines of business, including one or more products that directly compete with our products,offerings, and other analytics vendors across large, mid-sized, and small opportunities.  Apotential competitors. We believe a key differentiator of MicroStrategy is our modern, open, comprehensive enterprise platform that we believe distinguishes our offeringscan be extended to other tools and systems, can scale across the enterprise, is that we offer a single platform with comprehensive analytics that supports both the needs of IToptimized for cloud or on-premises deployments, and business users, by delivering easy-to-use data discoverycan be combined with enterprise governance.unique packages of our expert services and education offerings.

Organizations recentlyOperating Highlights

The following table sets forth certain operating highlights (in thousands) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Product licenses

 

$

24,045

 

 

$

22,286

 

 

$

56,979

 

 

$

58,928

 

Subscription services

 

 

20,974

 

 

 

16,414

 

 

 

59,662

 

 

 

43,276

 

Total product licenses and subscription services

 

 

45,019

 

 

 

38,700

 

 

 

116,641

 

 

 

102,204

 

Product support

 

 

66,860

 

 

 

66,010

 

 

 

198,422

 

 

 

199,682

 

Other services

 

 

17,583

 

 

 

20,650

 

 

 

56,714

 

 

 

64,824

 

Total revenues

 

 

129,462

 

 

 

125,360

 

 

 

371,777

 

 

 

366,710

 

Cost of revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Product licenses

 

 

342

 

 

 

406

 

 

 

1,320

 

 

 

1,314

 

Subscription services

 

 

8,028

 

 

 

6,395

 

 

 

23,100

 

 

 

17,303

 

Total product licenses and subscription services

 

 

8,370

 

 

 

6,801

 

 

 

24,420

 

 

 

18,617

 

Product support

 

 

5,531

 

 

 

5,224

 

 

 

17,115

 

 

 

15,542

 

Other services

 

 

12,760

 

 

 

13,360

 

 

 

40,188

 

 

 

42,107

 

Total cost of revenues

 

 

26,661

 

 

 

25,385

 

 

 

81,723

 

 

 

76,266

 

Gross profit

 

 

102,801

 

 

 

99,975

 

 

 

290,054

 

 

 

290,444

 

Operating expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales and marketing

 

 

35,606

 

 

 

35,409

 

 

 

109,372

 

 

 

105,511

 

Research and development

 

 

29,660

 

 

 

30,498

 

 

 

90,372

 

 

 

95,811

 

General and administrative

 

 

29,223

 

 

 

27,283

 

 

 

85,959

 

 

 

82,491

 

Digital asset impairment losses

 

 

33,559

 

 

 

727

 

 

 

76,613

 

 

 

1,088,656

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

128,048

 

 

 

93,917

 

 

 

362,316

 

 

 

1,372,469

 

(Loss) income from operations

 

$

(25,247

)

 

$

6,058

 

 

$

(72,262

)

 

$

(1,082,025

)

We have sought,incurred and we expect may continue to seek,incur significant impairment losses on our digital assets, and we have recognized and may continue to standardize their various analytics applications around a single software platform.  This trend presents both opportunities and challenges for our business.  It offers us the opportunity to increase the size of transactions with new customers and to expand the sizerecognize gains upon sale of our analytics installations with existing customers.  Ondigital assets in the other hand, it presents the challenge that we may not be able to penetrate accounts that a competitor has penetrated or infuture, which a competitor is the incumbent analytics provider.

are presented net of any impairment losses within operating expenses. In addition, there is increased market demand for analysis of a wider variety of data sources, including sensor data, social data, Web log data, and other data types. These new data sources are driving massive increases in the volume of data that can potentially be analyzed (these large-scale data sets are known as “Big Data”), which in turn is accelerating development of new storage technologies like Hadoop® and NoSQL databases. The demand for analytics on Big Data represents an opportunity for us, as it opens up new potential applications and use cases for our technology. It also creates a challenge as we will need to continually enhance our technology to support emerging data sources, deliver faster performance necessary to support analysis of Big Data, and support analysis of a wider variety of data types, such as unstructured, semi-structured, and streaming data.

The market for enterprise mobility apps is rapidly changing, highly competitive, and complex with many competitors and different offerings ranging from fully custom-coded applications to plug-and-play solutions.  While organizations vary greatly in their approach to, and pace of adoption of, mobile solutions, they are increasingly accelerating the transition of their businesses onto mobile devices, such as tablets and smartphones.  Over the next few years, we expect that organizations will continue to construct their information and systems to take advantage of the efficiencies and cost savings of mobile computing.  Ultimately, we expect that the majority of routine business tasks and workflows will become available as mobile-optimized touch-enabled apps.


We have undertaken multiple initiatives to address these opportunities and challenges, including:

introducing Dossier™, a new way to consume analytics on MicroStrategy 10 using an interactive book of dashboards and reports that combines relevant analytics into a single place, with a new streamlined interface that goes beyond dashboards and brings key data into a format that users can understand and use to make better, actionable decisions and identify new opportunities (available on MicroStrategy Web and tablets via native apps for both iOS and Android);

releasing MicroStrategy on AWS, which allows customers to spin up their own instance of the full MicroStrategy platform in the cloud, and expanding support for MicroStrategy on AWS in more locations (such as London, Sydney, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Ireland, Ohio, Oregon, and Northern Virginia) and in more languages (such as English, French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese);

improving access to MicroStrategy 10 via easy-to-access trial and evaluation versions of products on our website, including a free 30-day trial to MicroStrategy on AWS that lets prospects experience our enterprise capabilities and allows existing customers to try new features;

making our MicroStrategy Desktop product freely available to new and existing users, which helps to (i) increase public awareness, (ii) increase the adoption of the product into existing accounts by empowering MicroStrategy Web users to seamlessly connect MicroStrategy Desktop to their existing projects, upload and download dashboards from the server, work offline, and try new functionality such as data blending and wrangling, and (iii) generate upsell opportunities for us by seeding the need for bigger enterprise capabilities like pixel-perfect dashboards, automated distribution, governance and security, all of which are available with our enterprise platform;

offering new collaboration tools that allow more users to interact and collaborate on analytics content, which can ultimately drive adoption to more users across the enterprise;

delivering new out-of-the-box connectors that help analysts visualize log files and semi-structured data such as Solr, Box, One Drive, Elasticsearch and others; and

introducing greater flexibility to visualize and interact with multi-level or ragged hierarchy reports against MDX (Multidimensional Expressions) sources such as Essbase and MSAS, and delivering enhancements such as dynamic filtering and support for derived attributes and metrics.

As part of our efforts to take greater advantage of the opportunities in the market and grow our market share, we expect to increase our level of sales and marketing expenditures and investment in our technology products and personnel in future periods.

As of September 30, 2017, we had a total of 2,178 employees, of whom 1,079 were based in the United States and 1,099 were based internationally.  Of our 2,178 employees, 635 were engaged in sales and marketing, 539 in research and development, 701 in subscription, product support, consulting, and education services, and 303 in finance, administration, and corporate operations.  The following table summarizes employee headcount, as of the dates indicated:

 

 

September 30,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2016

 

 

2016

 

 

2017

 

Subscription services

 

 

49

 

 

 

48

 

 

 

50

 

Product support

 

 

162

 

 

 

171

 

 

 

163

 

Consulting

 

 

458

 

 

 

453

 

 

 

447

 

Education

 

 

35

 

 

 

39

 

 

 

41

 

Sales and marketing

 

 

571

 

 

 

587

 

 

 

635

 

Research and development

 

 

528

 

 

 

512

 

 

 

539

 

General and administrative

 

 

317

 

 

 

323

 

 

 

303

 

Total headcount

 

 

2,120

 

 

 

2,133

 

 

 

2,178

 

We lease approximately 214,000 square feet of office space at a location in Northern Virginia that began serving as our corporate headquarters in October 2010. Our lease for this property expires in December 2020. We recognize lease expense on continuing operating leases ratably over the term of the lease.


As discussed in Note 10, Share-based Compensation, to the Consolidated Financial Statements, we have outstanding stock options to purchase shares of our class A common stock under our 2013 Equity Plan.  Share-based compensation expense (in thousands) from these stock option awards was recognized in the following operating expense line items in our Consolidated Statements of Operations for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

Sales and marketing

 

$

635

 

 

$

871

 

 

$

1,553

 

 

$

2,374

 

Research and development

 

 

291

 

 

 

199

 

 

 

1,191

 

 

 

636

 

General and administrative

 

 

2,742

 

 

 

2,279

 

 

 

7,813

 

 

 

5,414

 

Total share-based compensation expense

 

$

3,668

 

 

$

3,349

 

 

$

10,557

 

 

$

8,424

 

As of September 30, 2017, we estimated that approximately $20.8 million of additional share-based compensation expense for options granted under the 2013 Equity Plan will be recognized over a remaining weighted average period of 2.1 years.

We base our internal operating expense forecasts on expected revenue trends and strategic objectives.objectives in our enterprise analytics software business. Many of our expenses, such as office leases and certain personnel costs, are relatively fixed. Accordingly, any decrease in the price of bitcoin during any quarter, any sales by us of our bitcoin at prices above their then current carrying costs or any shortfall in revenue in our software business may cause significant variation in our operating results. We therefore believe that quarter-to-quarter comparisons of our operating results may not be a good indication of our future performance.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures28


We are providingEmployees

As of September 30, 2023, we had a supplemental financial measure for income from operations that excludes the impacttotal of our share-based compensation arrangements and restructuring activities. This financial measure is not a measurement1,984 employees, of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principleswhom 643 were based in the United States (“GAAP”) and 1,341 were based internationally. The following table summarizes employee headcount as a result, this financial measure may not be comparableof the dates indicated:

 

 

September 30,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

Subscription services

 

 

105

 

 

 

110

 

 

 

95

 

Product support

 

 

161

 

 

 

183

 

 

 

171

 

Consulting

 

 

411

 

 

 

447

 

 

 

453

 

Education

 

 

12

 

 

 

16

 

 

 

22

 

Sales and marketing

 

 

398

 

 

 

434

 

 

 

452

 

Research and development

 

 

645

 

 

 

688

 

 

 

712

 

General and administrative

 

 

252

 

 

 

274

 

 

 

267

 

Total headcount

 

 

1,984

 

 

 

2,152

 

 

 

2,172

 

Share-based Compensation Expense

As discussed in Note 8, Share-based Compensation, to similarly titled measures of other companies.  Management uses this non-GAAP financial measure internallythe Consolidated Financial Statements, we have outstanding stock options to help understand, manage, and evaluate our business performance and to help make operating decisions. We believe that this non-GAAP financial measure is also useful to investors and analysts in comparing our performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis because it excludes a significant non-cash expense that we believe is not reflectivepurchase shares of our general businessclass A common stock, restricted stock units, performance stock units, and restructuring charges that we believe are not reflective of ongoing operating results.  In addition, accounting for share-based compensation arrangements requires significant management judgmentcertain other stock-based awards under our Stock Incentive Plans. Each restricted stock unit and the resulting expense could vary significantly in comparisonperformance stock unit represents a contingent right to other companies.  Therefore, we believe the use of this non-GAAP financial measure can also facilitate comparisonreceive a share of our operating resultsclass A common stock upon the satisfaction of applicable vesting requirements. We also provide opportunities for eligible employees to thosepurchase shares of our competitors.class A common stock under our 2021 ESPP. Share-based compensation expense (in thousands) from these awards was recognized in the following cost of revenues and operating expense line items for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Cost of subscription services revenues

 

$

101

 

 

$

80

 

 

$

254

 

 

$

221

 

Cost of product support revenues

 

 

565

 

 

 

541

 

 

 

1,597

 

 

 

1,513

 

Cost of consulting revenues

 

 

535

 

 

 

463

 

 

 

1,423

 

 

 

1,278

 

Cost of education revenues

 

 

28

 

 

 

37

 

 

 

72

 

 

 

143

 

Sales and marketing

 

 

3,221

 

 

 

4,935

 

 

 

12,532

 

 

 

13,662

 

Research and development

 

 

3,269

 

 

 

3,795

 

 

 

9,426

 

 

 

10,235

 

General and administrative

 

 

9,087

 

 

 

7,048

 

 

 

24,551

 

 

 

19,535

 

Total share-based compensation expense

 

$

16,806

 

 

$

16,899

 

 

$

49,855

 

 

$

46,587

 

Non-GAAP financial measures are subjectShare-based compensation expense did not materially change during the three months ended September 30, 2023 as compared to material limitationsthe same period in the prior year, primarily due to the forfeiture of certain stock awards being substantially offset by the grant of additional awards under the Stock Incentive Plans as they are notpart of the expansion of our equity award program worldwide. The $3.3 million increase in accordance with, or a substitute for, measurements prepared in accordance with GAAP.  For example, we expect that share-based compensation expense which is excluded from our non-GAAP financial measure, will continueduring the nine months ended September 30, 2023, as compared to be a significant recurring expense over the coming years and is an importantsame period in the prior year, was primarily due to the grant of additional awards under the Stock Incentive Plans as part of the compensation provided to certain employees, officers, and directors.  Our non-GAAP financial measure is not meant to be considered in isolation and should be read only in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP.  We rely primarily on such Consolidated Financial Statements to understand, manage, and evaluate our business performance, and use the non-GAAP financial measure only supplementally.

The following is a reconciliationexpansion of our non-GAAP financial measure to its most directly comparable GAAP measure (in thousands) forequity award program worldwide and the periods indicated:revaluation of certain liability-classified stock-based awards, partially offset by the forfeiture of certain stock awards and certain awards that became fully vested. As of September 30, 2023, we estimated that an aggregate of approximately $146.1 million of additional share-based compensation expense associated with the Stock Incentive Plans and the 2021 ESPP will be recognized over a remaining weighted average period of 2.5 years.

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

Reconciliation of non-GAAP income from operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from operations

 

$

20,575

 

 

$

30,008

 

 

$

55,599

 

 

$

70,883

 

Share-based compensation expense

 

 

3,668

 

 

 

3,349

 

 

 

10,557

 

 

 

8,424

 

Restructuring costs

 

 

0

 

 

 

12

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

45

 

Non-GAAP income from operations

 

$

24,243

 

 

$

33,369

 

 

$

66,156

 

 

$

79,352

 


Critical Accounting PoliciesEstimates

Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based on our Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of our Consolidated Financial Statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, and equity, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. These estimates, particularly estimates relating to revenue recognition, have a material impact on our financial statements.  In some cases, changes in accounting estimates are reasonably likely to occur from period to period.  Actual results and outcomes could differ from these estimates and assumptions.

The section “CriticalCritical accounting estimates involve a significant level of estimation uncertainty and are estimates that have had or are reasonably likely to have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations. We consider certain estimates and judgments related to revenue recognition to be critical accounting estimates for us, as discussed under “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of

29


Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies”Estimates” included in Item 7 and the section “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” (Note 2) included in Item 15 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 provides a more detailed explanation of the judgments made and a discussion of our accounting estimates and policies.2022. There have been no significant changes in such estimates and policiesjudgments since December 31, 2016, other than the adoption of ASU 2016-09, as discussed in Note 2, Recent Accounting Standards, to the Consolidated Financial Statements.2022.

Impact of Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Fluctuations on Results of Operations

We conduct a significant portion of our business in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, the currency in which we report our Consolidated Financial Statements.  As currency rates change from quarter over quarter and year over year, our results of operations may be impacted.  The table below summarizes the impact (in thousands) of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates on certain components of our Consolidated Statements of Operations by showing the increase (decrease) in revenues or expenses, as applicable, from the same period in the prior year.  The term “international” refers to operations outside of the United States and Canada. 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

International product licenses revenues

 

$

287

 

 

$

(103

)

 

$

101

 

 

$

(757

)

International subscription services revenues

 

 

16

 

 

 

(86

)

 

 

(215

)

 

 

(166

)

International product support revenues

 

 

836

 

 

 

(678

)

 

 

(674

)

 

 

(3,293

)

International other services revenues

 

 

329

 

 

 

(199

)

 

 

(233

)

 

 

(738

)

Cost of product support revenues

 

 

10

 

 

 

(80

)

 

 

(105

)

 

 

(240

)

Cost of other services revenues

 

 

273

 

 

 

(106

)

 

 

64

 

 

 

(748

)

Sales and marketing expenses

 

 

323

 

 

 

(178

)

 

 

(410

)

 

 

(1,447

)

Research and development expenses

 

 

(2

)

 

 

(241

)

 

 

(353

)

 

 

(710

)

General and administrative expenses

 

 

45

 

 

 

(403

)

 

 

(258

)

 

 

(921

)

For example, if there had been no change to foreign currency exchange rates from 2016 to 2017, international product licenses revenues would have been $8.9 million rather than $9.2 million and $25.8 million rather than $25.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively.  If there had been no change to foreign currency exchange rates from 2016 to 2017, international product support revenues would have been $29.0 million rather than $29.8 million and $84.5 million rather than $83.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively.  If there had been no change to foreign currency exchange rates from 2016 to 2017, sales and marketing expenses would have been $41.5 million rather than $41.8 million and $123.0 million rather than $122.6 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively.

Results of Operations

Comparison of the three and nine months ended September 30, 20172023 and 20162022

Revenues

Except as otherwise indicated herein, the term “domestic” refers to operations in the United States and Canada and the term “international” refers to operations outside of the United States and Canada.


Product licenses and subscription services revenues.The following table sets forth product licenses and subscription services revenues (in thousands) and related percentage changes for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

%

 

 

September 30,

 

 

%

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Change

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Change

 

Product Licenses and Subscription Services Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Product Licenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Domestic

 

$

10,338

 

 

$

15,526

 

 

 

-33.4

%

 

$

29,404

 

 

$

40,535

 

 

 

-27.5

%

International

 

 

13,707

 

 

 

6,760

 

 

 

102.8

%

 

 

27,575

 

 

 

18,393

 

 

 

49.9

%

Total product licenses revenues

 

 

24,045

 

 

 

22,286

 

 

 

7.9

%

 

 

56,979

 

 

 

58,928

 

 

 

-3.3

%

Subscription Services

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Domestic

 

 

13,515

 

 

 

11,381

 

 

 

18.8

%

 

 

38,718

 

 

 

30,540

 

 

 

26.8

%

International

 

 

7,459

 

 

 

5,033

 

 

 

48.2

%

 

 

20,944

 

 

 

12,736

 

 

 

64.4

%

Total subscription services revenues

 

 

20,974

 

 

 

16,414

 

 

 

27.8

%

 

 

59,662

 

 

 

43,276

 

 

 

37.9

%

Total product licenses and subscription services revenues

 

$

45,019

 

 

$

38,700

 

 

 

16.3

%

 

$

116,641

 

 

$

102,204

 

 

 

14.1

%

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

%

 

 

September 30,

 

 

%

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

Change

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

Change

 

Product Licenses and Subscription Services Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Product Licenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Domestic

 

$

12,403

 

 

$

21,981

 

 

 

-43.6

%

 

$

35,815

 

 

$

48,148

 

 

 

-25.6

%

International

 

 

9,150

 

 

 

7,651

 

 

 

19.6

%

 

 

25,868

 

 

 

27,342

 

 

 

-5.4

%

Total product licenses revenues

 

 

21,553

 

 

 

29,632

 

 

 

-27.3

%

 

 

61,683

 

 

 

75,490

 

 

 

-18.3

%

Subscription Services

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Domestic

 

 

5,981

 

 

 

6,587

 

 

 

-9.2

%

 

 

18,926

 

 

 

19,757

 

 

 

-4.2

%

International

 

 

1,744

 

 

 

1,052

 

 

 

65.8

%

 

 

4,917

 

 

 

3,018

 

 

 

62.9

%

Total subscription services revenues

 

 

7,725

 

 

 

7,639

 

 

 

1.1

%

 

 

23,843

 

 

 

22,775

 

 

 

4.7

%

Total product licenses and subscription services revenues

 

$

29,278

 

 

$

37,271

 

 

 

-21.4

%

 

$

85,526

 

 

$

98,265

 

 

 

-13.0

%

The following table sets forth a summary, grouped by size, of the number of recognized product licenses transactions for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Product Licenses Transactions with Recognized Licenses Revenue in the Applicable Period:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More than $1.0 million in licenses revenue recognized

 

 

4

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

8

 

 

 

6

 

Between $0.5 million and $1.0 million in licenses revenue recognized

 

 

4

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

11

 

 

 

10

 

Total

 

 

8

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

19

 

 

 

16

 

Domestic:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More than $1.0 million in licenses revenue recognized

 

 

2

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

6

 

Between $0.5 million and $1.0 million in licenses revenue recognized

 

 

2

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

7

 

Total

 

 

4

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

12

 

 

 

13

 

International:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More than $1.0 million in licenses revenue recognized

 

 

2

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

0

 

Between $0.5 million and $1.0 million in licenses revenue recognized

 

 

2

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

3

 

Total

 

 

4

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

3

 

30

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

Product Licenses Transactions with Recognized Licenses Revenue in the Applicable Period:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More than $1.0 million in licenses revenue recognized

 

 

3

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

7

 

Between $0.5 million and $1.0 million in licenses revenue recognized

 

 

6

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

11

 

 

 

17

 

Total

 

 

9

 

 

 

8

 

 

 

16

 

 

 

24

 

Domestic:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More than $1.0 million in licenses revenue recognized

 

 

3

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

6

 

Between $0.5 million and $1.0 million in licenses revenue recognized

 

 

3

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

11

 

Total

 

 

6

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

11

 

 

 

17

 

International:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More than $1.0 million in licenses revenue recognized

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

1

 

Between $0.5 million and $1.0 million in licenses revenue recognized

 

 

3

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

6

 

Total

 

 

3

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

7

 



The following table sets forth the recognized revenue (in thousands) attributable to product licenses transactions, grouped by size, and related percentage changes for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

%

 

 

September 30,

 

 

%

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Change

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Change

 

Product Licenses Revenue Recognized in the Applicable Period:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More than $1.0 million in licenses revenue recognized

 

$

9,450

 

 

$

7,291

 

 

 

29.6

%

 

$

14,923

 

 

$

15,848

 

 

 

-5.8

%

Between $0.5 million and $1.0 million in licenses revenue recognized

 

 

2,537

 

 

 

2,039

 

 

 

24.4

%

 

 

7,954

 

 

 

7,177

 

 

 

10.8

%

Less than $0.5 million in licenses revenue recognized

 

 

12,058

 

 

 

12,956

 

 

 

-6.9

%

 

 

34,102

 

 

 

35,903

 

 

 

-5.0

%

Total

 

 

24,045

 

 

 

22,286

 

 

 

7.9

%

 

 

56,979

 

 

 

58,928

 

 

 

-3.3

%

Domestic:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More than $1.0 million in licenses revenue recognized

 

 

2,521

 

 

 

7,291

 

 

 

-65.4

%

 

 

6,499

 

 

 

15,848

 

 

 

-59.0

%

Between $0.5 million and $1.0 million in licenses revenue recognized

 

 

1,260

 

 

 

791

 

 

 

59.3

%

 

 

5,346

 

 

 

5,419

 

 

 

-1.3

%

Less than $0.5 million in licenses revenue recognized

 

 

6,557

 

 

 

7,444

 

 

 

-11.9

%

 

 

17,559

 

 

 

19,268

 

 

 

-8.9

%

Total

 

 

10,338

 

 

 

15,526

 

 

 

-33.4

%

 

 

29,404

 

 

 

40,535

 

 

 

-27.5

%

International:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More than $1.0 million in licenses revenue recognized

 

 

6,929

 

 

 

0

 

 

n/a

 

 

 

8,424

 

 

 

0

 

 

n/a

 

Between $0.5 million and $1.0 million in licenses revenue recognized

 

 

1,277

 

 

 

1,248

 

 

 

2.3

%

 

 

2,608

 

 

 

1,758

 

 

 

48.4

%

Less than $0.5 million in licenses revenue recognized

 

 

5,501

 

 

 

5,512

 

 

 

-0.2

%

 

 

16,543

 

 

 

16,635

 

 

 

-0.6

%

Total

 

$

13,707

 

 

$

6,760

 

 

 

102.8

%

 

$

27,575

 

 

$

18,393

 

 

 

49.9

%

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

%

 

 

September 30,

 

 

%

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

Change

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

Change

 

Product Licenses Revenue Recognized in the Applicable Period:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More than $1.0 million in licenses revenue recognized

 

$

3,800

 

 

$

7,910

 

 

 

-52.0

%

 

$

6,651

 

 

$

12,182

 

 

 

-45.4

%

Between $0.5 million and $1.0 million in licenses revenue recognized

 

 

4,025

 

 

 

2,189

 

 

 

83.9

%

 

 

7,161

 

 

 

10,288

 

 

 

-30.4

%

Less than $0.5 million in licenses revenue recognized

 

 

13,728

 

 

 

19,533

 

 

 

-29.7

%

 

 

47,871

 

 

 

53,020

 

 

 

-9.7

%

Total

 

 

21,553

 

 

 

29,632

 

 

 

-27.3

%

 

 

61,683

 

 

 

75,490

 

 

 

-18.3

%

Domestic:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More than $1.0 million in licenses revenue recognized

 

 

3,800

 

 

 

7,910

 

 

 

-52.0

%

 

 

6,651

 

 

 

10,788

 

 

 

-38.3

%

Between $0.5 million and $1.0 million in licenses revenue recognized

 

 

2,285

 

 

 

1,687

 

 

 

35.4

%

 

 

4,246

 

 

 

6,642

 

 

 

-36.1

%

Less than $0.5 million in licenses revenue recognized

 

 

6,318

 

 

 

12,384

 

 

 

-49.0

%

 

 

24,918

 

 

 

30,718

 

 

 

-18.9

%

Total

 

 

12,403

 

 

 

21,981

 

 

 

-43.6

%

 

 

35,815

 

 

 

48,148

 

 

 

-25.6

%

International:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More than $1.0 million in licenses revenue recognized

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

n/a

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

1,394

 

 

 

-100.0

%

Between $0.5 million and $1.0 million in licenses revenue recognized

 

 

1,740

 

 

 

502

 

 

 

246.6

%

 

 

2,915

 

 

 

3,646

 

 

 

-20.0

%

Less than $0.5 million in licenses revenue recognized

 

 

7,410

 

 

 

7,149

 

 

 

3.7

%

 

 

22,953

 

 

 

22,302

 

 

 

2.9

%

Total

 

$

9,150

 

 

$

7,651

 

 

 

19.6

%

 

$

25,868

 

 

$

27,342

 

 

 

-5.4

%

Product licenses revenues decreased $8.1increased $1.8 million and $13.8decreased $1.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017,2023, respectively, as compared to the same periods in the prior year. For the three months ended September 30, 20172023 and 2016,2022, product licenses transactions with more than $0.5 million in recognized revenue represented 36.3%49.9% and 34.1%41.9%, respectively, of our product licenses revenues. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017,2023, our top three product licenses transactions totaled $4.5$8.7 million in recognized revenue, or 7.2%15.3% of total product licenses revenues, compared to $6.6$12.1 million, or 8.7%20.5% of total product licenses revenues, for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.2022. Our product licenses revenues may experience declines in future periods as we continue to promote our cloud offering to new and existing customers.

Domestic product licenses revenues.Domestic product licenses revenues decreased $9.6$5.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017,2023, as compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to a decrease in the number of transactions and average deal size of transactions with more than $1.0 million in recognized revenue, a decrease in the number of transactions with less than $0.5 million in recognized revenue, and a decrease in the number and average deal size of transactions with more than $0.5 million and less than $1.0 million in recognized revenue, partially offset by an increase in the average deal size of transactions with less than $0.5 million in recognized revenue betweenand an increase in the number of transactions with more than $0.5 million and less than $1.0 million.

million in recognized revenue. Domestic product licenses revenues decreased $12.3$11.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017,2023, as compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to a decrease in the number and average deal size of transactions with less than $0.5 million in recognized revenue, a decrease in theand number and average deal size of transactions with more than $1.0 million in recognized revenue and a decrease in the number of transactions with less than $0.5 million in recognized revenue, betweenpartially offset by an increase in the average deal size of transactions with less than $0.5 million and $1.0 million.in recognized revenue.

International product licenses revenues.International product licenses revenues increased $1.5$6.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017,2023, as compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to an increase in the number of transactions with more than $1.0 million in recognized revenue between $0.5 million and $1.0 million.

revenue. International product licenses revenues decreased $1.5increased $9.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017,2023, as compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to a decreasean increase in the number of transactions with more than $0.5 million in recognized revenue.

Subscription services revenues.Subscription services revenues are derived primarily from our MCE cloud services offerings thatsubscription service and are recognized on a subscription basisratably over the service period ofin the contract. Subscription services revenues did not materially changeincreased $4.6 million for the three months ended

31


September 30, 2017, as compared to the same period in the prior year.  Subscription services revenues increased $1.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017,2023, as compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to new subscription servicesconversions to cloud-based subscriptions from existing on-premises customers, and an increase in the use of subscription services by existing customers, and sales contracts with new customers, partially offset by certain non-renewing customers. Subscription services revenues increased $16.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, as compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to conversions to cloud-based subscriptions from existing on-premises customers, an increase in the use of subscription services by existing customers, and sales contracts with new customers, partially offset by certain non-renewing customers. We expect our subscription services revenues to continue to grow in future periods as we continue to promote our cloud offering to new and existing customers.


Product support revenues.The following table sets forth product support revenues (in thousands) and related percentage changes for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

%

 

 

September 30,

 

 

%

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Change

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Change

 

Product Support Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Domestic

 

$

39,510

 

 

$

40,375

 

 

 

-2.1

%

 

$

119,064

 

 

$

118,861

 

 

 

0.2

%

International

 

 

27,350

 

 

 

25,635

 

 

 

6.7

%

 

 

79,358

 

 

 

80,821

 

 

 

-1.8

%

Total product support revenues

 

$

66,860

 

 

$

66,010

 

 

 

1.3

%

 

$

198,422

 

 

$

199,682

 

 

 

-0.6

%

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

%

 

 

September 30,

 

 

%

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

Change

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

Change

 

Product Support Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Domestic

 

$

43,082

 

 

$

43,781

 

 

 

-1.6

%

 

$

130,356

 

 

$

128,486

 

 

 

1.5

%

International

 

 

29,804

 

 

 

28,679

 

 

 

3.9

%

 

 

83,786

 

 

 

83,922

 

 

 

-0.2

%

Total product support revenues

 

$

72,886

 

 

$

72,460

 

 

 

0.6

%

 

$

214,142

 

 

$

212,408

 

 

 

0.8

%

Product support revenues are derived from providing technical software support and software updates and upgrades to customers. Product support revenues are recognized ratably over the term of the contract, which is generally one year. Product support revenues increased $0.4$0.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017,2023, as compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to a $0.8$1.5 million favorable foreign currency exchange impact.impact and the timing of product support renewals, partially offset by certain existing customers converting from perpetual product licenses with separate support contracts to our subscription services or term product licenses offerings. Product support revenues increased $1.7decreased $1.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017,2023, as compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to newcertain existing customers converting from perpetual product and premiumlicenses with separate support contracts partially offset by a $0.7 million unfavorable foreign currency exchange impact. See “Impact of Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Fluctuations on Results of Operations” for further information on the foreign currency exchange impact onto our results of operations for the threesubscription services or term product licenses offerings. Our product support revenues may experience declines in future periods as we continue to promote our cloud offering to new and nine months ended September 30, 2017.existing customers.

Other services revenues.The following table sets forth other services revenues (in thousands) and related percentage changes in these revenues for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

%

 

 

September 30,

 

 

%

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Change

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Change

 

Other Services Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consulting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Domestic

 

$

8,392

 

 

$

9,658

 

 

 

-13.1

%

 

$

26,639

 

 

$

28,982

 

 

 

-8.1

%

International

 

 

8,284

 

 

 

9,887

 

 

 

-16.2

%

 

 

27,354

 

 

 

32,271

 

 

 

-15.2

%

Total consulting revenues

 

 

16,676

 

 

 

19,545

 

 

 

-14.7

%

 

 

53,993

 

 

 

61,253

 

 

 

-11.9

%

Education

 

 

907

 

 

 

1,105

 

 

 

-17.9

%

 

 

2,721

 

 

 

3,571

 

 

 

-23.8

%

Total other services revenues

 

$

17,583

 

 

$

20,650

 

 

 

-14.9

%

 

$

56,714

 

 

$

64,824

 

 

 

-12.5

%

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

%

 

 

September 30,

 

 

%

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

Change

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

Change

 

Other Services Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consulting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Domestic

 

$

9,550

 

 

$

8,324

 

 

 

14.7

%

 

$

30,346

 

 

$

27,154

 

 

 

11.8

%

International

 

 

11,095

 

 

 

9,345

 

 

 

18.7

%

 

 

29,136

 

 

 

27,143

 

 

 

7.3

%

Total consulting revenues

 

 

20,645

 

 

 

17,669

 

 

 

16.8

%

 

 

59,482

 

 

 

54,297

 

 

 

9.5

%

Education

 

 

2,403

 

 

 

2,496

 

 

 

-3.7

%

 

 

7,248

 

 

 

7,083

 

 

 

2.3

%

Total other services revenues

 

$

23,048

 

 

$

20,165

 

 

 

14.3

%

 

$

66,730

 

 

$

61,380

 

 

 

8.7

%

Consulting revenues.Consulting revenues are derived from helping customers plan and execute the deployment of our software. Consulting revenues increased $3.0 million and $5.2decreased $2.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively,2023, as compared to the same periodsperiod in the prior year, primarily due to a decrease in billable hours worldwide, partially offset by an increase in average bill rates. Consulting revenues decreased $7.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, as compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to a decrease in billable hours worldwide, partially offset by an increase in average bill rates.

Education revenues.Education revenues are derived from the education and training that we provide to our customers to enhance their ability to fully utilize the features and functionality of our software. These offerings include self-tutorials, custom course development, joint training with customers’ internal staff, and standard course offerings, with pricing dependent on the specific offering delivered. Education revenues did not materially change for the three months ended September 30, 2017,2023, as compared to the same period in the prior year. Education revenues increased $0.2decreased $0.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017,2023, as compared to the same periodsperiod in the prior year, primarily due to an increaselower sales in overall contract values.prior quarters of annual subscriptions to training courses.


32


Costs and Expenses

Cost of revenues.The following table sets forth cost of revenues (in thousands) and related percentage changes for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

%

 

 

September 30,

 

 

%

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Change

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Change

 

Cost of Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Product licenses and subscription services:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Product licenses

 

$

342

 

 

$

406

 

 

 

-15.8

%

 

$

1,320

 

 

$

1,314

 

 

 

0.5

%

Subscription services

 

 

8,028

 

 

 

6,395

 

 

 

25.5

%

 

 

23,100

 

 

 

17,303

 

 

 

33.5

%

Total product licenses and subscription services

 

 

8,370

 

 

 

6,801

 

 

 

23.1

%

 

 

24,420

 

 

 

18,617

 

 

 

31.2

%

Product support

 

 

5,531

 

 

 

5,224

 

 

 

5.9

%

 

 

17,115

 

 

 

15,542

 

 

 

10.1

%

Other services:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consulting

 

 

12,134

 

 

 

12,267

 

 

 

-1.1

%

 

 

38,326

 

 

 

38,404

 

 

 

-0.2

%

Education

 

 

626

 

 

 

1,093

 

 

 

-42.7

%

 

 

1,862

 

 

 

3,703

 

 

 

-49.7

%

Total other services

 

 

12,760

 

 

 

13,360

 

 

 

-4.5

%

 

 

40,188

 

 

 

42,107

 

 

 

-4.6

%

Total cost of revenues

 

$

26,661

 

 

$

25,385

 

 

 

5.0

%

 

$

81,723

 

 

$

76,266

 

 

 

7.2

%

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

%

 

 

September 30,

 

 

%

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

Change

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

Change

 

Cost of Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Product licenses and subscription services:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Product licenses

 

$

1,763

 

 

$

2,370

 

 

 

-25.6

%

 

$

5,182

 

 

$

6,828

 

 

 

-24.1

%

Subscription services

 

 

3,592

 

 

 

3,219

 

 

 

11.6

%

 

 

10,031

 

 

 

9,667

 

 

 

3.8

%

Total product licenses and subscription services

 

 

5,355

 

 

 

5,589

 

 

 

-4.2

%

 

 

15,213

 

 

 

16,495

 

 

 

-7.8

%

Product support

 

 

4,218

 

 

 

3,959

 

 

 

6.5

%

 

 

13,094

 

 

 

10,919

 

 

 

19.9

%

Other services:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consulting

 

 

13,295

 

 

 

11,909

 

 

 

11.6

%

 

 

38,579

 

 

 

38,309

 

 

 

0.7

%

Education

 

 

1,521

 

 

 

1,478

 

 

 

2.9

%

 

 

5,010

 

 

 

4,136

 

 

 

21.1

%

Total other services

 

 

14,816

 

 

 

13,387

 

 

 

10.7

%

 

 

43,589

 

 

 

42,445

 

 

 

2.7

%

Total cost of revenues

 

$

24,389

 

 

$

22,935

 

 

 

6.3

%

 

$

71,896

 

 

$

69,859

 

 

 

2.9

%

Cost of product licenses revenues.Cost of product licenses revenues consists of amortization of capitalized software development costs, referral fees paid to channel partners, the costs of product manuals and media, and royalties paid to third-party software vendors. Capitalized software development costs are generally amortized over a useful life of three years.

Cost of product licenses revenues decreased $0.6did not materially change for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, as compared to the same periods in the prior year.

Cost of subscription services revenues. Cost of subscription services revenues consists of equipment, facility and other related support costs (including cloud hosting infrastructure costs), and personnel and related overhead costs. Subscription services headcount increased 10.5% to 105 at September 30, 2023 from 95 at September 30, 2022. Cost of subscription services revenues increased $1.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, as compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to a $0.5 million decrease in amortization of capitalized software development costs related to MicroStrategy 9.4, which became fully amortized in September 2016, and a $0.2 million decrease in referral fees related to channel partners. Cost of product licenses revenues decreased $1.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017,2023, as compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to a $1.4 million decreaseincrease in amortizationcloud hosting infrastructure costs, which is a result of capitalized software development costs related to MicroStrategy 9.4, which became fully amortized in September 2016,the increased usage by new and a $0.3 million decrease in referral fees related to channel partners.  We expect to amortize the remaining balance of MicroStrategy 10 related capitalized software development costs as of September 30, 2017 ratably over the remaining amortization period as follows:

 

 

Capitalized Software

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Development Costs, Net,

 

 

Remaining

 

 

 

as of September 30, 2017

 

 

Amortization Period

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

(in months)

 

MicroStrategy 10

 

 

3,999

 

 

 

8

 

Total capitalized software development costs, net

 

$

3,999

 

 

 

 

 

Cost ofexisting cloud subscription services revenues.  Cost of subscription services revenues consists of equipment, facility and other related support costs, and personnel and related overhead costs.customers. Cost of subscription services revenues increased $5.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, as compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to (i) a $4.4 million increase in cloud hosting infrastructure costs, which is a result of the increased usage by new and existing cloud subscription services customers, (ii) a $0.6 million increase in employee salaries primarily attributable to an increase in average staffing levels, and (iii) a $0.4 million increase in variable compensation.

Cost of product support revenues. Cost of product support revenues consists of personnel and related overhead costs, including those under our Enterprise Support program. Our Enterprise Support program utilizes primarily consulting personnel to provide product support to our customers at our discretion. Compensation related to personnel providing Enterprise Support services is reported as cost of product support revenues. Product support headcount decreased 5.8% to 161 at September 30, 2023 from 171 at September 30, 2022. Cost of product support revenues did not materially change for the three months ended September 30, 2017,2023, as compared to the same period in the prior year. Cost of product support revenues increased $1.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, as compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to a $0.6$1.9 million increase in third-party hosting service provider fees.  Subscription servicescompensation and related costs attributable to non-product support personnel providing an increased level of Enterprise Support services.

Cost of consulting revenues. Cost of consulting revenues consists of personnel and related overhead costs, excluding those under our Enterprise Support program, which are allocated to cost of product support revenues. Consulting headcount increased 2.0%decreased 9.3% to 50411 at September 30, 20172023 from 49453 at September 30, 2016.

2022. Cost of subscriptionconsulting revenues did not materially change for the three months ended September 30, 2023, as compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to (i) a $0.5 million decrease in compensation and related costs attributable to consulting personnel providing an increased level of Enterprise Support services and (ii) a $0.5 million decrease in subcontractor costs, being substantially offset by (iii) a $0.7 million increase in variable compensation. Included in cost of consulting revenues increased $0.4for the three months ended September 30, 2023 is an aggregate $0.5 million unfavorable foreign currency exchange impact. Cost of consulting revenues did not materially change for the nine months ended September 30, 2017,2023, as compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to (i) a $1.9 million decrease in compensation and related costs attributable to consulting personnel providing an increased level of Enterprise Support services and (ii) a $1.8 million decrease in subcontractor costs, being substantially offset by (iii) a $1.7 million increase in variable compensation, (iv) a $0.8 million increase in employee salaries primarily attributable to wage increases, partially offset by a shift in staffing levels to lower cost regions, (v) a $0.6 million increase in severance costs associated with streamlining our organization, and (vi) a $0.5 million increase in facility and other related support costs.

33


Cost of education revenues. Cost of education revenues consists of personnel and related overhead costs. Education headcount decreased 45.5% to 12 at September 30, 2023 from 22 at September 30, 2022. Cost of education revenues decreased $0.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023, as compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to a $0.9 million increase in third-party hosting service provider fees, partially offset by a $0.5$0.3 million decrease in compensation and related costs.

employee salaries primarily attributable to a decrease in average staffing levels. Cost of product support revenues.  Cost of product supporteducation revenues consists of product support personnel and related overhead costs.  Cost of product support revenues increased $0.3decreased $1.8 million for the threenine months ended September 30, 2017,2023, as compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to (i) a $0.2$1.1 million increasedecrease in compensation and related costs due to an increase in staffing levels.  Product support headcount increased 0.6% to 163 at September 30, 2017 from 162 at September 30, 2016.

Cost of product support revenues increased $2.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, as compared to the same period in the prior year,employee salaries primarily dueattributable to a $2.2 million increasedecrease in compensation and related costs due to an increase in average


staffing levels and (ii) a $0.2 million increase in facility and other related support costs, partially offset by a $0.3$0.5 million decrease in subcontractor costs.variable compensation.

Cost of consulting revenues.  Cost of consulting revenues consists of personnel and related overhead costs.  Cost of consulting revenues increased $1.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, as compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to a $1.0 million increase in compensation and related costs and a $0.5 million increase in travel and entertainment expenditures, partially offset by a $0.3 million decrease in subcontractor costs. Consulting headcount decreased 2.4% to 447 at September 30, 2017 from 458 at September 30, 2016.

Cost of consulting revenues increased $0.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, as compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to a $0.8 million increase in compensation and related costs and a $0.7 million increase in travel and entertainment expenditures, partially offset by a $1.3 million decrease in subcontractor costs.

Cost of education revenues.  Cost of education revenues consists of personnel and related overhead costs.  Cost of education revenues did not materially change for the three months ended September 30, 2017, as compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to a $0.2 million increase in compensation and related costs due to an increase in staffing levels, being substantially offset by a $0.2 million decrease in subcontractor costs.  Education headcount increased 17.1% to 41 at September 30, 2017 from 35 at September 30, 2016.

Cost of education revenues increased $0.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, as compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to a $0.6 million increase in compensation and related costs due to an increase in staffing levels, and a $0.2 million increase in dues and subscriptions.

Sales and marketing expenses.Sales and marketing expenses consist of personnel costs, commissions, office facilities, travel, advertising, public relations programs, and promotional events, such as trade shows, seminars, and technical conferences. Sales and marketing headcount decreased 11.9% to 398 at September 30, 2023 from 452 at September 30, 2022. The following table sets forth sales and marketing expenses (in thousands) and related percentage changes for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

%

 

 

September 30,

 

 

%

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Change

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Change

 

Sales and marketing expenses

 

$

35,606

 

 

$

35,409

 

 

 

0.6

%

 

$

109,372

 

 

$

105,511

 

 

 

3.7

%

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

%

 

 

September 30,

 

 

%

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

Change

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

Change

 

Sales and marketing expenses

 

$

41,806

 

 

$

39,169

 

 

 

6.7

%

 

$

122,635

 

 

$

113,448

 

 

 

8.1

%

Sales and marketing expenses increased $2.6 milliondid not materially change for the three months ended September 30, 2017,2023, as compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to (i) a $2.0$1.4 million increase in marketing and advertisingseverance costs a $0.7 million increase in compensation and related costs due to an increase in staffing levels, andassociated with streamlining our organization, (ii) a $0.6 million increase in travelvariable compensation primarily attributable to a decrease in net capitalized commissions and entertainment expenditures,an increase in other personnel costs, partially offset by a $0.3 million decrease in recruitingcommissions earned, and (iii) a $0.4 million increase in marketing costs, being substantially offset by (iv) a $0.2$1.7 million net decrease in share-based compensation expense related primarily attributable to the departureforfeiture of an executive employee incertain awards, partially offset by the first quartergrant of 2017,additional awards under the Stock Incentive Plans and (v) a $0.2$1.1 million decrease in facility and other related support costs. Sales and marketing headcount increased 11.2%employee salaries primarily attributable to 635 at September 30, 2017 from 571 at September 30, 2016. We expect to increase oura decrease in average staffing levels, partially offset by wage increases. Included in sales and marketing expenses in future periods as described infor the “Overview” section above.

As a result of the grant of stock options under the 2013 Equity Plan, we expect that share-based compensation expense, a portion of which is recognized as sales and marketing expense, will continue to be a recurring expense.  As ofthree months ended September 30, 2017, we estimate that approximately $4.12023 is an aggregate $0.6 million of additional share-based compensation expense will be recognized as sales and marketing expense over a remaining weighted average period of 2.0 years.  See “Overview” and Note 10, Share-based Compensation, to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding the 2013 Equity Plan and related share-based compensation expense.unfavorable foreign currency exchange impact.

Sales and marketing expenses increased $9.2$3.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017,2023, as compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to (i) a $4.5 million increase in compensation and related costs due to an increase in staffing levels, a $3.5 million increase in marketing and advertising costs, a $1.8$2.3 million increase in travel and entertainment expenditures due to the return of in-person events and meetings, (ii) a $0.2$1.9 million increase in severance costs associated with streamlining our organization, (iii) a $1.6 million increase in marketing costs due to the return of in-person events and meetings, (iv) a $0.9 million increase in variable compensation primarily attributable to a decrease in net capitalized commissions and increases in employee relations expenses and other personnel costs, partially offset by a decrease in commissions earned, and (v) a $0.6 million increase in facility and other related support costs, partially offset by (vi) a $2.6 million decrease in employee salaries primarily attributable to a decrease in average staffing levels, partially offset by wage increases and (vii) a $1.1 million net decrease in share-based compensation expense primarily attributable to the forfeiture of certain awards, partially offset by the grant of additional awards under the Stock Incentive Plans and the fair value remeasurement of certain liability-classified awards at the end of the reporting period.

Research and development expenses. Research and development expenses consist of the personnel costs for our software engineering personnel and related overhead costs. Research and development headcount decreased 9.4% to 645 at September 30, 2023 from 712 at September 30, 2022. The following table summarizes research and development expenses (in thousands) and related percentage changes for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

%

 

 

September 30,

 

 

%

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Change

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Change

 

Research and development expenses

 

$

29,660

 

 

$

30,498

 

 

 

-2.7

%

 

$

90,372

 

 

$

95,811

 

 

 

-5.7

%

Research and development expenses decreased $0.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023, as compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to (i) a $1.2 million decrease in employee salaries primarily attributable to a decrease in average staffing levels, partially offset by wage increases and (ii) a $0.5 million net decrease in share-based compensation expense primarily attributable to the forfeiture of certain awards, partially offset by the grant of additional awards under the Stock Incentive Plans, partially offset by (iii) a $0.8 million increase in severance costs associated with streamlining our organization.

Research and development expenses decreased $5.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, as compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to (i) a $3.1 million decrease in employee salaries primarily attributable to a decrease in average staffing levels, partially offset by wage increases, (ii) a $0.8 million net decrease in share-based compensation expense related primarily attributable to the departureforfeiture of an executive employee incertain awards, partially offset by the first quartergrant of 2017,additional awards under the Stock Incentive Plans and the fair value remeasurement of certain liability-classified awards at the end of the reporting period, (iii) a $0.2$0.8 million decrease in consultingvariable

34


compensation, (iv) a $0.6 million decrease in recruiting costs, (v) a $0.5 million decrease in facility and advisory costs.other related support costs, and (vi) a $0.4 million decrease in subcontractor costs, partially offset by (vii) a $0.9 million increase in severance costs associated with streamlining our organization. Included in research and development expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 is an aggregate $1.3 million favorable foreign currency exchange impact.


General and administrative expenses.General and administrative expenses consist of personnel and related overhead costs, and other costs of our executive, finance, human resources, information systems, and administrative departments, as well as third-party consulting, legal, and other professional fees. General and administrative headcount decreased 5.6% to 252 at September 30, 2023 from 267 at September 30, 2022. The following table sets forth general and administrative expenses (in thousands) and related percentage changes for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

%

 

 

September 30,

 

 

%

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Change

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Change

 

General and administrative expenses

 

$

29,223

 

 

$

27,283

 

 

 

7.1

%

 

$

85,959

 

 

$

82,491

 

 

 

4.2

%

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

%

 

 

September 30,

 

 

%

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

Change

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

Change

 

General and administrative expenses

 

$

19,082

 

 

$

19,703

 

 

 

-3.2

%

 

$

58,921

 

 

$

63,014

 

 

 

-6.5

%

General and administrative expenses decreased $0.6increased $1.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017,2023, as compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to a $0.6 million decrease in severance costs associated with the streamlining of our finance organization, a $0.3 million decrease in legal, consulting and other advisory costs, and a $0.2 million decrease in bad debt expense, partially offset by a $0.5 million net increase in share-based compensation expense. The $0.5$2.0 million net increase in share-based compensation expense is primarily dueattributable to the grant of stock optionsadditional awards under the 2013 Equity Plan and the inclusion, in the share-based compensation expense in the third quarter of 2016, of a reversal of $0.2 million of previously recorded share-based compensation expense due to pre-vesting forfeitures of certain stock options.  General and administrative headcount decreased 4.4% to 303 at September 30, 2017 from 317 at September 30, 2016.  Stock Incentive Plans.

As a result of the grant of stock options under the 2013 Equity Plan, we expect that share-based compensation expense, a significant portion of which is recognized as general and administrative expense, will continue to be a significant recurring expense.  As of September 30, 2017, we estimate that approximately $12.8 million of additional share-based compensation expense will be recognized as general and administrative expense over a remaining weighted average period of 2.0 years.  See “Overview” and Note 10, Share-based Compensation, to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding the 2013 Equity Plan and related share-based compensation expense.

General and administrative expenses decreased $4.1increased $3.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017,2023, as compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to (i) a $3.4 million accrual taken in the first quarter of 2016, which was subsequently reversed, for potential future payments in connection with the departure of two executives during an executive management reorganization in January 2016, a $1.6 million decrease in severance costs associated with the streamlining of our finance organization, a $1.4 million decrease in legal, consulting and other advisory costs, a $0.6 million decrease in compensation and related costs due to a decrease in staffing levels, and a $0.3 million decrease in facility and other related support costs, partially offset by a $2.4$5.0 million net increase in share-based compensation expense primarily attributable to the grant of additional awards under the Stock Incentive Plans, partially offset by certain awards that became fully vested, (ii) a $1.2 million increase in the estimated minimum loss with respect to the Brazilian matters noted in Note 5, Commitments and Contingencies, to the Consolidated Financial Statements, and (iii) a $0.6 million increase in other aircraft-related operatingdirectors and officers liability insurance expense, partially offset by (iv) a $2.1 million decrease in costs related to the maintenance and operations of our corporate aircraft, (v) a $0.2$0.7 million increasedecrease in recruiting costs, (vi) a $0.6 million decrease in custodial fees incurred on our bitcoin holdings, and (vii) a $0.4 million decrease in bad debt expense.  The $2.4 million net increase

Digital asset impairment losses. Digital asset impairment losses are recognized when the carrying value of our digital assets exceeds their lowest fair value at any time since their acquisition. Impaired digital assets are written down to fair value at the time of impairment, and such impairment loss cannot be recovered for any subsequent increases in share-based compensation expense is primarily due to the inclusion, in the share-based compensation expense in the first quarter of 2016, of a reversal of $1.6 million of previouslyfair value. Gains (if any) are not recorded share-based compensation expense due to pre-vesting forfeitures of certain stock options of two executives who departed during the 2016 executive management reorganization, and the grant of stock options under the 2013 Equity Plan.

Research and development expenses.  Research and development expenses consist of the personnel costs for our software engineering personnel, depreciation of equipment, and other related costs.until realized upon sale. The following table summarizes research and development expenses and amortization of capitalized software development costssets forth digital asset impairment losses (in thousands) and related percentage changes for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

%

 

 

September 30,

 

 

%

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Change

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Change

 

Digital asset impairment losses

 

$

33,559

 

 

$

727

 

 

 

4516.1

%

 

$

76,613

 

 

$

1,088,656

 

 

 

-93.0

%

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

%

 

 

September 30,

 

 

%

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

Change

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

Change

 

Research and development expenses

 

$

19,360

 

 

$

18,069

 

 

 

7.1

%

 

$

57,347

 

 

$

54,804

 

 

 

4.6

%

Amortization of capitalized software development costs included in cost of product licenses revenues

 

$

1,499

 

 

$

1,952

 

 

 

-23.2

%

 

$

4,498

 

 

$

5,858

 

 

 

-23.2

%

ResearchWe did not sell any of our digital assets during the three and development expenses increased $1.3 million for the threenine months ended September 30, 2017,2023 and 2022. We may continue to incur significant digital asset impairment losses in the future.

Interest Expense, Net

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, interest expense, net, of $11.0 million and $37.0 million were primarily related to the contractual interest expense and amortization of issuance costs related to our long-term debt arrangements. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, interest expense, net, of $14.1 million and $38.3 million, respectively, were primarily related to the contractual interest expense and amortization of issuance costs related to our long-term debt arrangements. Interest expense for the fourth quarter of 2023 is expected to continue to decrease compared to the same period in 2022 as a result of the repayment of the 2025 Secured Term Loan in March 2023. Refer to Note 4, Long-term Debt, to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

35


Gain on Debt Extinguishment

For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the $44.7 million gain on debt extinguishment resulted from the repayment of the 2025 Secured Term Loan. Refer to Note 4, Long-term Debt, to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

Other Income, Net

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, other income, net, of $2.4 million and $0.7 million, were comprised primarily of foreign currency transaction net gains. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, other income, net, of $4.9 million and $12.2 million, respectively, were comprised primarily of foreign currency transaction net gains.

Income Taxes

We recorded a benefit from income taxes of $403.9 million on a pretax loss of $63.9 million that resulted in an effective tax rate of 632.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, as compared to a provision for income taxes of $112.0 million on a pretax loss of $1.108 billion that resulted in an effective tax rate of (10.1)% for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. Our benefit from income taxes increased from the same period in the prior year primarily due to a $0.7 million increase in compensation and related costs due to an increase in staffing levels, a $0.3 million increase in facility and other related support costs, and a $0.2 million increase in consulting and advisory costs. Research and development headcount increased 2.1% to 539 at September 30, 2017 from 528 at September 30, 2016.  We expect to increase our investment in our technology products and personnel in future periods as described in the “Overview” section above.  We have significantly accelerated the pace of our software development efforts and increased the frequency of our software releases subsequent to(i) the release of MicroStrategy 10, which has resulted in our software development costs in recent periods being expensed as incurred.  We do not expect to capitalize material software development costs in the near term.


As a result of the grant of stock options under the 2013 Equity Plan, we expect that share-based compensation expense, a portion of which is recognized as research and development expense, will continue to be a recurring expense.  As of September 30, 2017, we estimate that approximately $3.9 million of additional share-based compensation expense will be recognized as research and development expense over a remaining weighted average period of 2.5 years.  See “Overview” and Note 10, Share-based Compensation, to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding the 2013 Equity Plan and related share-based compensation expense.

Research and development expenses increased $2.5 million forvaluation allowance during the nine months ended September 30, 2017,2023 on our deferred tax asset related to the impairment on our bitcoin holdings, attributable to the increase in market value of bitcoin as of September 30, 2023 compared to December 31, 2022, compared to (ii) the same period in the prior year, primarily due to a $0.7 million increase in facility and other related support costs, a $0.7 million increase in compensation and related costs due to an increase in staffing levels, a $0.6 million net increase in share-based compensation expense, a $0.5 million increase in consulting and advisory costs, and a $0.2 million increase in travel and entertainment expenditures, partially offset by a $0.3 million decrease in recruiting costs. The $0.6 million net increase in share-based compensation expense is primarily due to the inclusion, in the share-based compensation expense in the first quarter of 2016,establishment of a reversal of $0.4 million of previously recorded share-based compensation expense due to pre-vesting forfeitures of certain stock options, and the grant of stock options under the 2013 Equity Plan.

Other Expense, Net

Other expense, net is comprised primarily of foreign currency transaction gains and losses.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, other expense, net, of $1.9 million and $6.4 million, respectively, were comprised primarily of foreign currency transaction net losses arising mainly from the revaluation of U.S. dollar-denominated cash balances held at international locations.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, other expense, net, of $0.5 million and $0.4 million, respectively, were comprised primarily of foreign currency transaction net losses arising mainly from the revaluation of outstanding balances denominated in the British Pound, which had declined in value as compared to the U.S. dollar and other currencies.

Provision for Income Taxes

We have estimated an annual effective tax rate for the full fiscal year 2017 and applied that rate to the income before income taxes in determining the provision for income taxes forvaluation allowance during the nine months ended September 30, 2017.  We also record discrete items2022 on our deferred tax asset related to the impairment on our bitcoin holdings, attributable to the decrease in each respective periodmarket value of bitcoin as appropriate.  The estimated effective tax rate is subject to fluctuation based on the level and mix of earnings and losses by tax jurisdiction, foreign tax rate differentials, and the relative impact of permanent book to tax differences (e.g., non-deductible expenses).  Each quarter, a cumulative adjustment is recorded for any fluctuations in the estimated annual effective tax rate asSeptember 30, 2022 compared to the prior quarter.  As a result of these factors, and due to potential changes in our period-to-period results, fluctuations in our effective tax rate and respective tax provisions or benefits may occur.December 31, 2021.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, we recorded a provision for income taxes of $8.8 million that resulted in an effective tax rate of 16.7%, as compared to a provision for income taxes of $12.2 million that resulted in an effective tax rate of 16.9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.  The change in the effective tax rate in 2017 is mainly due to the change in the expected proportion of U.S. versus foreign income and certain discrete tax benefits.

As of September 30, 2017, we had no U.S. federal NOL carryforwards and estimated that we had $6.1 million of foreign NOL carryforwards.  As of September 30, 2017, we estimated that we had foreign NOL carryforwards, other temporary differences and carryforwards, and credits that resulted in deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances and deferred tax liabilities, of $17.8 million.  As of September 30, 2017,2023, we had a valuation allowance of $0.9$118.4 million primarily related to certain foreignour deferred tax credit carryforwardsasset related to the impairment on our bitcoin holdings that, in our present estimation, more likely than not will not be realized.

If the market value of bitcoin declines or we are unable to sustaindo not achieve profitability in future periods, we may be required to increase the valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets, which could result in a charge that would materially adversely affect net income (loss) in the period in which the charge is incurred. To the extent the market value of bitcoin rises, we may decrease the valuation allowance against our deferred tax asset. We will continue to regularly assess the realizability of deferred tax assets.

Our effective tax rate may fluctuate due to changes in our domestic and foreign earnings and losses, material discrete tax items, or a combination of these factors resulting from transactions or events.

Deferred Revenue and Advance Payments

Deferred revenue and advance payments represent subscription services, product support, and other services fees that are collectedamounts received or due from our customers in advance of our transferring our software or services to the customer. In the case of multi-year service contract arrangements, we generally do not invoice more than one year in advance of services and do not record deferred revenue for amounts that have not been invoiced. Revenue is subsequently recognized overin the contract service period, and product licenses revenues relatingperiod(s) in which control of the software or services is transferred to multiple-element software arrangements that include future deliverables.the customer.


36


The following table summarizes deferred revenue and advance payments (in thousands), as of:

 

 

September 30,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

Current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred product licenses revenue

 

$

2,814

 

 

$

2,825

 

 

$

442

 

Deferred subscription services revenue

 

 

45,737

 

 

 

51,861

 

 

 

38,272

 

Deferred product support revenue

 

 

126,087

 

 

 

155,366

 

 

 

123,203

 

Deferred other services revenue

 

 

4,529

 

 

 

7,376

 

 

 

4,017

 

Total current deferred revenue and advance payments

 

$

179,167

 

 

$

217,428

 

 

$

165,934

 

Non-current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred product licenses revenue

 

$

9

 

 

$

2,742

 

 

$

70

 

Deferred subscription services revenue

 

 

2,845

 

 

 

3,030

 

 

 

2,943

 

Deferred product support revenue

 

 

4,304

 

 

 

6,387

 

 

 

5,172

 

Deferred other services revenue

 

 

480

 

 

 

604

 

 

 

569

 

Total non-current deferred revenue and advance payments

 

$

7,638

 

 

$

12,763

 

 

$

8,754

 

Total current and non-current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred product licenses revenue

 

$

2,823

 

 

$

5,567

 

 

$

512

 

Deferred subscription services revenue

 

 

48,582

 

 

 

54,891

 

 

 

41,215

 

Deferred product support revenue

 

 

130,391

 

 

 

161,753

 

 

 

128,375

 

Deferred other services revenue

 

 

5,009

 

 

 

7,980

 

 

 

4,586

 

Total current and non-current deferred revenue and advance payments

 

$

186,805

 

 

$

230,191

 

 

$

174,688

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

2016

 

Current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred product licenses revenue

 

$

10,771

 

 

$

13,023

 

 

$

11,401

 

Deferred subscription services revenue

 

 

15,583

 

 

 

18,303

 

 

 

12,820

 

Deferred product support revenue

 

 

141,496

 

 

 

162,781

 

 

 

140,593

 

Deferred other services revenue

 

 

8,743

 

 

 

10,015

 

 

 

9,226

 

Gross current deferred revenue and advance payments

 

 

176,593

 

 

 

204,122

 

 

 

174,040

 

Less: unpaid deferred revenue

 

 

(61,173

)

 

 

(98,587

)

 

 

(58,414

)

Net current deferred revenue and advance payments

 

$

115,420

 

 

$

105,535

 

 

$

115,626

 

Non-current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred product licenses revenue

 

$

7,320

 

 

$

9,118

 

 

$

9,918

 

Deferred subscription services revenue

 

 

406

 

 

 

1,307

 

 

 

1,594

 

Deferred product support revenue

 

 

5,790

 

 

 

5,751

 

 

 

6,394

 

Deferred other services revenue

 

 

990

 

 

 

690

 

 

 

763

 

Gross non-current deferred revenue and advance payments

 

 

14,506

 

 

 

16,866

 

 

 

18,669

 

Less: unpaid deferred revenue

 

 

(4,739

)

 

 

(2,951

)

 

 

(3,518

)

Net non-current deferred revenue and advance payments

 

$

9,767

 

 

$

13,915

 

 

$

15,151

 

Total current and non-current:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred product licenses revenue

 

$

18,091

 

 

$

22,141

 

 

$

21,319

 

Deferred subscription services revenue

 

 

15,989

 

 

 

19,610

 

 

 

14,414

 

Deferred product support revenue

 

 

147,286

 

 

 

168,532

 

 

 

146,987

 

Deferred other services revenue

 

 

9,733

 

 

 

10,705

 

 

 

9,989

 

Gross current and non-current deferred revenue and advance payments

 

 

191,099

 

 

 

220,988

 

 

 

192,709

 

Less: unpaid deferred revenue

 

 

(65,912

)

 

 

(101,538

)

 

 

(61,932

)

Net current and non-current deferred revenue and advance payments

 

$

125,187

 

 

$

119,450

 

 

$

130,777

 

We offset our accountsThe portions of multi-year contracts that will be invoiced in the future are not presented on the balance sheet in “Accounts receivable, net” and deferred revenue for any unpaid items included in deferred“Deferred revenue and advance payments.

payments” and instead are included in the remaining performance obligation disclosure below. Total gross deferred revenue and advance payments decreased $29.9$43.4 million as of September 30, 2017,2023, as compared to December 31, 2016,2022, primarily due to the recognitiontiming of product support and subscription services renewals and an increase in revenue recognized from previously deferred product support, product licenses, subscription services, and other services, revenues.and product licenses. Included in our international deferred revenue balances at September 30, 2023 is a $3.3 million unfavorable foreign currency impact from the general strengthening of the U.S. dollar compared to December 31, 2022. Total gross deferred revenue and advance payments decreased $1.6increased $12.1 million as of September 30, 2017,2023, as compared to September 30, 2016,2022, primarily due to the recognition of previously deferred product licenses and other services revenues, partially offset by(i) an increase in deferred revenue from new subscription services contracts, (ii) an increase in deferred product license revenue from the early renewal of a large multi-year term license deal in the fourth quarter of 2022, and (iii) an increase in deferred product support revenue from the timing of product support renewals, partially offset by a decrease in deferred product support revenue from an increase in conversions from on-premises to subscription services contracts. Included in our international deferred revenue balances at September 30, 2023 is a $1.3 million favorable foreign currency impact from the general weakening of the U.S. dollar compared to September 30, 2022.

Our remaining performance obligation represents all future revenue under contract and includes deferred revenue and advance payments and billable non-cancelable amounts that will be invoiced and recognized as revenue in future periods. The remaining performance obligation excludes contracts that are billed in arrears, such as certain time and materials contracts. As of September 30, 2023, we had an aggregate transaction price of $282.3 million allocated to the remaining performance obligation related to product support, subscription services, product licenses, and other services contracts. We expect to recognize approximately $176.6$217.7 million of deferred revenue and advance paymentsthe remaining performance obligation over the next 12 months.months and the remainder thereafter. However, the timing and ultimate recognition of our deferred revenue and advance payments and other remaining performance obligations depend on our performancesatisfaction of various serviceperformance obligations, and the amount of deferred revenue and advance payments and remaining performance obligations at any date should not be considered indicative of revenues for any succeeding period.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Liquidity. Our principal sources of liquidity are cash and cash equivalents and on-going collection of our accounts receivable. Cash and cash equivalents may include holdings in bank demand deposits, money market instruments, certificates of deposit, and U.S. Treasury securities. We also periodically investUnder our Treasury Reserve Policy and bitcoin acquisition strategy, we use a significant portion of our excess cash, including cash generated from capital raising transactions, to acquire bitcoins, which are classified as indefinite-lived intangible assets. In September 2022, we commenced an at-the-market equity offering under the 2022 Sales Agreement, pursuant to which we issued and sold 1,567,430 shares of our class A common stock for aggregate net proceeds (net of sales commissions and expenses) of $385.2 million through the first quarter of 2023. We terminated the 2022 Sales Agreement in short-term investments with stated maturity dates between three monthsMay 2023 and one yearcommenced another at-the-market equity offering under the May 2023 Sales Agreement, pursuant to which we issued and sold 1,079,170 shares of our class A common stock for aggregate

37


net proceeds (net of sales commissions and expenses) of $333.5 million through the second quarter of 2023. We terminated the May 2023 Sales Agreement in August 2023 and commenced a new at-the-market equity offering under the August 2023 Sales Agreement, pursuant to which we may from the purchase date.


time to time issue and sell shares of our class A common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $750.0 million. As of September 30, 20172023, we had issued and sold 403,362 shares of our class A common stock under the August 2023 Sales Agreement for aggregate net proceeds (net of sales commissions and expenses) of $147.2 million and approximately $602.1 million of our class A common stock remained available for issuance and sale pursuant to the August 2023 Sales Agreement. For additional information, see “—At-the-Market Equity Offerings” below.

As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2016,2022, the amount of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments held by our U.S. entities were $284.1was $14.9 million and $279.8$14.8 million, respectively, and by our non-U.S. entities were $362.0was $30.1 million and $309.6$29.0 million, respectively. We earn a significant amount of our revenues outside the United StatesStates. We repatriated foreign earnings and except for Subpart F deemed dividends, we intendprofits of $44.7 million during 2022 and $10.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2023.

Our material contractual obligations and cash requirements consist of:

principal and interest payments related to indefinitely reinvest undistributed earnings of all of our non-U.S. entities.  We do not anticipate needing to repatriate the cash or cash equivalents held by non-U.S. entitieslong-term debt;
rent payments under noncancellable operating leases;
payments related to the United Statesmandatory deemed repatriation transition tax (the “Transition Tax”) under the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”);
payments under various purchase agreements, primarily related to financethird-party software supporting our U.S. operations.  However, if we were to elect to repatriate these amounts, we would generate U.S. taxable incomeproducts, marketing, and operations; and
ongoing personnel-related expenditures and vendor payments.

The above items are explained in further detail in Note 4, Long-term Debt, to the extentConsolidated Financial Statements included in this Quarterly Report as well as under “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources” included in our undistributed foreign earnings, which amounted to $322.0 million atAnnual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.  Although2022 and in the tax impactNotes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included therein. Other than the payoff of repatriating these earnings is difficultthe 2025 Secured Term Loan described more fully below and in Note 4, Long-term Debt, to determinethe Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Quarterly Report, and new purchase commitments for third-party cloud hosting services totaling $135.0 million to be spent over the next four years, there have been no changes to our effective tax rate could increase as a result of any such repatriation, we do not expect the maximum effective tax rate applicable to such repatriation to exceed the U.S. statutory rate of 35.0%, after considering applicable foreign tax credits.material contractual obligations and cash requirements since December 31, 2022.

We believe that existing cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments held by us and cash and cash equivalents anticipated to be generated by us are sufficient to meet working capital requirements, anticipated capital expenditures, and contractual obligations for at least the next 12 months. Beyond the next 12 months, our long-term cash requirements are primarily for obligations related to our long-term debt. We have principal due upon maturity of our long-term debt instruments in the aggregate of $2.208 billion in addition to $2.4 million in coupon interest due each semi-annual period for the 2025 Convertible Notes, $15.3 million in coupon interest due each semi-annual period for the 2028 Secured Notes, and $0.1 million due monthly in principal and interest related to our other long-term secured debt. We also have long-term cash requirements for obligations related to our operating leases, the Transition Tax, and our various purchase agreements. As of September 30, 2023, we do not expect cash and cash equivalents generated by our enterprise analytics software business to be sufficient to satisfy these obligations. As a result, we would seek to satisfy these obligations through various options that we expect to be available to us, such as refinancing our debt or generating cash from other sources, which may include the issuance and sale of shares of our class A common stock, borrowings collateralized by bitcoin, or the sale of our bitcoin. Furthermore, if certain conditions are met, we may have the right to elect to settle the Convertible Notes upon a conversion of such Convertible Notes in shares of our class A common stock, or a combination of cash and shares of class A common stock, which may enable us to reduce the amount of our cash obligations under the Convertible Notes.

The 2028 Secured Notes have a stated maturity date of June 15, 2028, but include a springing maturity feature that will cause the stated maturity date to spring ahead to the date that is (i) 91 days prior to the existing maturity date of the 2025 Convertible Notes (which is September 15, 2025), (ii) 91 days prior to the existing maturity date of the 2027 Convertible Notes (which is November 16, 2026), or (iii) 91 days prior to the maturity date of any future convertible debt that we may issue that is then outstanding, unless on such dates we meet specified liquidity requirements or less than $100,000,000 of aggregate principal amount of the 2025 Convertible Notes, the 2027 Convertible Notes, or such future convertible debt, as applicable, remains outstanding.

As of September 30, 2023, we held approximately 158,245 bitcoins, of which approximately 142,514 are unencumbered. We do not believe we will need to sell or engage in other transactions with respect to any of our bitcoins within the next twelve months to meet our working capital requirements, although we may from time to time sell or engage in other transactions with respect to our bitcoins as part of treasury management operations, as noted above. The bitcoin market historically has been characterized by significant volatility in its price, limited liquidity and trading volumes compared to sovereign currencies markets, relative anonymity, a developing regulatory

38


landscape, susceptibility to market abuse and manipulation, compliance and internal control failures at exchanges, and various other risks inherent in its entirely electronic, virtual form and decentralized network. During times of instability in the bitcoin market, we may not be able to sell our bitcoins at reasonable prices or at all. As a result, our bitcoins are less liquid than our existing cash and cash equivalents and may not be able to serve as a source of liquidity for us to the same extent as cash and cash equivalents. In addition, upon sale of our bitcoin, we may incur additional taxes related to any realized gains or we may incur capital losses as to which the tax deduction may be limited.

The following table sets forth a summary of our cash flows (in thousands) and related percentage changes for the periods indicated:

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

%

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

Change

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

$

11,528

 

 

$

21,409

 

 

 

-46.2

%

Net cash used in investing activities

 

$

(690,550

)

 

$

(233,329

)

 

 

196.0

%

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

$

676,025

 

 

$

220,051

 

 

 

207.2

%

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

%

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

Change

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

$

49,283

 

 

$

94,036

 

 

 

-47.6

%

Net cash used in investing activities

 

$

(73,028

)

 

$

(20,988

)

 

 

248.0

%

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

$

1,660

 

 

$

(1,540

)

 

 

-207.8

%

Net cash provided by operating activities.The primary source of our cash provided by operating activities is cash collections of our accounts receivable from customers following the sales and renewals of our softwareproduct licenses, technical softwaresubscription services and product support, software updates and upgrades, as well as consulting education, and subscriptioneducation services. Our primary uses of cash in operating activities are for personnel relatedpersonnel-related expenditures for software development, personnel relatedpersonnel-related expenditures for providing consulting, education, and subscription services, and for sales and marketing costs, general and administrative costs, interest expense related to our long-term debt arrangements, and income taxes. Non-cash items to further reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities consist primarily of depreciation and amortization, reduction in the carrying amount of operating lease right-of-use assets, credit losses and sales allowances, deferred taxes, release of liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits, share-based compensation expense, digital asset impairment losses, amortization of the issuance costs on our long-term debt, and gain on extinguishment of debt.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $49.3 million and $94.0decreased $9.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.  The decrease in net cash provided by operating activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2017,2023, as compared to the same period in the prior year, was due to a $28.1$1.567 billion decrease in non-cash items (principally related to changes in digital asset impairment losses, deferred taxes, and a gain on extinguishment of debt in the first quarter of 2023) and a $2.8 million decrease from changes in operating assets and liabilities, which was partially offset by a $15.9 million decrease$1.560 billion increase in net income, and a $0.8 million decrease from changes in non-cash items. Non-cash items generally consist of depreciation and amortization, bad debt expense, deferred taxes, share-based compensation expense, release of liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits, and, in prior periods only, excess tax benefits from share-based compensation arrangements.income.

Net cash used in investing activities. The changes in net cash used in investing activities primarily relate to purchases and redemptions of short-term investmentsdigital assets and expenditures on property and equipment. Net cash used in investing activities was $73.0 million and $21.0increased $457.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.  The increase in net cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2017,2023, as compared to the same period in the prior year, wasprimarily due to a $118.7$456.5 million increase in purchases of short-term investments,bitcoins and a $0.7 million increase in purchases of property and equipment, offset by a $67.4equipment. During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, we purchased $688.0 million increase inof bitcoin using net proceeds from the redemptionsale of short-term investments.class A common stock under our at-the-market equity offering programs and Excess Cash, while during the nine months ended September 30, 2022, we purchased $231.5 million of bitcoin using net proceeds from the issuance of the 2025 Secured Term Loan and Excess Cash.

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities.The changes in net cash provided by (used in) financing activities primarily relate to the sale of class A common stock under our at-the-market equity offering program, the issuance and subsequent repayment of our long-term debt, the exercise or vesting of stock optionscertain awards under the 2013 Equity Plan, payments on capital leases, and in prior periods only, excess tax benefits from share-based compensation arrangements.the sales of class A common stock under the 2021 ESPP. Net cash provided by financing activities was $1.7increased $456.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.  Net cash used in financing activities was $1.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.  The increase in net cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2017,2023, as compared to the same period in the prior year, wasprimarily due to (i) $819.7 million in net proceeds from the sale of class A common stock under our at-the-market equity offering program during the nine months ended September 30, 2023, and (ii) a $3.7 million payment in 2016 to tax authorities for shares withheld for taxes related to the net exercise of a stock option under the 2013 Equity Plan, a $0.5$12.9 million increase in proceeds from the exercise of stock options under the 2013 Equity Plan, andPlans in the nine months ended September 30, 2023, as compared to the same period in the prior year, partially offset by (iii) a $0.1$215.5 million decrease in payments on capital leaselong-term debt proceeds, net of lender fees and other financing arrangements, offset by a $1.2issuance costs, during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 as compared to the same period in the prior year, and (iv) the $160.0 million decrease in excess tax benefitsrepayment of the 2025 Secured Term Loan and related third-party extinguishment costs during the nine months ended September 30, 2023, which was repaid using proceeds from share-based compensation arrangements.our sale of class A common stock offered under our at-the-market equity offering program.


Contractual obligations.  As disclosedLong-term Debt

The terms of each of the long-term debt instruments are discussed more fully in Note 7, Commitments and Contingencies,4, Long-term Debt, to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Quarterly Report as well as Note 8, Long-term Debt, to the Consolidated Financial Statements of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.

39


In December 2020, we lease office space and computer and other equipment under operating lease agreements.  We also lease certain computer and other equipment under capital lease agreements and license certain software under other financing arrangements.  Under the lease agreements, in addition to base rent, we are generally responsible for certain taxes, utilities and maintenance costs, and other fees; and several leases include options for renewal or purchase.  The following table shows future minimum rent payments under noncancellable operating and capital leases and agreements with initial terms of greater than one year, net of total future minimum rent payments to be received under noncancellable sublease agreements (in thousands), based on the expected due datesissued $650.0 million aggregate principal amount of the various installments as2025 Convertible Notes and in February 2021, we issued $1.050 billion aggregate principal amount of the 2027 Convertible Notes. We used the net proceeds from the issuance of the Convertible Notes to acquire bitcoin. We did not pay any interest to holders of the 2025 Convertible Notes during the three months ended September 30, 2017:2023 and 2022. For each of the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, we paid $2.4 million in interest to holders of the 2025 Convertible Notes. The 2027 Convertible Notes do not bear regular interest and we have not paid any special interest to holders of the 2027 Convertible Notes to date.

 

 

Payments due by period ended September 30,

 

 

 

Total

 

 

2018

 

 

2019-2020

 

 

2021-2022

 

 

Thereafter

 

Contractual Obligations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating leases

 

$

75,601

 

 

$

24,157

 

 

$

38,313

 

 

$

8,602

 

 

$

4,529

 

Capital leases and other financing arrangements

 

 

1,106

 

 

 

1,100

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

Total

 

$

76,707

 

 

$

25,257

 

 

$

38,319

 

 

$

8,602

 

 

$

4,529

 

Unrecognized tax benefits.In June 2021, we issued $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 2028 Secured Notes. We used the net proceeds from the issuance of the 2028 Secured Notes to acquire bitcoin. As of September 30, 2017,2023, approximately 15,731 of the bitcoins held by the Company serve as part of the collateral for the 2028 Secured Notes. We did not pay any interest to holders of the 2028 Secured Notes during the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022. For each of the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, we paid $15.3 million in interest to holders of the 2028 Secured Notes.

In March 2022, MacroStrategy, our wholly-owned subsidiary, entered into a Credit and Security Agreement with Silvergate Bank, pursuant to which Silvergate Bank issued the $205.0 million 2025 Secured Term Loan to MacroStrategy. We used $190.5 million of the net proceeds from the issuance of the 2025 Secured Term Loan to acquire bitcoin, $5.0 million of the net proceeds to maintain a reserve account that served as collateral for the 2025 Secured Term Loan, and the remaining net proceeds to pay fees, interest, and expenses related to the 2025 Secured Term Loan. On March 24, 2023, MacroStrategy and Silvergate Bank entered into a Prepayment, Waiver and Payoff to Credit and Security Agreement, pursuant to which MacroStrategy voluntarily prepaid Silvergate approximately $161.0 million (the “Payoff Amount”), in full repayment, satisfaction, and discharge of the 2025 Secured Term Loan and all other obligations under the Credit and Security Agreement. Upon Silvergate’s receipt of the Payoff Amount on March 24, 2023, the Credit and Security Agreement was terminated, and Silvergate released its security interest in all of MacroStrategy’s assets collateralizing the 2025 Secured Term Loan, including the bitcoin that was serving as collateral. During the first quarter of 2023, we made a final $5.1 million interest payment to Silvergate, $1.1 million of which was included in the Payoff Amount. We paid $2.7 million and $4.3 million in interest to Silvergate during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively.

In June 2022, we, through one of our wholly-owned subsidiaries, entered into a secured term loan agreement in the amount of $11.1 million, bearing interest at an annual rate of 5.2%, and maturing in June 2027. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, we paid $0.3 million and $0.8 million, respectively, in principal and interest to the lender. During each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, we paid $0.3 million in principal and interest to the lender.

At-the-Market Equity Offerings

On September 9, 2022, we entered into the 2022 Sales Agreement with the 2022 Sales Agents, pursuant to which we could issue and sell shares of our class A common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $500.0 million from time to time through the 2022 Sales Agents.

On May 1, 2023, we terminated the 2022 Sales Agreement and entered into the May 2023 Sales Agreement with the May 2023 Sales Agents, pursuant to which we could issue and sell shares of our class A common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $625.0 million from time to time through the May 2023 Sales Agents.

On August 1, 2023, we terminated the May 2023 Sales Agreement and entered into the August 2023 Sales Agreement with the August 2023 Sales Agents, pursuant to which we may issue and sell shares of our class A common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $750.0 million from time to time through the August 2023 Sales Agents.

The terms of the 2022 Sales Agreement, May 2023 Sales Agreement, and August 2023 Sales Agreement are discussed more fully in Note 10, At-the-Market Equity Offerings, to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

We did not sell any shares of our class A common stock under the 2022 Sales Agreement during the three months ended September 30, 2023. During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, we issued and sold 1,348,855 shares of class A common stock under the 2022 Sales Agreement for aggregate net proceeds (less sales commissions and expenses) of approximately $339.0 million. At termination of the 2022 Sales Agreement on May 1, 2023, we had $4.3 millionissued and sold an aggregate of total gross unrecognized tax benefits, including penalty1,567,430 shares under the 2022 Sales Agreement for aggregate net proceeds (less sales commissions and interest accrued, recorded in other long-term liabilities.  The timingexpenses) of approximately $385.2 million.

We did not sell any payments that could result from these unrecognized tax benefits will dependshares of our class A common stock under the May 2023 Sales Agreement during the three months ended September 30, 2023. During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, we issued and sold 1,079,170 shares of class A common stock under the May 2023 Sales Agreement for aggregate net proceeds (less sales commissions and expenses) of approximately $333.5 million. These amounts also constitute the aggregate shares sold and net proceeds under the May 2023 Sales Agreement at termination of the May 2023 Sales Agreement on a numberAugust 1, 2023.

40


During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, we issued and sold 403,362 shares of factors,our class A common stock under the August 2023 Sales Agreement, for aggregate net proceeds (less sales commissions and accordingly the amount and periodexpenses) of any future payments cannot be estimated.  We do not expect a significant tax payment related to these obligations during 2017.

Off-balance sheet arrangements.approximately $147.2 million. As of September 30, 2017,2023, approximately $602.1 million of our class A common stock remained available for issuance and sale pursuant to the August 2023 Sales Agreement.

Debt Repurchases and Prepayments.

During the first quarter of 2023, MacroStrategy voluntarily prepaid Silvergate the Payoff Amount in full repayment, satisfaction, and discharge of the 2025 Secured Term Loan and all other obligations under the Credit and Security Agreement. During the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, we did not haverepurchase or prepay any off-balance sheet arrangementsof our other outstanding debt. We or our affiliates may, at any time and from time to time, seek to retire or purchase our outstanding debt through cash purchases and/or exchanges for equity or debt, in open-market purchases, privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. Such repurchases or exchanges, if any, will be upon such terms and at such prices as we may determine, and will depend on prevailing market conditions, our liquidity requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors. We may also prepay our outstanding indebtedness. The amounts involved in any such repurchase or prepayment may be material. We may effect debt repurchases or prepayments using proceeds from the sale of our class A common stock pursuant to the August 2023 Sales Agreement (under which approximately $602.1 million remains available for sale as of the date hereof).

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We are providing supplemental non-GAAP financial measures below which management uses internally to help understand, manage, and evaluate our business performance and to help make operating decisions. We believe that had or were reasonably likelythese non-GAAP financial measures are also useful to haveinvestors and analysts in comparing our performance across reporting periods on a current or futureconsistent basis. We also believe the use of these non-GAAP financial measures can facilitate comparison of our operating results to those of our competitors. These supplemental financial measures are not measurements of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) and, as a result, these supplemental financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

Non-GAAP financial measures are subject to material impactlimitations as they are not measurements prepared in accordance with GAAP, and are not a substitute for such measurements. For example, we expect that share-based compensation expense, which is excluded from certain of the non-GAAP financial measures below, will continue to be a significant recurring expense over the coming years and is an important part of the compensation provided to certain employees, officers, and directors. Similarly, we expect that interest expense arising from the amortization of debt issuance costs on our long-term debt, which is excluded from certain of the non-GAAP financial condition, revenues or expenses, resultsmeasures below, will continue to be a recurring expense over the terms of our long-term debt arrangements. Our non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered in isolation and should be read only in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. We rely primarily on such Consolidated Financial Statements to understand, manage, and evaluate our business performance and use the non-GAAP financial measures only supplementally.

Non-GAAP (loss) income from operations

Non-GAAP (loss) income from operations liquidity, capital expenditures, or capital resources.

Recent Accounting Standards

In March 2016,excludes share-based compensation expense, which is a significant non-cash expense that we believe is not reflective of our general business performance, and for which the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, to simplify certain aspects ofaccounting requires management judgment. Consequently, our accounting for share-based payment transactions.  Under ASU 2016-09, all excesscompensation expense could vary significantly in comparison to other companies. The following is a reconciliation of our non-GAAP (loss) income from operations to (loss) income from operations, its most directly comparable GAAP measure, (in thousands) for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Reconciliation of non-GAAP (loss) income from operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Loss) income from operations

 

$

(25,247

)

 

$

6,058

 

 

$

(72,262

)

 

$

(1,082,025

)

Share-based compensation expense

 

 

16,806

 

 

 

16,899

 

 

 

49,855

 

 

 

46,587

 

Non-GAAP (loss) income from operations

 

$

(8,441

)

 

$

22,957

 

 

$

(22,407

)

 

$

(1,035,438

)

41


Non-GAAP net (loss) income and non-GAAP diluted (loss) earnings per share

Non-GAAP net (loss) income and non-GAAP diluted (loss) earnings per share each exclude the impact of (i) share-based compensation expense, (ii) interest expense arising from the amortization of debt issuance costs on our long-term debt, (iii) gain on extinguishment of debt, and (iv) related income taxes. We believe non-GAAP net (loss) income and non-GAAP diluted (loss) earnings per share offer management and investors insight as they exclude significant non-cash expenses, gains on debt extinguishment, and their related income tax effects. The following are reconciliations of our non-GAAP net (loss) income and non-GAAP diluted (loss) earnings per share to net (loss) income and diluted (loss) earnings per share, respectively, their most directly comparable GAAP measures (in thousands, except per share data), for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

Reconciliation of non-GAAP net (loss) income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (loss) income

 

$

(143,441

)

 

$

(27,079

)

 

$

339,995

 

 

$

(1,220,128

)

Share-based compensation expense

 

 

16,806

 

 

 

16,899

 

 

 

49,855

 

 

 

46,587

 

Interest expense arising from amortization of debt issuance costs

 

 

2,199

 

 

 

2,193

 

 

 

6,599

 

 

 

6,490

 

Gain on debt extinguishment

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

(44,686

)

 

 

0

 

Income tax effects (1)

 

 

(3,230

)

 

 

(2,844

)

 

 

2,538

 

 

 

(10,186

)

Non-GAAP net (loss) income

 

$

(127,666

)

 

$

(10,831

)

 

$

354,301

 

 

$

(1,177,237

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation of non-GAAP diluted (loss) earnings per share (2):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted (loss) earnings per share

 

$

(10.09

)

 

$

(2.39

)

 

$

23.87

 

 

$

(107.99

)

Share-based compensation expense (per diluted share)

 

 

1.18

 

 

 

1.49

 

 

 

3.44

 

 

 

4.12

 

Interest expense arising from amortization of debt issuance costs (per diluted share) (3)

 

 

0.15

 

 

 

0.19

 

 

 

0.09

 

 

 

0.57

 

Gain on debt extinguishment (per diluted share)

 

 

0.00

 

 

 

0.00

 

 

 

(3.08

)

 

 

0.00

 

Income tax effects (per diluted share) (3)

 

 

(0.22

)

 

 

(0.25

)

 

 

0.27

 

 

 

(0.89

)

Non-GAAP diluted (loss) earnings per share

 

$

(8.98

)

 

$

(0.96

)

 

$

24.59

 

 

$

(104.19

)

(1)
Income tax effects reflect the net tax effects of share-based compensation expense, which includes tax benefits should be recognizedand expenses on exercises of stock options and vesting of share-settled restricted stock units, interest expense for amortization of debt issuance costs, and gain on debt extinguishment.
(2)
For reconciliation purposes, the non-GAAP diluted earnings (loss) per share calculations use the same weighted average shares outstanding as income tax expense or benefitthat used in the income statement, regardlessGAAP diluted earnings (loss) per share calculations for the same period. For example, in periods of whetherGAAP net loss, otherwise dilutive potential shares of common stock from our share-based compensation arrangements and Convertible Notes are excluded from the benefit reduces taxes payableGAAP diluted loss per share calculation as they would be antidilutive, and therefore are also excluded from the non-GAAP diluted earnings or loss per share calculation.
(3)
For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, interest expense from the amortization of issuance costs of the Convertible Notes has been added back to the numerator in the current period.  The excess tax benefits will be combined with other income tax cash flows within operating activities in the statement of cash flows.  In addition, excess tax benefits or tax deficiencies will no longer be included in the calculation of assumed proceeds under the treasury stock method of computingGAAP diluted earnings per share. ASU 2016-09 also allows companies to make an accounting policy election to either estimate the number of awards expected to vest or to account for forfeitures as they occur, when accruing share-based compensation expense. Lastly, ASU 2016-09 permits employers to withhold upshare calculation (as disclosed in Note 9, Basic and Diluted (Loss) Earnings per Share, to the employee’s maximum statutoryConsolidated Financial Statements), and therefore the per diluted share effects of the amortization of issuance costs of the Convertible Notes have been excluded from the “Interest expense arising from amortization of debt issuance costs (per diluted share)” and “Income tax rateeffects (per diluted share)” lines in applicable jurisdictions and still qualifythe above reconciliation for the exceptionnine months ended September 30, 2023.

42


Non-GAAP Constant Currency Revenues, Cost of Revenues, and Operating Expenses

We present certain of our revenues, cost of revenues, and operating expenses on a non-GAAP constant currency basis, which excludes certain changes resulting from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. These non-GAAP constant currency metrics allow our management and investors to liability classification. Cash paid by an employer when directly withholding shares for tax-withholding purposes should be classified as a financing activitycompare operating results to the same period in the statementprior year without the effects of cash flows. We adopted this guidance on January 1, 2017 and have:

(v)

recognized excess tax benefits as part of the “Provision for income taxes” line item within income before income taxes in our Consolidated Statements of Operations, on a prospective basis.  

(vi)

combined the impact of excess tax benefits with the “Deferred taxes” line item within operating activities in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, on a prospective basis.  

(vii)

excluded excess tax benefits or tax deficiencies in the calculation of our diluted earnings per share, on a prospective basis; and  

(viii)

made an accounting policy election to account for forfeitures as they occur, on a modified retrospective basis, the impact of which is generally consistent with our previous method of estimating forfeitures.  

No prior periods have been adjusted with respect to our adoption of ASU 2016-09.  In addition, no cumulative-effect adjustments to retained earnings have been recorded as of the beginning of the period because there were no unrecognized excess tax benefits or tax deficiencies outstanding and no expected forfeitures applied to our share-based compensation expense as of the end of the preceding year.  The remaining amendments under ASU 2016-09 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, to address the diversity in practice that currently exists regarding the classification and presentation ofcertain changes in restricted cashforeign currency exchange rates, which are not reflective of our general business performance and may vary significantly between periods. The following are reconciliations our non-GAAP constant currency revenues, cost of revenues, and operating expenses to their most directly comparable GAAP measures (in thousands) for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

GAAP

 

 

Foreign
Currency
Exchange Rate
Impact (1)

 

 

Non-GAAP Constant Currency (2)

 

 

GAAP

 

 

GAAP % Change

 

 

Non-GAAP Constant Currency %
Change (3)

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2023

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2023

 

 

2023

 

Product licenses revenues

 

$

24,045

 

 

$

368

 

 

$

23,677

 

 

$

22,286

 

 

 

7.9

%

 

 

6.2

%

Subscription services revenues

 

 

20,974

 

 

 

410

 

 

 

20,564

 

 

 

16,414

 

 

 

27.8

%

 

 

25.3

%

Product support revenues

 

 

66,860

 

 

 

1,530

 

 

 

65,330

 

 

 

66,010

 

 

 

1.3

%

 

 

-1.0

%

Other services revenues

 

 

17,583

 

 

 

446

 

 

 

17,137

 

 

 

20,650

 

 

 

-14.9

%

 

 

-17.0

%

Cost of product support revenues

 

 

5,531

 

 

 

73

 

 

 

5,458

 

 

 

5,224

 

 

 

5.9

%

 

 

4.5

%

Cost of other services revenues

 

 

12,760

 

 

 

543

 

 

 

12,217

 

 

 

13,360

 

 

 

-4.5

%

 

 

-8.6

%

Sales and marketing expenses

 

 

35,606

 

 

 

643

 

 

 

34,963

 

 

 

35,409

 

 

 

0.6

%

 

 

-1.3

%

Research and development expenses

 

 

29,660

 

 

 

(197

)

 

 

29,857

 

 

 

30,498

 

 

 

-2.7

%

 

 

-2.1

%

General and administrative expenses

 

 

29,223

 

 

 

209

 

 

 

29,014

 

 

 

27,283

 

 

 

7.1

%

 

 

6.3

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GAAP

 

 

Foreign
Currency
Exchange Rate
Impact (1)

 

 

Non-GAAP Constant Currency (2)

 

 

GAAP

 

 

GAAP % Change

 

 

Non-GAAP Constant Currency %
Change (3)

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

Product licenses revenues

 

$

22,286

 

 

$

(915

)

 

$

23,201

 

 

$

25,830

 

 

 

-13.7

%

 

 

-10.2

%

Subscription services revenues

 

 

16,414

 

 

 

(790

)

 

 

17,204

 

 

 

10,853

 

 

 

51.2

%

 

 

58.5

%

Product support revenues

 

 

66,010

 

 

 

(3,760

)

 

 

69,770

 

 

 

70,387

 

 

 

-6.2

%

 

 

-0.9

%

Other services revenues

 

 

20,650

 

 

 

(1,710

)

 

 

22,360

 

 

 

20,924

 

 

 

-1.3

%

 

 

6.9

%

Cost of product support revenues

 

 

5,224

 

 

 

(236

)

 

 

5,460

 

 

 

4,679

 

 

 

11.6

%

 

 

16.7

%

Cost of other services revenues

 

 

13,360

 

 

 

(1,284

)

 

 

14,644

 

 

 

12,975

 

 

 

3.0

%

 

 

12.9

%

Sales and marketing expenses

 

 

35,409

 

 

 

(1,601

)

 

 

37,010

 

 

 

38,209

 

 

 

-7.3

%

 

 

-3.1

%

Research and development expenses

 

 

30,498

 

 

 

(740

)

 

 

31,238

 

 

 

28,211

 

 

 

8.1

%

 

 

10.7

%

General and administrative expenses

 

 

27,283

 

 

 

(467

)

 

 

27,750

 

 

 

23,751

 

 

 

14.9

%

 

 

16.8

%

43


 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

GAAP

 

 

Foreign
Currency
Exchange Rate
Impact (1)

 

 

Non-GAAP Constant Currency (2)

 

 

GAAP

 

 

GAAP % Change

 

 

Non-GAAP Constant Currency %
Change (3)

 

 

 

2023

 

 

2023

 

 

2023

 

 

2022

 

 

2023

 

 

2023

 

Product licenses revenues

 

$

56,979

 

 

$

(127

)

 

$

57,106

 

 

$

58,928

 

 

 

-3.3

%

 

 

-3.1

%

Subscription services revenues

 

 

59,662

 

 

 

(7

)

 

 

59,669

 

 

 

43,276

 

 

 

37.9

%

 

 

37.9

%

Product support revenues

 

 

198,422

 

 

 

377

 

 

 

198,045

 

 

 

199,682

 

 

 

-0.6

%

 

 

-0.8

%

Other services revenues

 

 

56,714

 

 

 

(202

)

 

 

56,916

 

 

 

64,824

 

 

 

-12.5

%

 

 

-12.2

%

Cost of product support revenues

 

 

17,115

 

 

 

(43

)

 

 

17,158

 

 

 

15,542

 

 

 

10.1

%

 

 

10.4

%

Cost of other services revenues

 

 

40,188

 

 

 

165

 

 

 

40,023

 

 

 

42,107

 

 

 

-4.6

%

 

 

-4.9

%

Sales and marketing expenses

 

 

109,372

 

 

 

26

 

 

 

109,346

 

 

 

105,511

 

 

 

3.7

%

 

 

3.6

%

Research and development expenses

 

 

90,372

 

 

 

(1,284

)

 

 

91,656

 

 

 

95,811

 

 

 

-5.7

%

 

 

-4.3

%

General and administrative expenses

 

 

85,959

 

 

 

13

 

 

 

85,946

 

 

 

82,491

 

 

 

4.2

%

 

 

4.2

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GAAP

 

 

Foreign
Currency
Exchange Rate
Impact (1)

 

 

Non-GAAP Constant Currency (2)

 

 

GAAP

 

 

GAAP % Change

 

 

Non-GAAP Constant Currency %
Change (3)

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2022

 

Product licenses revenues

 

$

58,928

 

 

$

(1,691

)

 

$

60,619

 

 

$

69,261

 

 

 

-14.9

%

 

 

-12.5

%

Subscription services revenues

 

 

43,276

 

 

 

(1,436

)

 

 

44,712

 

 

 

31,221

 

 

 

38.6

%

 

 

43.2

%

Product support revenues

 

 

199,682

 

 

 

(8,343

)

 

 

208,025

 

 

 

212,063

 

 

 

-5.8

%

 

 

-1.9

%

Other services revenues

 

 

64,824

 

 

 

(3,848

)

 

 

68,672

 

 

 

63,702

 

 

 

1.8

%

 

 

7.8

%

Cost of product support revenues

 

 

15,542

 

 

 

(516

)

 

 

16,058

 

 

 

14,353

 

 

 

8.3

%

 

 

11.9

%

Cost of other services revenues

 

 

42,107

 

 

 

(2,949

)

 

 

45,056

 

 

 

40,543

 

 

 

3.9

%

 

 

11.1

%

Sales and marketing expenses

 

 

105,511

 

 

 

(3,636

)

 

 

109,147

 

 

 

116,728

 

 

 

-9.6

%

 

 

-6.5

%

Research and development expenses

 

 

95,811

 

 

 

(1,159

)

 

 

96,970

 

 

 

86,242

 

 

 

11.1

%

 

 

12.4

%

General and administrative expenses

 

 

82,491

 

 

 

(1,040

)

 

 

83,531

 

 

 

68,397

 

 

 

20.6

%

 

 

22.1

%

(1)
The “Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Impact” reflects the estimated impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates on the statementinternational components of cash flows. Under ASU 2016-18, entities will be required to include restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents with total cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning and end of period amounts on the statement of cash flows. Entities will also be required to disclose information about the nature of


their restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents. Additionally, if cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents are presented in more than one line item in the statement of financial position, entities will be required to present a reconciliation, either on the face of the statement of cash flows or disclosed in the notes, of the totals in the statement of cash flows to the related line item captions in the statement of financial position. We adopted this guidance on January 1, 2017 and retrospectively applied the required updates to our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for allOperations. It shows the increase (decrease) in material international revenues or expenses, as applicable, from the same period in the prior year, based on comparisons to the prior year quarterly average foreign currency exchange rates. Beginning in the third quarter of 2023, the term “international” refers to operations outside of the United States and Canada only where the functional currency is the local currency (i.e., excluding any location whose economy is considered highly inflationary). Prior year comparative periods presented. We do not consider our restricted cash balanceshave been recast to be material for further disclosure or reconciliation. conform to current period presentation.

(2)
The adoption of this guidance did not impact our consolidated financial position, results of operations, and footnote disclosures.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, which supersedes nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance.  The standard’s core principle is that an entity should recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that“Non-GAAP Constant Currency” reflects the consideration to whichcurrent period GAAP amount, less the entity expects to be entitled in exchangeForeign Currency Exchange Rate Impact.

(3)
The “Non-GAAP Constant Currency % Change” reflects the percentage change between the current period Non-GAAP Constant Currency amount and the GAAP amount for those goods or services.  The standard creates a five-step model to achieve its core principle: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligationssame period in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the separate performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.  In addition, entities must disclose sufficient information to enable users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers.  Qualitative and quantitative disclosures are required about: (i) the entity’s contracts with customers; (ii) the significant judgments, and changes in judgments, made in applying the guidance to those contracts; and (iii) any assets recognized from the costs to obtain or fulfill a contract with a customer.  In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) – Deferral of the Effective Date, which defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 to interim and annual periods beginning January 1, 2018.  The standard allows entities to apply the standard retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented (“full retrospective adoption”) or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying the standard recognized at the date of initial application (“modified retrospective adoption”).  We plan to adopt this guidance on January 1, 2018 and expect adoption using the full retrospective method, which is dependent on system readiness and our ability to timely compile necessary information related to prior periods.  We have completed several key accounting assessments related to the standard and are in the process of finalizing our remaining assessments and quantifying prior year adjustments. We also continue to evaluate and implement changes to related processes, systems, and internal controls.  Our evaluation has included determining whether the unit of account (i.e., performance obligations) will change as compared to current GAAP, as well as determining the standalone selling price of each performance obligation.  Standalone selling prices under the new guidance may not be substantially different from our current methodologies of establishing VSOE of fair value on multiple element arrangements. We have identified certain arrangements where revenue may be recognized earlier, as compared to current GAAP, in particular term licenses and sales to resellers and OEMs who purchase our products for resale. We expect to recognize license revenue from term licenses upon delivery of the software, rather than over the term of the arrangement.  For reseller and OEM deals, we expect to recognize revenue when we transfer control of the products to the reseller or OEM, less potential adjustments for returns or price protection, rather than waiting for the reseller or OEM to sell the products to an end user.  Upon adoption of the new standard, we also expect to begin capitalizing certain commissions payable to our sales force and subsequently amortizing these capitalized costs on a straight-line basis over a three-year period.  Further, we expect to no longer offset our receivable and deferred revenue balances for unpaid items included in deferred revenue and advance payments.  We continue to evaluate the impact of this guidance and its subsequent amendments on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows, and any assessments made, including the adoption method, are subject to change.year.

44


In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, which requires lease assets and lease liabilities be recognized for all leases, in addition to the disclosure of key information to enable users of financial statements to assess the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from an entity’s leasing arrangements.  ASU 2016-02 defines a lease as a contract, or part of a contract, that conveys both (i) the right to obtain economic benefits from and (ii) direct the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration.  Under ASU 2016-02, leases are classified as either finance or operating leases. For finance leases, a lessee shall recognize in profit or loss the amortization of the lease asset and interest on the lease liability.  For operating leases, a lessee shall recognize in profit or loss a single lease cost, calculated so that the remaining cost of the lease is allocated over the remaining lease term, generally on a straight-line basis.  ASU 2016-02 requires the recognition and measurement of leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach and is effective for interim and annual periods beginning January 1, 2019.  Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16 to improve the accounting for income tax effects of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. Under ASU 2016-16, the deferral of the income tax consequences of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory is eliminated. Entities will be required to recognize the income tax consequences of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory when the transfers occur. The standard requires a cumulative-effect adjustment directly to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption using a modified retrospective approach. ASU 2016-16 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning January 1, 2018. We do not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.


ItemItem 3. Quantitative and QualitativeQualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The following discussion about our market risk exposures involves forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.

We are exposed to the impact of both interest ratemarket price changes in bitcoin and foreign currency fluctuations.

Interest Rate Risk.Market Price Risk of Bitcoin. We face exposurehave used a significant portion of our cash, including cash generated from capital raising transactions, to changes in interest rates primarily relating toacquire bitcoin and, as of September 30, 2023, we held approximately 158,245 bitcoins. The carrying value of our investments.bitcoins as of September 30, 2023 was $2.451 billion, which reflects cumulative impairments of $2.230 billion, on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. We generally investaccount for our excess cash in short-term, highly-rated, fixed-rate financial instruments.  These fixed-rate instrumentsbitcoin as indefinite-lived intangible assets, which are subject to interest rate risk and may fallimpairment losses if the fair value of our bitcoin decreases below their carrying value at any time since their acquisition. Impairment losses cannot be recovered for any subsequent increase in value if interest rates increase.  We do not hold or invest in these fixed-rate instrumentsfair value. For example, the market price of one bitcoin on the Coinbase exchange (our principal market for trading purposes or speculation. Asbitcoin) ranged from a low of $16,490.00 to a high of $31,862.21 during the nine months ended September 30, 2017,2023, but the carrying value of each bitcoin we held approximately $259.2at the end of the reporting period reflects the lowest price of one bitcoin quoted on the active exchange at any time since its acquisition. Therefore, negative swings in the market price of bitcoin could have a material impact on our earnings and on the carrying value of our digital assets. Positive swings in the market price of bitcoin are not reflected in the carrying value of our digital assets and impact earnings only when the bitcoin is sold at a gain. For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, we incurred an impairment loss of $76.6 million of investments in U.S. Treasury securities and certificates of deposit with stated maturity dates between three months and one year from the purchase date, and we intend to hold these investments until maturity.on our bitcoin.

Foreign Currency Risk.We conduct a significant portion of our business in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, the currency in which we report our Consolidated Financial Statements. International revenues accounted for 42.1%44.5% and 36.5%38.8% of our total revenues for the three months ended September 30, 20172023 and 2016,2022, respectively, and 39.9%42.7% and 38.6%40.5% of our total revenuesrevenue for the nine months ended September 30, 20172023 and 2016,2022, respectively. We anticipate that international revenues will continue to account for a significant portion of our total revenues. The functional currency of each of our foreign subsidiaries is generally the local currency.

Assets and liabilities of our foreign subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates in effect as of the applicable balance sheetBalance Sheet date and any resulting translation adjustments are included as an adjustment to stockholders’ equity. Revenues and expenses generated from these subsidiaries are translated at average monthly exchange rates during the quarter in which the transactions occur. GainsTransaction gains and losses arising from transactions denominated in local currenciesa currency other than the functional currency of the entity involved are included in net income.the results of operations.

As a result of transacting in multiple currencies and reporting our financial statementsConsolidated Financial Statements in U.S. dollars, our operating results may be adversely impacted by currency exchange rate fluctuations in the future. The impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations on current and comparable periods is described in “Itemthe “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section under “Part I. Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

We cannot predict the effect of exchange rate fluctuations upon our future results. We attempt to minimize our foreign currency risk by converting our excess foreign currency held in foreign jurisdictions to U.S. dollar-denominated cash and investment accounts.

As of September 30, 20172023 and December 31, 2016,2022, a 10% adverse change in foreign currency exchange rates versus the U.S. dollar would have decreased our aggregate reported cash and cash equivalents by 4.2% and short-term investments by 0.2% at each respective period end.  The exposure to an adverse change in foreign currency rates as of September 30, 2017 remained unchanged, as compared to December 31, 2016, primarily due to a weakening of the U.S. dollar and an increase of cash balances in our non-U.S. dollar based bank accounts.4.5%, respectively. If average exchange rates during the nine months ended September 30, 20172023 had changed unfavorably by 10%, our revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 20172023 would have decreased by 3.7%3.6%. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017,2023, our revenues were lower by 0.3%not materially impacted as a result of a 0.6% unfavorable0.5% favorable change in weighted average exchange rates, as compared to the same period in the prior year.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report. Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives, and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives. Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.


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Changes in Internal Controls.  During the third quarter of 2016, we began implementing a plan to transformNo change in our worldwide finance and accounting organization. Previously, our finance and accounting activities relating to each of the countries where we operate were decentralized, and conducted by personnel based within each respective country. The transformation resulted in the consolidation of our worldwide finance and accounting functions into three geographically based centers of excellence. As of the end of the second quarter of 2017, we had completed this transformation. While the nature and operation of our key transaction-level controls did not materially change as a result of the transformation, the personnel executing the controls and the locations where the controls are performed have changed. Additionally, during the second quarter of 2017, we implemented a new professional service automation system to track billable time used to invoice customers, as well as process internal business travel and entertainment expenses. The implementation of this new system did not change the underlying internal controls. We believe that we have maintained appropriate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) occurred during the fiscal quarterthree months ended September 30, 2017, and2023 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting has not been materially affected by the finance and accounting transformation, and implementation of the new professional service automation system.reporting.

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PART II - OTHEROTHER INFORMATION

In December 2011, DataTern, Inc. (“DataTern”) filed a complaint for patent infringement against the Company in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts (the “District Court”). The complaint alleged that the Company infringes U.S. Patent No. 6,101,502 (the “’502 Patent”), allegedly owned by DataTern, by making, selling, or offering for sale several of the Company’s products and services including MicroStrategy 9, MicroStrategy Intelligence Server, MicroStrategy Business Intelligence Platform, MicroStrategy Cloud Personal, and other MicroStrategy applications for creating or using data mining, dashboards, business analytics, data storage and warehousing, and web hosting support.  The complaint accused the Company of willful infringement and sought an unspecified amount of damages, an award of attorneys’ fees, and preliminary and permanent injunctive relief. In light of a judgment in a separate action involving DataTern in another jurisdiction, in February 2013, MicroStrategy and DataTern filed motions for summary judgment of non-infringement and the District Court entered summary judgment against DataTern.  In March 2013, DataTern filed a notice of appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (the “Federal Circuit”).  In December 2014, the Federal Circuit issued an opinion vacating the District Court’s summary judgment, stating that the claim construction on which the summary judgment was based was incorrect.  In January 2015, the case was remanded to the District Court for further proceedings.  A claim construction ruling was issued in February 2017.  In August 2017, counsel for DataTern filed a motion to withdraw from the lawsuit.  The District Court initially gave DataTern a deadline of September 18, 2017 to find replacement counsel, which was later extended to October 20, 2017.  On October 20, 2017, the District Court dismissed the case for failure to prosecute when DataTern failed to identify substitute counsel.  We have received indemnification requests from certain of our channel partners and customers who were sued by DataTern in the District Court in lawsuits alleging infringement of the ‘502 Patent.  The proceedings against these channel partners and customers have been stayed pending the resolution of DataTern’s lawsuit against the Company.  The outcome of these matters is not presently determinable.

We are also involved in various other legal proceedings arising in the normal course of business.business, including the matter described below. Although the outcomes of these other legal proceedings are inherently difficult to predict, we do not expect the resolution of these other legal proceedings to have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

On August 31, 2022, the District, through its Office of the Attorney General, filed a civil complaint in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia naming as defendants (i) Michael J. Saylor, the Chairman of our Board of Directors and our Executive Chairman, in his personal capacity, and (ii) MicroStrategy. The District sought, among other relief, monetary damages under the District’s False Claims Act for the alleged failure of Mr. Saylor to pay personal income taxes to the District over a number of years together with penalties, interest, and treble damages. The complaint alleged that the amount of personal income taxes purportedly involved was more than $25 million. The complaint also alleged in the sole claim against us that we violated the District’s False Claims Act by conspiring to assist Mr. Saylor’s alleged failure to pay personal income taxes. On October 26, 2022, we filed a motion to dismiss the District’s complaint. On February 28, 2023, the court ruled on the motion to dismiss, dismissing the sole claim against us as well as a claim against Mr. Saylor alleging that Mr. Saylor violated the District’s False Claims Act. The court did not dismiss claims against Mr. Saylor alleging that Mr. Saylor failed to pay personal income taxes, interest and penalties due. On April 13, 2023, the District, through its Office of the Attorney General, filed a motion to amend its complaint to attempt to restore claims under the False Claims Act against both Mr. Saylor and MicroStrategy. On May 10, 2023, the court granted the District’s motion to amend its complaint, reinstating MicroStrategy as a defendant in the case. The amended complaint alleges that MicroStrategy violated the District’s False Claims Act by making and using false records and statements in the form of false withholding filings with the District Office of Tax and Revenue. The amended complaint also alleges that Mr. Saylor violated the District’s False Claims Act by making and using false records and statements and by causing MicroStrategy to make and use false records and statements. On June 7, 2023, Mr. Saylor and MicroStrategy filed a motion to dismiss the District’s amended complaint with prejudice. On July 5, 2023, the District filed an opposition to the motion to dismiss made by Mr. Saylor and MicroStrategy. On July 19, 2023, Mr. Saylor and MicroStrategy filed a reply in support of their motion to dismiss. On July 31, 2023, the court denied Mr. Saylor’s and MicroStrategy’s motion to dismiss the amended complaint. On August 22, 2023, MicroStrategy and Mr. Saylor filed a motion asking the court to reconsider its July 31 decision or, in the alternative, to certify for interlocutory review two case-dispositive issues relating to the validity of tax-related amendments to the District’s False Claims Act and authority of the Office of the Attorney General to sue for allegedly unpaid taxes. On October 31, 2023, the court denied Mr. Saylor’s and MicroStrategy’s motion for reconsideration or, in the alternative, certification for interlocutory review. The final outcome of this matter is not presently determinable.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

You should carefully consider the risks described below before making an investment decision. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations.

If any of the following risks occurs,occur, our business, financial condition, or results of operations could be materially adversely affected. In such case, the market price of our class A common stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment.

Risks Related to Our Business in General

Our quarterly operating results, revenues, and expenses may fluctuate significantly, which could have an adverse effect on the market price of our stock

For many reasons, including those described below, our operating results, revenues, and expenses have varied in the past and may vary significantly in the future from quarter to quarter. These fluctuations could have an adverse effect on the market price of our class A common stock.

Fluctuations in Quarterly Operating Results. Our quarterly operating results may fluctuate, in part, as a result of:

fluctuations in the price of bitcoin, of which we have significant holdings and with respect to which we expect to continue to make significant future purchases, and potential material impairment charges that may be associated therewith;
any sales by us of our bitcoin at prices above their then-current carrying costs, which would result in our recording gains upon sale of our digital assets;
regulatory, commercial, and technical developments related to bitcoin or the Bitcoin blockchain, or digital assets more generally;

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the size, timing, volume, and execution of significant orders and shipments;

deliveries;

the mix of products and servicesour offerings ordered by customers, including product licenses and subscription offerings,cloud subscriptions, which can affect the extent to which revenue is recognized immediately or over future quarterly periods;

the timing of the release or delivery of new or enhanced offerings which may affect the period in which we can recognize revenue;

and market acceptance of new and enhanced offerings;

the timing of announcements of new offerings by us or our competitors;

changes in our pricing policies or those of our competitors;

market acceptance of new and enhanced versions of our products and services;

the length of our sales cycles;

seasonal or other buying patterns of our customers;


changes in our operating expenses;

planned major maintenance activities related to our corporate aircraft;

the impact of war, terrorism, infectious diseases (such as COVID-19 and its variants), natural disasters and other global events, and government responses to such events, on the global economy and on our customers, suppliers, employees, and business;

the timing of research and development projects and the capitalization of software development costs;

projects;

personnel changes;

our use of channel partners;

utilization of our consulting and education services, which can be affected by delays or deferrals of customer implementation of our software products;

software;

changesfluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates;

bilateral or multilateral trade tensions, which could affect our offerings in particular foreign markets;

our profitability and expectations for future profitability and their effect on our deferred tax assets and net income for the period in which any adjustment to our net deferred tax asset valuation allowance may be made;

increases or decreases in our liability for unrecognized tax benefits; and

changes in customer decision makingdecision-making processes or customer budgets.

Limited Ability to Adjust Expenses. We base our operating expense budgets on expected revenue trends and strategic objectives. Many of our expenses, such as interest expense on our long-term debt, office leases and certain personnel costs, are relatively fixed. We may be unable to adjust spending quickly enough to offset any unexpected revenue shortfall.shortfall or impairment losses related to our digital assets. Accordingly, any shortfall in revenue from our enterprise analytics software business or impairment losses related to our digital assets may cause significant variation in operating results in any quarter. For example, if our revenues in the future are not sufficient to offset our operating expenses, or we are unable to adjust our operating expenses in a timely manner in response to any shortfall in anticipated revenue, we may incur operating losses.

Based on the above factors, we believe that quarter-to-quarter comparisons of our operating results are not a good indication of our future performance. It is possible that in one or more future quarters, our operating results may be below the expectations of public market analysts and investors. In that event, the market price of our class A common stock may fall.

The market price of our class A common stock has been and may continue to be volatile

The market price of our class A common stock historically has been volatile and may continue to be volatile. The market price of our class A common stock may fluctuate widely in response to various factors, some of which are beyond our control. These factors include, but are not limited to:

quarterly variations in our results of operations or those of our competitors;

announcements about our earnings that are not in line with analyst expectations, the likelihood of which may be enhanced because it is our policy not to give guidance relating to our anticipated financial performance in future periods;

announcements by us or our competitors of acquisitions, dispositions, new offerings, significant contracts, commercial relationships, or capital commitments;

the emergence of new sales channels in which we are unable to compete effectively;

our ability to develop, market, and deliver new and enhanced offerings on a timely basis;

commencement of, or our involvement in, litigation;

any major change in our Board of Directors, management, or governing documents;

changes in governmental regulations or in the status of our regulatory approvals;

recommendations by securities analysts or changes in earnings estimates and our ability to meet those estimates;

investor perception of our Company;

announcements by our competitors of their earnings that are not in line with analyst expectations;

the volume of shares of our class A common stock available for public sale;

sales or purchases of stock by us or by our stockholders, and issuances of awards under our stock incentive plan;

short sales, hedging, and other derivative transactions involving shares of our class A common stock; and

general economic conditions and slow or negative growth of related markets.


In addition, the stock market in general, and the market for technology companies in particular, have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of companies in those markets. These broad market and industry factors may seriously harm the market price of our class A common stock, regardless of our actual operating performance.

We may not be able to sustain or increaseachieve profitability in the future periods

We generated net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2017;2023, due in part to a $403.9 million tax benefit generated primarily from the release of a portion of the valuation allowance on our deferred tax asset related to the impairment on our bitcoin holdings (attributable to the increase in market value of bitcoin as of September 30, 2023 compared to December 31, 2022) and a $44.7 million gain on debt extinguishment resulting from the repayment of the 2025 Secured Term Loan, however, we may not be able to sustain or increaseachieve profitability on a quarterly or annual basis in the future.future periods. If our revenues are not sufficient to offset our operating expenses, or we are unable to adjust our operating expenses in a timely manner in response to any shortfall in anticipated revenue, or we incur additional significant impairment losses related to our digital assets, we may incur operating losses in future periods, our profitability may decrease, or we may cease to be profitable, or we may incur operating losses.profitable. As a result, our business, results of operations, and financial condition may be materially adversely affected.

As of September 30, 2017,2023, we had $18.0$614.1 million of deferred tax assets, net ofwhich reflects a $0.9$118.4 million valuation allowance. The largest deferred tax asset relates to the impairment on our bitcoin holdings. Changes to the valuation allowance against the deferred tax asset are largely dependent on the change in the market value of bitcoin from the previous reporting date. If the market value of bitcoin at a future reporting date is less than the market value of bitcoin at the previous reporting date, we are unablemay be required to sustainincrease further the valuation allowance against the deferred tax asset. Additionally, if we do not achieve profitability in the future, we may also be required to increase the valuation allowance against thesethe remaining deferred tax assets, whichassets. A significant increase in the valuation allowance could result in a charge that would materially adversely affect net income in the period in which the charge is incurred.

Economic uncertainty and increased competition for our customers, particularly in the retail industry, could materially adversely affect our business and results of operations

The U.S. and other significant markets have experienced cyclical downturns and worldwide economic conditions remain uncertain. Economic uncertainty and associated macroeconomic conditions make it extremely difficult for our customers and us to accurately forecast and plan future business activities, and could cause our customers to slow spending on our products and services, which could delay and lengthen sales cycles.  Furthermore, during uncertain economic times, our customers may face issues gaining timely access to sufficient credit, which could result in an impairment of their ability to make timely payments to us.  If that were to occur, we may be required to increase our allowance for doubtful accounts and our results would be negatively impacted.

Furthermore, we have a significant number of customers in the retail industry, which has recently experienced intense competition and structural changes.  A significant downturn or the intensification of competition in this industry may cause organizations to reduce their capital expenditures in general or specifically reduce their spending on information technology.  In addition, customers in this industry may delay or cancel information technology projects or seek to lower their costs by renegotiating vendor contracts.  Customers with excess information technology resources may choose to develop in-house software solutions rather than obtain those solutions from us.  In recent years, consumers have increasingly migrated toward large e-commerce platforms and other online applications.  As a result, the retail industry has experienced consolidation and other ownership changes.  In the future, retailers may further consolidate, undergo restructurings or reorganizations, or realign their affiliations, any of which could decrease the number of competitors within the retail industry, reducing the number of potential customers for our offerings.  Moreover, our competitors may respond to challenging market conditions by lowering prices and attempting to lure away our customers.  We cannot predict the timing, strength, or duration of any economic slowdown or any subsequent recovery generally, or competitive and structural changes in the retail industry.  If the conditions in the general economy and the markets in which we operate worsen from present levels, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

We may have exposure to greater than anticipated tax liabilities

We are subject to income taxes and non-income taxes in a variety of domestic and foreign jurisdictions. Our future income taxestax liability could be materially adversely affected by earnings that are lower than anticipated in jurisdictions where we have lower statutory rates, earnings that are higher than anticipated in jurisdictions where we have higher statutory rates, changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities, changes in the amount of our unrecognized tax benefits, or changes in tax laws, regulations, accounting principles, or interpretations thereof. In addition, if we sold any of our bitcoin at prices greater than the cost basis of the bitcoin sold, we would incur a tax liability with respect to any gain recognized, and such tax liability could be material.

Further changes48


Changes in the tax laws of foreign jurisdictions could arise, including as a result of the base erosion and profit shifting (“BEPS”) project undertaken by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (“OECD”) to combat base erosion and profit shifting (“BEPS”). The OECD, which represents a coalition of member countries, has issued recommendations that, in some cases, make substantial changes to numerous long-standing tax positions and principles. These changes, many of which have been adopted or are under active consideration by OECD members and/or other countries, could increase tax uncertainty and may adversely affect our provision for income taxes. In addition,

After enactment of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, most of our income is taxable in the United States, proposals for broad reform ofU.S. with a significant portion taxable under the existing corporate tax system areGlobal Intangible Low-Taxed Income (“GILTI”) regime. Beginning in fiscal year 2027, the deduction allowable under evaluation by various legislative and administrative bodies and by the Trump administration, butGILTI regime will decrease from 50% to 37.5%, which will increase the likelihood of enactment of any such proposals (whether in their current forms or with modifications) is unclear, and it is not possible to accurately determine their overall impact on our effective tax rate at this time.imposed on our income. The U.S. also enacted the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (“IRA”) in August 2022. The IRA applies to tax years beginning after December 31, 2022 and introduces a 15% corporate alternative minimum tax for corporations whose average annual adjusted financial statement income for any consecutive three-tax-year period preceding the tax year exceeds $1 billion and a 1% excise tax on certain stock repurchases made by publicly traded U.S. corporations after December 31, 2022. If we are subject to these new taxes under the IRA, it could materially affect our financial results, including our earnings and cash flow.


Our determination of our tax liability is subject to review by applicable domestic and foreign tax authorities. Any adverse outcome of such reviews could have an adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition. The determination of our worldwide provision for income taxes and other tax liabilities requires significant judgment and in the ordinary course of business, there are many transactions and calculations, including in respect of transactions involving bitcoin, where the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. Moreover, as a multinational business, we have subsidiaries that engage in many intercompany transactions in a variety of tax jurisdictions where the ultimate tax determination is uncertain.

We also have contingent tax liabilities that, in management’s judgment, are not probable of assertion. If such unasserted contingent liabilities were to be asserted, or become probable of assertion, we may be required to record significant expenses and liabilities in the period in which these liabilities are asserted or become probable of assertion.

As a result of these and other factors, the ultimate amount of tax obligations owed may differ from the amounts recorded in our financial statements and any such difference may materially affect our financial results in future periods in which we change our estimates of our tax obligations or in which the ultimate tax outcome is determined.

Risks Related to Our Bitcoin Acquisition Strategy and Holdings

Our bitcoin acquisition strategy exposes us to various risks associated with bitcoin

Our bitcoin acquisition strategy exposes us to various risks associated with bitcoin, including the following:

Bitcoin is a highly volatile asset. Bitcoin is a highly volatile asset that has traded below $20,000 per bitcoin and above $35,000 per bitcoin on the Coinbase exchange (our principal market for bitcoin) in the 12 months preceding the date of this Quarterly Report.

Bitcoin does not pay interest or dividends. Bitcoin does not pay interest or other returns and we can only generate cash from our bitcoin holdings if we sell our bitcoin or implement strategies to create income streams or otherwise generate cash by using our bitcoin holdings. Even if we pursue any such strategies, we may be unable to create income streams or otherwise generate cash from our bitcoin holdings, and any such strategies may subject us to additional risks.

Our bitcoin holdings significantly impact our financial results and the market price of our class A common stock. Our bitcoin holdings have significantly affected our financial results and if we continue to increase our overall holdings of bitcoin in the future, they will have an even greater impact on our financial results and the market price of our class A common stock. See “Risks Related to Our Bitcoin Acquisition Strategy and Holdings – Our historical financial statements do not reflect the potential variability in earnings that we may experience in the future relating to our bitcoin holdings.”

Our bitcoin acquisition strategy has not been tested over an extended period of time or under different market conditions. We are continually examining the risks and rewards of our bitcoin acquisition strategy. This strategy has not been tested over an extended period of time or under different market conditions. For example, although we believe bitcoin, due to its limited supply, has the potential to serve as a hedge against inflation in the long term, the short-term price of bitcoin has declined in recent periods during which the inflation rate increased. Some investors and other market participants may disagree with our bitcoin acquisition strategy or actions we undertake to implement it. If bitcoin prices were to decrease or our bitcoin acquisition strategy otherwise proves unsuccessful, our financial condition, results of operations, and the market price of our class A common stock would be materially adversely impacted.

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We are subject to counterparty risks, including in particular risks relating to our custodians. Although we have implemented various measures that are designed to mitigate our counterparty risks, including by storing substantially all of the bitcoin we own in custody accounts at U.S.-based, institutional-grade custodians and negotiating contractual arrangements intended to establish that our property interest in custodially-held bitcoin is not subject to claims of our custodians’ creditors, applicable insolvency law is not fully developed with respect to the holding of digital assets in custodial accounts. If our custodially-held bitcoin were nevertheless considered to be the property of our custodians’ estates in the event that any such custodians were to enter bankruptcy, receivership or similar insolvency proceedings, we could be treated as a general unsecured creditor of such custodians, inhibiting our ability to exercise ownership rights with respect to such bitcoin and this may ultimately result in the loss of the value related to some or all of such bitcoin. Even if we are able to prevent our bitcoin from being considered the property of a custodian’s bankruptcy estate as part of an insolvency proceeding, it is possible that we would still be delayed or may otherwise experience difficulty in accessing our bitcoin held by the affected custodian during the pendency of the insolvency proceedings. Any such outcome could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and the market price of our class A common stock.

The broader digital assets industry is subject to counterparty risks, which could adversely impact the adoption rate, price, and use of bitcoin. A series of recent high-profile bankruptcies, closures, liquidations, regulatory enforcement actions and other events relating to companies operating in the digital asset industry, including the filings for bankruptcy protection by Three Arrows Capital, Celsius Network, Voyager Digital, FTX Trading and Genesis Global Capital, the closure or liquidation of certain financial institutions that provided lending and other services to the digital assets industry, including Signature Bank and Silvergate Bank, SEC enforcement actions against Coinbase, Inc. and Binance Holdings Ltd., the placement of Prime Trust, LLC into receivership following a cease-and-desist order issued by Nevada’s Department of Business and Industry, and the filing of a civil fraud lawsuit by the New York Attorney General against Genesis Global Capital, its parent company Digital Currency Group, Inc., and former partner Gemini Trust Company, have highlighted the counterparty risks applicable to owning and transacting in digital assets. Although these bankruptcies, closures, liquidations and other events have not resulted in any loss or misappropriation of our bitcoin, nor have such events adversely impacted our access to our bitcoin, they have, in the short-term, likely negatively impacted the adoption rate and use of bitcoin. Additional bankruptcies, closures, liquidations, regulatory enforcement actions or other events involving participants in the digital assets industry in the future may further negatively impact the adoption rate, price, and use of bitcoin.

Changes in our ownership of bitcoin could have accounting, regulatory and other impacts. While our bitcoin is currently owned directly by us or our wholly owned subsidiaries, we may investigate other potential approaches to owning bitcoin, including indirect ownership (for example, through ownership interests in a fund that owns bitcoin). If we were to own all or a portion of our bitcoin indirectly, the accounting treatment for our bitcoin, our ability to use our bitcoin as collateral for additional borrowings, and the regulatory requirements to which we are subject, may correspondingly change.

Changes in the accounting treatment of our bitcoin holdings could have significant accounting impacts, including increasing the volatility of our results. On March 23, 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued an exposure draft for comment of a proposed ASU that would cause in-scope crypto assets (such as bitcoin) to be measured at fair value, with fair value changes recorded in current period earnings. On September 6, 2023, the FASB held a meeting to review the comment letter feedback received and other issues identified for redeliberation. At the conclusion of the meeting, the FASB determined that the expected benefits of the ASU would justify the expected costs and directed the staff of the FASB to draft the final ASU for vote by written ballot. As currently proposed, the ASU will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The FASB also affirmed the proposed ASU will permit early adoption. The FASB has indicated that they expect to hold a vote to approve the final ASU in the fourth quarter of 2023. A change in the accounting treatment of our bitcoin holdings, such as the adoption of the final ASU in a form substantially similar to the exposure draft, could have a material impact on our results of operations in future periods, could increase the volatility of our reported results of operations as well as affect the carrying value of our bitcoin on our balance sheet, and could have adverse tax consequences, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our financial results and the market price of our class A common stock.

The broader digital assets industry, including the technology associated with digital assets, the rate of adoption and development of, and use cases for, digital assets, market perception of digital assets, and the legal, regulatory, and accounting treatment of digital assets are constantly developing and changing, and there may be additional risks in the future that are not possible to predict.

The price of bitcoin can fluctuate for a variety of reasons, and fluctuations in the price of bitcoin have in the past influenced and are likely to continue to influence our financial results and the market price of our class A common stock

Fluctuations in the price of bitcoin have in the past influenced and are likely to continue to influence our financial results and the market price of our class A common stock. Our financial results and the market price of our class A common stock would be adversely affected, and our business and financial condition would be negatively impacted, if the price of bitcoin decreased substantially (as it has in the past), including as a result of:

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decreased user and investor confidence in bitcoin, including due to the various factors described herein;
investment and trading activities, such as (i) trading activities of highly active retail and institutional users, speculators, miners and investors, (ii) actual or expected significant dispositions of bitcoin by large holders, including the expected liquidation of digital assets associated with entities that have filed for bankruptcy protection, such as FTX, which recently received approval to sell up to $3 billion worth of digital assets, including bitcoin, and the transfer and sale of bitcoins associated with the hacked cryptocurrency exchange Mt. Gox, and (iii) actual or perceived manipulation of the spot or derivative markets for bitcoin;
negative publicity, media or social media coverage, or sentiment due to events in or relating to, or perception of, bitcoin or the broader digital assets industry, for example, (i) public perception that bitcoin can be used as a vehicle to circumvent sanctions, including sanctions imposed on Russia or certain regions related to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, or to fund criminal or terrorist activities, such as the purported use of digital assets by Hamas to fund its terrorist attack against Israel in October 2023; (ii) expected or pending civil, criminal, regulatory enforcement or other high profile actions against major participants in the bitcoin ecosystem, including the SEC’s enforcement actions against Coinbase, Inc. and Binance Holdings Ltd.; (iii) additional filings for bankruptcy protection or bankruptcy proceedings of major digital asset industry participants, such as the bankruptcy proceeding of FTX Trading and its affiliates; and (iv) the actual or perceived environmental impact of bitcoin and related activities, including environmental concerns raised by private individuals, governmental and non-governmental organizations, and other actors related to the energy resources consumed in the bitcoin mining process;
changes in consumer preferences and the perceived value or prospects of bitcoin;
competition from other digital assets that exhibit better speed, security, scalability, or energy efficiency, that feature other more favored characteristics, that are backed by governments, including the U.S. government, or reserves of fiat currencies, or that represent ownership or security interests in physical assets;
a decrease in the price of other digital assets, including stablecoins, or the crash or unavailability of stablecoins that are used as a medium of exchange for bitcoin purchase and sale transactions, such as the crash of the stablecoin Terra USD in 2022, to the extent the decrease in the price of such other digital assets or the unavailability of such stablecoins may cause a decrease in the price of bitcoin or adversely affect investor confidence in digital assets generally;
the identification of Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous person or persons who developed bitcoin, or the transfer of substantial amounts of bitcoin from bitcoin wallets attributed to Mr. Nakamoto;
disruptions, failures, unavailability, or interruptions in service of trading venues for bitcoin, such as, for example, the announcement by the digital asset exchange FTX Trading that it would freeze withdrawals and transfers from its accounts and subsequent filing for bankruptcy protection and the recent SEC enforcement action brought against Binance Holdings Ltd., which initially sought to freeze all of its assets during the pendency of the enforcement action;
the filing for bankruptcy protection by, liquidation of, or market concerns about the financial viability of digital asset custodians, trading venues, lending platforms, investment funds, or other digital asset industry participants, such as the filing for bankruptcy protection by digital asset trading venues FTX Trading and BlockFi and digital asset lending platforms Celsius Network and Voyager Digital Holdings in 2022, the ordered liquidation of the digital asset investment fund Three Arrows Capital in 2022, the announced liquidation of Silvergate Bank in 2023, the government-mandated closure and sale of Signature Bank in 2023, and the placement of Prime Trust, LLC into receivership following a cease-and-desist order issued by the Nevada Department of Business and Industry in 2023;
regulatory, legislative, enforcement and judicial actions that adversely affect the price, ownership, transferability, trading volumes, legality or public perception of bitcoin, or that adversely affect the operations of or otherwise prevent digital asset custodians, trading venues, lending platforms or other digital assets industry participants from operating in a manner that allows them to continue to deliver services to the digital assets industry;
further reductions in mining rewards of bitcoin, including block reward halving events, which are events that occur after a specific period of time that reduce the block reward earned by “miners” who validate bitcoin transactions, or increases in the costs associated with bitcoin mining, including increases in electricity costs and hardware and software used in mining, that may cause a decline in support for the bitcoin network;
transaction congestion and fees associated with processing transactions on the bitcoin network;
macroeconomic changes, such as changes in the level of interest rates and inflation, fiscal and monetary policies of governments, trade restrictions, and fiat currency devaluations;
developments in mathematics or technology, including in digital computing, algebraic geometry and quantum computing, that could result in the cryptography used by the Bitcoin blockchain becoming insecure or ineffective; and
changes in national and international economic and political conditions, including, without limitation, the adverse impact attributable to the economic and political instability caused by the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the economic sanctions adopted in response to the conflict, and the potential broadening of the Israel-Hamas conflict to other countries in the Middle East.

Bitcoin and other digital assets are novel assets, and are subject to significant legal, commercial, regulatory and technical uncertainty

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Bitcoin and other digital assets are relatively novel and are subject to significant uncertainty, which could adversely impact their price. The application of securities laws and other laws and regulations to digital assets is unclear in certain respects, and it is possible that regulators in the United States or foreign countries may interpret or apply existing laws and regulations in a manner that adversely affects the price of bitcoin.

The U.S. federal government, states, regulatory agencies, and foreign countries may also enact new laws and regulations, or pursue regulatory, legislative, enforcement or judicial actions, that could materially impact the price of bitcoin or the ability of individuals or institutions such as us to own or transfer bitcoin. For example:

On March 9, 2022, President Biden signed an executive order relating to cryptocurrencies. While the executive order did not mandate the adoption of any specific regulations, it instructed various federal agencies to consider potential regulatory measures, including the evaluation of the creation of a U.S. central bank digital currency (“CBDC”). On September 16, 2022, the White House released a framework for digital asset development, based on reports from various government agencies, including the U.S. Department of Treasury, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Commerce. Among other things, the framework encourages regulators to pursue enforcement actions, issue guidance and rules to address current and emergent risks, support the development and use of innovative technologies by payment providers to increase access to instant payments, consider creating a federal framework to regulate nonbank payment providers, and evaluate whether to call upon Congress to amend the Bank Secrecy Act and laws against unlicensed money transmission to apply explicitly to digital asset service providers.
On April 4, 2022, SEC Chair Gary Gensler announced that he has asked SEC staff to work (i) to register and regulate digital asset platforms like securities exchanges; (ii) with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission on how to jointly address digital asset platforms that trade both securities and non-securities; (iii) on segregating out digital asset platforms’ custody of customer assets, if appropriate; and (iv) on segregating out the market making functions of digital asset platforms, if appropriate. Similarly, foreign government authorities have recently expanded their efforts to restrict certain activities related to bitcoin and other digital assets.
On September 8, 2022, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy issued a report in coordination with other federal agencies relating to the climate and energy implications of digital assets, including bitcoin, in the United States. Among its finding are that digital assets are energy intensive and drive significant environmental impacts, and the report recommends further study of the environmental impact of digital assets and the development of environmental performance regulations for digital asset miners, which may include limiting or eliminating digital assets that use high energy intensity consensus mechanisms, including the proof-of-work consensus mechanisms on which the Bitcoin blockchain is based.
In the United Kingdom, on June 29, 2023, the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (“FSMA”) became law. The FSMA (i) clarifies that “cryptoassets” are subject to the regulated activities and financial promotion orders and (ii) establishes that digital assets firms, including exchanges and custodians, operating in or providing services to the United Kingdom carrying out certain activities involving “cryptoassets” are performing a regulated activity that needs to be authorized by the Financial Conduct Authority and may also be subject to oversight from the Bank of England. Several additional pieces of proposed legislation in the United Kingdom, including The Public Offers and Admissions to Trading Regulations 2023, may subject “cryptoassets” to further regulation.
On March 1, 2023, the U.S. Under Secretary for Domestic Finance provided an update on the development of a U.S. CBDC, indicating that the U.S. Department of Treasury would be providing an initial set of findings and recommendations regarding the development and adoption of a U.S. CBDC in the coming months.
In May 2023, the European Council approved the Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation (“MiCA”), a comprehensive digital asset regulatory framework for the issuance and use of digital assets, like bitcoin, with the requirements phasing into effect throughout 2023 and 2024. MiCA also requires the European Commission (i) to provide a report on the environmental impact of crypto-assets and (ii) based upon such report, introduce mandatory minimum sustainability standards for consensus mechanisms, including the proof-of-work consensus mechanisms on which the Bitcoin blockchain is based.
On April 14, 2023, the SEC reopened the comment period for its proposal to amend the definition of “exchange” under Exchange Act Rule 3b-16 to encompass trading and communication protocol systems for digital asset securities and trading systems that use distributed ledger or blockchain technology, including both so-called “centralized” and “decentralized” trading systems. The comment period is now closed. The SEC may determine whether to adopt the revised definition after an evaluation of comments provided during the comment period. If adopted in its proposed form, the new definition would have a sweeping impact on digital asset trading venues and other digital asset industry participants.
On June 5, 2023, the SEC filed a complaint against Binance Holdings Ltd. and other affiliated entities in federal district court for the District of Columbia, alleging, among other claims related to the operation of the affiliates and their platforms, that: (i) the Binance entities commingled and diverted customer assets; (ii) various affiliates of Binance Holdings Ltd. operated as exchanges, brokers, dealers and clearing agencies without registration under the Exchange Act; (iii) Binance Holdings Ltd. engaged in the unregistered offer and sale of securities; (iv) affiliates of Binance Holdings Ltd. operated in a manner to evade U.S. federal securities laws, and (v) affiliates of Binance Holdings Ltd. misled customers and investors concerning the existence and adequacy of market surveillance and controls to detect and prevent manipulative trading.

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On June 6, 2023, the SEC filed a complaint against Coinbase, Inc. and other affiliated entities in federal district court in the Southern District of New York, alleging, among other claims: (i) that Coinbase, Inc. violated the Exchange Act by failing to register with the SEC as a national securities exchange, broker-dealer, and clearing agency, in connection with activities involving certain identified digital assets that the SEC’s complaint alleges are securities, (ii) that Coinbase, Inc. violated the Securities Act by failing to register with the SEC the offer and sale of securities in connection with its staking program, and (iii) that Coinbase Global Inc. is jointly and severally liable as a control person under the Exchange Act for Coinbase Inc.’s violations of the Exchange Act to the same extent as Coinbase Inc.
In China, the People’s Bank of China and the National Development and Reform Commission have outlawed cryptocurrency mining and declared all cryptocurrency transactions illegal within the country.

Moreover, the risks of engaging in a bitcoin acquisition strategy are relatively novel and have created, and could continue to create, complications due to the lack of experience that third parties have with companies engaging in such a strategy, such as increased costs of director and officer liability insurance or the potential inability to obtain such coverage on acceptable terms in the future.

The growth of the digital assets industry in general, and the use and acceptance of bitcoin in particular, may also impact the price of bitcoin and is subject to a high degree of uncertainty. The pace of worldwide growth in the adoption and use of bitcoin may depend, for instance, on public familiarity with digital assets, ease of buying and accessing bitcoin, institutional demand for bitcoin as an investment asset, the participation of traditional financial institutions in the digital assets industry, consumer demand for bitcoin as a means of payment, and the availability and popularity of alternatives to bitcoin. Even if growth in bitcoin adoption occurs in the near or medium-term, there is no assurance that bitcoin usage will continue to grow over the long-term.

Because bitcoin has no physical existence beyond the record of transactions on the Bitcoin blockchain, a variety of technical factors related to the Bitcoin blockchain could also impact the price of bitcoin. For example, malicious attacks by miners, inadequate mining fees to incentivize validating of bitcoin transactions, hard “forks” of the Bitcoin blockchain into multiple blockchains, and advances in digital computing, algebraic geometry, and quantum computing could undercut the integrity of the Bitcoin blockchain and negatively affect the price of bitcoin. The liquidity of bitcoin may also be reduced and damage to the public perception of bitcoin may occur, if financial institutions were to deny or limit banking services to businesses that hold bitcoin, provide bitcoin-related services or accept bitcoin as payment, which could also decrease the price of bitcoin. Liquidity of bitcoin may also be impacted to the extent that changes in applicable laws and regulatory requirements negatively impact the ability of exchanges and trading venues to provide services for bitcoin and other digital assets.

Our historical financial statements do not reflect the potential variability in earnings that we may experience in the future relating to our bitcoin holdings

Our historical financial statements do not fully reflect the potential variability in earnings that we may experience in the future from holding or selling significant amounts of bitcoin.

The price of bitcoin has historically been subject to dramatic price fluctuations and is highly volatile. As explained more fully in Note 2(g) to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, we determine the fair value of our bitcoin based on quoted (unadjusted) prices on the Coinbase exchange (our principal market for bitcoin). We perform an analysis each quarter to identify whether events or changes in circumstances, principally decreases in the quoted (unadjusted) prices on the active exchange, indicate that it is more likely than not that any of our bitcoin assets are impaired. In determining if an impairment has occurred, we consider the lowest price of one bitcoin quoted on the active exchange at any time since acquiring the specific bitcoin held. If the carrying value of a bitcoin exceeds that lowest price at any time during the quarter, an impairment loss is deemed to have occurred with respect to that bitcoin in the amount equal to the difference between its carrying value and such lowest price, and subsequent increases in the price of bitcoin will not affect the carrying value of our bitcoin. Gains (if any) are not recorded until realized upon sale, at which point they would be presented net of any impairment losses. In determining the gain to be recognized upon sale, we calculate the difference between the sale price and carrying value of the specific bitcoin sold immediately prior to sale.

As a result, any decrease in the fair value of bitcoin below our carrying value for such assets at any time since their acquisition requires us to incur an impairment charge, and such charge could be material to our financial results for the applicable reporting period, which may create significant volatility in our reported earnings and decrease the carrying value of our digital assets, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on the market price of our class A common stock. Conversely, any sale of bitcoins at prices above our carrying value for such assets creates a gain for financial reporting purposes even if we would otherwise incur an economic or tax loss with respect to such transaction, which also may result in significant volatility in our reported earnings. In addition, on March 23, 2023, the FASB issued an exposure draft for comment of a proposed ASU that would cause in-scope crypto assets (such as bitcoin) to be measured at fair value, with fair value changes recorded in current period earnings. On September 6, 2023, the FASB held a meeting to review the comment letter feedback received and other issues identified for redeliberation. At the conclusion of the meeting, the FASB determined

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that the expected benefits of the ASU would justify the expected costs and directed the staff of the FASB to draft the final ASU for vote by written ballot. As currently proposed, the ASU will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The FASB also affirmed the proposed ASU will permit early adoption. The FASB has indicated that they expect to hold a vote to approve the final ASU in the fourth quarter of 2023. If the final ASU adopted by FASB is substantially similar to the exposure draft as updated by the deliberations of the FASB on September 6, 2023, the change in presentation could increase the volatility of our reported results of operations as well as affect the carrying value of our bitcoin on our balance sheet.

As of September 30, 2023, we carried $2.451 billion of digital assets on our balance sheet, consisting of approximately 158,245 bitcoins and reflecting $2.230 billion in cumulative impairment losses attributable to bitcoin trading price fluctuations, and held $45.0 million in cash and cash equivalents, compared to a carrying value of $1.993 billion of digital assets, consisting of approximately 130,000 bitcoins, and $60.4 million in cash and cash equivalents at September 30, 2022. Digital asset impairment losses of $76.6 million incurred during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 represented 21.1% of our operating expenses and were included in our net income of $340.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, compared to $1.089 billion in digital asset impairment losses incurred during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 which represented 79.3% of our operating expenses and contributed to our net loss of $1.220 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2022.

Because we intend to purchase additional bitcoin in future periods and increase our overall holdings of bitcoin, we expect that the proportion of our total assets represented by our bitcoin holdings will increase in the future. As a result, volatility in our earnings in future periods may be significantly more than what we experienced in prior periods.

Changes in securities regulations, or the adoption of new laws or regulations, relating to digital assets generally or bitcoin specifically could adversely affect the price of bitcoin or our ability to transact in or own bitcoin, which may adversely impact the market price of our class A common stock

Although bitcoin and other digital assets have experienced a surge of investor attention since bitcoin was invented in 2008, investors in the United States currently have limited means to gain direct exposure to bitcoin through traditional investment channels, and instead generally must hold bitcoin through “hosted” wallets provided by digital asset service providers or through “unhosted” wallets that expose the investor to risks associated with loss or hacking of their private keys. Given the relative novelty of digital assets, general lack of familiarity with the processes needed to hold bitcoin directly, as well as the potential reluctance of financial planners and advisers to recommend direct bitcoin holdings to their retail customers because of the manner in which such holdings are custodied, some investors have sought exposure to bitcoin through investment vehicles that hold bitcoin and issue shares representing fractional undivided interests in their underlying bitcoin holdings. Although a number of investment vehicles currently offer this exposure to bitcoin, none of these investment vehicles currently offers its shares directly to the public in the United States, and such shares are offered only to “accredited investors” on a private placement basis. Investors who are not eligible to participate in these private placements may nevertheless purchase shares of these investment vehicles in the over-the-counter market, where such shares have in the past traded at a premium to the net asset value (“NAV”) of the underlying bitcoin. These premiums have at times been substantial, although such vehicles have recently traded at a discount to NAV.

One reason that such vehicles have in the past traded at a substantial premium to NAV may be because of the relative scarcity of traditional investment vehicles providing investment exposure to bitcoin. To the extent investors view our class A common stock as providing such exposure, it is possible that the value of our class A common stock may also include a premium over the value of our bitcoin. Any such premium may increase or decrease in different market conditions and our class A common stock could also trade at a discount relative to the value of our bitcoin, including if one or more alternative investment vehicles that provide spot market exposure to bitcoin are approved to list their shares on a U.S. national securities exchange.

Another reason for the substantial premium to NAV exhibited in the past by the trading prices of shares of some bitcoin investment vehicles is that such vehicles operate in a manner similar to closed-end investment funds as opposed to exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) and therefore do not continuously offer to create and redeem their shares at NAV in exchange for bitcoin. Although several bitcoin investment vehicles have attempted to list their shares on a U.S. national securities exchange to permit them to function in the manner of an ETF with continuous share creation and redemption at NAV, the SEC has generally declined to approve any such listing, citing concerns over the surveillance of trading in markets for the underlying bitcoin as well as concerns about fraud and manipulation in bitcoin trading markets. For example, in June 2022 the SEC issued an order denying proposals from NYSE Arca, Inc. to convert Grayscale Bitcoin Trust into a spot bitcoin exchange-traded product (“ETP”). Following the denial, the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust initiated litigation against the SEC alleging that the SEC’s order denying its conversion was arbitrary and capricious. On August 29, 2023, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled in favor of the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust and vacated the SEC order. The SEC has not indicated what further actions it intends to take regarding the ETP application of the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust following the decision and has deferred taking action with respect to several recent ETP applications filed by others. It is possible that the SEC will permit the listing of ETPs specializing in the direct acquisition and holding of bitcoin, allowing these funds to offer their shares directly to the public. In addition to greatly simplifying the task of gaining investment exposure to bitcoin, the listing of a bitcoin ETP with

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continuous share creation and redemption at NAV would be expected to eliminate any NAV premiums that might exist currently with respect to shares of investment vehicles that trade in the over-the-counter market. To the extent that our class A common stock is viewed as an alternative-to-bitcoin investment vehicle and trades at a premium to the value of our bitcoin holdings, that premium may also be eliminated, causing the price of our class A common stock to decline.

In October 2021, the SEC permitted the listing of ETFs that invest primarily in bitcoin futures contracts, and on June 23, 2023, the SEC approved the first leveraged bitcoin futures ETF, 2x Bitcoin Strategy (BITX). It is unclear as to whether or to what extent the existence of ETFs that invest in bitcoin futures contracts have or will have on any premium over the value of our bitcoin holdings that may be included in the value of our class A common stock. In addition, the introduction of these or other bitcoin-futures-focused ETFs and any future bitcoin-focused ETPs on U.S. national securities exchanges may be viewed by investors as offering “pure play” exposure to bitcoin that would generally not be subject to federal income tax at the entity level as we are, or the other risk factors applicable to an operating business, such as ours.

As a result of the foregoing factors, as the price of our class A common stock is affected by the value of our bitcoin holdings, the expansion of avenues for investing in bitcoin, including the listing of bitcoin ETFs and ETPs on U.S. national securities exchanges, could have a material adverse effect on the market price of our class A common stock.

Our bitcoin acquisition strategy subjects us to enhanced regulatory oversight

As noted above, several bitcoin investment vehicles have attempted to list their shares on a U.S. national securities exchange to permit them to function in the manner of an ETF with continuous share creation and redemption at NAV. To date the SEC has declined to approve any such listing, citing concerns over the surveillance of trading in markets for the underlying bitcoin as well as concerns about fraud and manipulation in bitcoin trading markets. Even though we do not function in the manner of an ETF and do not offer continuous share creation and redemption at NAV, it is possible that we nevertheless could face regulatory scrutiny from the SEC or other federal or state agencies due to our bitcoin holdings.

In addition, there has been increasing focus on the extent to which digital assets can be used to launder the proceeds of illegal activities, fund criminal or terrorist activities, or circumvent sanctions regimes, including those sanctions imposed in response to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. While we have implemented and maintain policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote compliance with applicable anti-money laundering and sanctions laws and regulations and take care to only acquire our bitcoin through entities subject to anti-money laundering regulation and related compliance rules in the United States, if we are found to have purchased any of our bitcoin from bad actors that have used bitcoin to launder money or persons subject to sanctions, we may be subject to regulatory proceedings and any further transactions or dealings in bitcoin by us may be restricted or prohibited.

As of October 31, 2023, approximately 15,886 bitcoins serve as part of the collateral securing our 2028 Secured Notes and we may consider issuing additional debt or other financial instruments that may be collateralized by our bitcoin holdings. We may also consider pursuing strategies to create income streams or otherwise generate funds using our bitcoin holdings. These types of bitcoin-related transactions are the subject of enhanced regulatory oversight. These and any other bitcoin-related transactions we may enter into, beyond simply acquiring and holding bitcoin, may subject us to additional regulatory compliance requirements and scrutiny, including under federal and state money services regulations, money transmitter licensing requirements and various commodity and securities laws and regulations.

Additional laws, guidance and policies may be issued by domestic and foreign regulators following the filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection by FTX, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, in November 2022. While the financial and regulatory fallout from FTX’s collapse did not directly impact our business, financial condition or corporate assets, the FTX collapse may have increased regulatory focus on the digital assets industry. For example, the SEC has recently proposed a number of rules with implications for digital assets. Notably, on April 14, 2023, the SEC reopened the comment period for its proposal to significantly expand the definition of “exchange” under Exchange Act Rule 3b-16 to encompass trading and communication protocol systems for digital asset securities and trading systems that use distributed ledger or blockchain technology, including both so-called “centralized” and “decentralized” trading systems. If adopted in its proposed form, the proposed rule would have a sweeping impact on digital asset trading venues and other digital asset industry participants. U.S. and foreign regulators have also increased, and are highly likely to continue to increase, enforcement activity, and are likely to adopt new regulatory requirements in response to FTX’s collapse. Increased enforcement activity and changes in the regulatory environment, including changing interpretations and the implementation of new or varying regulatory requirements by the government or any new legislation affecting bitcoin, as well as enforcement actions involving or impacting our trading venues, counterparties and custodians, may impose significant costs or significantly limit our ability to hold and transact in bitcoin.

In addition, private actors that are wary of bitcoin or the regulatory concerns associated with bitcoin have in the past taken and may in the future take further actions that may have an adverse effect on our business or the market price of our class A common stock. For example, an affiliate of HSBC Holdings has prohibited customers of its HSBC InvestDirect retail investment platform from buying

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shares of our class A common stock after determining that the value of our stock is related to the performance of bitcoin, indicating that it did not want to facilitate exposure to virtual currencies.

Due to the unregulated nature and lack of transparency surrounding the operations of many bitcoin trading venues, bitcoin trading venues may experience greater fraud, security failures or regulatory or operational problems than trading venues for more established asset classes, which may result in a loss of confidence in bitcoin trading venues and adversely affect the value of our bitcoin

Bitcoin trading venues are relatively new and, in many cases, unregulated. Furthermore, there are many bitcoin trading venues which do not provide the public with significant information regarding their ownership structure, management teams, corporate practices and regulatory compliance. As a result, the marketplace may lose confidence in bitcoin trading venues, including prominent exchanges that handle a significant volume of bitcoin trading and/or are subject to regulatory oversight, in the event one or more bitcoin trading venues cease or pause for a prolonged period the trading of bitcoin or other digital assets, or experience fraud, significant volumes of withdrawal, security failures or operational problems.

In 2019 there were reports claiming that 80-95% of bitcoin trading volume on trading venues was false or non-economic in nature, with specific focus on unregulated exchanges located outside of the United States. The SEC also alleged as part of its June 5, 2023, complaint that Binance Holdings Ltd. committed strategic and targeted “wash trading” through its affiliates to artificially inflate the volume of certain digital assets traded on its exchange. Such reports and allegations may indicate that the bitcoin market is significantly smaller than expected and that the United States makes up a significantly larger percentage of the bitcoin market than is commonly understood. Any actual or perceived false trading in the bitcoin market, and any other fraudulent or manipulative acts and practices, could adversely affect the value of our bitcoin. Negative perception, a lack of stability in the broader bitcoin markets and the closure, temporary shutdown or operational disruption of bitcoin trading venues, lending institutions, institutional investors, institutional miners, custodians, or other major participants in the bitcoin ecosystem, due to fraud, business failure, cybersecurity events, government-mandated regulation, bankruptcy, or for any other reason, may result in a decline in confidence in bitcoin and the broader bitcoin ecosystem and greater volatility in the price of bitcoin. For example, in 2022, each of Celsius Networks, Voyager Digital Holdings, Three Arrows Capital, FTX, and BlockFi filed for bankruptcy, following which the market prices of bitcoin and other digital assets significantly declined. In addition, in June 2023, the SEC announced enforcement actions against Coinbase, Inc., and Binance Holdings Ltd., two providers of large trading venues for digital assets, which similarly was followed by a decrease in the market price of bitcoin and other digital assets. As the price of our class A common stock is affected by the value of our bitcoin holdings, the failure of a major participant in the bitcoin ecosystem could have a material adverse effect on the market price of our class A common stock.

The concentration of our bitcoin holdings enhances the risks inherent in our bitcoin acquisition strategy

As of October 31, 2023, we held approximately 158,400 bitcoins that were acquired at an aggregate purchase price of $4.686 billion and we intend to purchase additional bitcoin and increase our overall holdings of bitcoin in the future.The concentration of our bitcoin holdings limits the risk mitigation that we could take advantage of by purchasing a more diversified portfolio of treasury assets, and the absence of diversification enhances the risks inherent in our bitcoin acquisition strategy. The price of bitcoin experienced a significant decline in 2022, and this has had, and any future significant declines in the price of bitcoin would have, a more pronounced impact on our financial condition than if we used our cash to purchase a more diverse portfolio of assets.

The emergence or growth of other digital assets, including those with significant private or public sector backing, could have a negative impact on the price of Bitcoin and adversely affect our business

As a result of our bitcoin acquisition strategy, the majority of our assets are concentrated in our bitcoin holdings. Accordingly, the emergence or growth of digital assets other than bitcoin may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition. As of September 30, 2023, bitcoin was the largest digital asset by market capitalization. However, there are numerous alternative digital assets and many entities, including consortiums and financial institutions, are researching and investing resources into private or permissioned blockchain platforms or digital assets that do not use proof-of-work mining like the bitcoin network. For example, in late 2022, the Ethereum network transitioned to a “proof-of-stake” mechanism for validating transactions that requires significantly less computing power than proof-of-work mining. The Ethereum network has completed another major upgrade since then, and may undertake additional upgrades in the future. If the mechanisms for validating transactions in Ethereum and other alternative digital assets are perceived as superior to proof-of-work mining, those digital assets could gain market share relative to bitcoin.

Other alternative digital assets that compete with bitcoin in certain ways include “stablecoins,” which are designed to maintain a constant price because of, for instance, their issuers’ promise to hold high-quality liquid assets (such as U.S. dollar deposits and short-term U.S. treasury securities) equal to the total value of stablecoins in circulation. Stablecoins have grown rapidly as an alternative to bitcoin and

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other digital assets as a medium of exchange and store of value, particularly on cryptocurrency trading platforms. As of September 30, 2023, two of the six largest digital assets by market capitalization are U.S. dollar-backed stablecoins.

Additionally, central banks in some countries have started to introduce digital forms of legal tender. For example, China’s CBDC project was made available to consumers in January 2022, and governments including the United States, the European Union, and Israel have been discussing the potential creation of new CBDCs. Whether or not they incorporate blockchain or similar technology, CBDCs, as legal tender in the issuing jurisdiction, could also compete with, or replace, bitcoin and other digital assets as a medium of exchange or store of value. As a result, the emergence or growth of these or other digital assets could cause the market price of bitcoin to decrease, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition, and operating results.

Our bitcoin holdings are less liquid than our existing cash and cash equivalents and may not be able to serve as a source of liquidity for us to the same extent as cash and cash equivalents

In September 2020, we adopted bitcoin as our primary treasury reserve asset. Historically, the bitcoin markets have been characterized by significant volatility in price, limited liquidity and trading volumes compared to sovereign currencies markets, relative anonymity, a developing regulatory landscape, potential susceptibility to market abuse and manipulation, compliance and internal control failures at exchanges, and various other risks inherent in its entirely electronic, virtual form and decentralized network. During times of market instability, we may not be able to sell our bitcoin at reasonable prices or at all. For example, a number of bitcoin trading venues recently have temporarily halted deposits and withdrawals, although the Coinbase exchange (our principal market for analytics products failsbitcoin) has, to growdate, not done so. As a result, our bitcoin holdings may not be able to serve as a source of liquidity for us to the same extent as cash and cash equivalents. Further, bitcoin we expecthold with our custodians and transact with our trade execution partners does not enjoy the same protections as are available to cash or securities deposited with or transacted by institutions subject to regulation by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the Securities Investor Protection Corporation. Additionally, we may be unable to enter into term loans or other capital raising transactions collateralized by our unencumbered bitcoin or otherwise generate funds using our bitcoin holdings, including in particular during times of market instability or when the price of bitcoin has declined significantly. If we are unable to sell our bitcoin, enter into additional capital raising transactions using bitcoin as collateral, or otherwise generate funds using our bitcoin holdings, or if businesses failwe are forced to adoptsell our offerings,bitcoin at a significant loss, in order to meet our working capital requirements, our business operating results, and financial condition could be materially adversely affectednegatively impacted.

NearlyIf we or our third-party service providers experience a security breach or cyberattack and unauthorized parties obtain access to our bitcoin, or if our private keys are lost or destroyed, or other similar circumstances or events occur, we may lose some or all of our revenuesbitcoin and our financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected

Substantially all of the bitcoin we own is held in custody accounts at institutional-grade digital asset custodians. Security breaches and cyberattacks are of particular concern with respect to our bitcoin. Bitcoin and other blockchain-based cryptocurrencies and the entities that provide services to participants in the bitcoin ecosystem have been, and may in the future be, subject to security breaches, cyberattacks, or other malicious activities. For example, in October 2021 it was reported that hackers exploited a flaw in the account recovery process and stole from the accounts of at least 6,000 customers of the Coinbase exchange (our principal market for bitcoin), although the flaw was subsequently fixed and Coinbase reimbursed affected customers. Similarly, in November 2022, hackers exploited weaknesses in the security architecture of the FTX Trading digital asset exchange and reportedly stole over $400 million in digital assets from customers. A successful security breach or cyberattack could result in:

a partial or total loss of our bitcoin in a manner that may not be covered by insurance or the liability provisions of the custody agreements with the custodians who hold our bitcoin;
harm to our reputation and brand;
improper disclosure of data and violations of applicable data privacy and other laws; or
significant regulatory scrutiny, investigations, fines, penalties, and other legal, regulatory, contractual and financial exposure.

Further, any actual or perceived data security breach or cybersecurity attack directed at other companies with digital assets or companies that operate digital asset networks, regardless of whether we are directly impacted, could lead to a general loss of confidence in the broader Bitcoin blockchain ecosystem or in the use of bitcoin networks to conduct financial transactions, which could negatively impact us.

Attacks upon systems across a variety of industries, including industries related to bitcoin, are increasing in frequency, persistence, and sophistication, and, in many cases, are being conducted by sophisticated, well-funded and organized groups and individuals, including state actors. The techniques used to obtain unauthorized, improper or illegal access to systems and information (including personal data and digital assets), disable or degrade services, or sabotage systems are constantly evolving, may be difficult to detect quickly, and often are not recognized or detected until after they have been launched against a target. These attacks may occur on our systems or those of

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our third-party service providers or partners. We may experience breaches of our security measures due to human error, malfeasance, insider threats, system errors or vulnerabilities or other irregularities. In particular, unauthorized parties have attempted, and we expect that they will continue to attempt, to gain access to our systems and facilities, as well as those of our partners and third-party service providers, through various means, such as hacking, social engineering, phishing and fraud. In the past, hackers have successfully employed a social engineering attack against one of our service providers and misappropriated our digital assets, although, to date, such events have not been material to our financial condition or operating results. Threats can come from a variety of sources, including criminal hackers, hacktivists, state-sponsored intrusions, industrial espionage, and insiders. In addition, certain types of attacks could harm us even if our systems are left undisturbed. For example, certain threats are designed to remain dormant or undetectable, sometimes for extended periods of time, or until launched against a target and we may not be able to implement adequate preventative measures. Further, there has been an increase in such activities since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The risk of cyberattacks could also be increased by cyberwarfare in connection with the ongoing Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts, or other future conflicts, including potential proliferation of malware into systems unrelated to such conflicts. Any future breach of our operations or those of others in the bitcoin industry, including third-party services on which we rely, could materially and adversely affect our business.

We face risks relating to the custody of our bitcoin, including the loss or destruction of private keys required to access our bitcoin and cyberattacks or other data loss relating to our bitcoin

We hold our bitcoin with regulated custodians that have duties to safeguard our private keys. Although as of the date of this Quarterly Report we hold a substantial portion of our bitcoin with a single custodian, our custodial agreements do not restrict us from reallocating our bitcoin holdings among our custodians. In light of the significant amount of bitcoin we hold, we continually seek to engage additional custodians to achieve a greater degree of diversification in the custody of our bitcoin as the extent of potential risk of loss is dependent, in part, on the degree of diversification. If there is a decrease in the availability of digital asset custodians that we believe can safely custody our bitcoin, for example, due to regulatory developments or enforcement actions that cause custodians to discontinue or limit their services in the United States, we may need to enter into agreements that are less favorable than our current agreements or take other measures to custody our bitcoin, and our ability to seek a greater degree of diversification in the use of custodial services would be materially adversely affected.

As of September 30, 2023, the insurance that covers losses of our bitcoin holdings covers only a small fraction of the value of the entirety of our bitcoin holdings, and there can be no guarantee that such insurance will be maintained as part of the custodial services we have or that such coverage will cover losses with respect to our bitcoin. Moreover, the use of custodians to hold our bitcoin exposes us to the risk that the bitcoin custodially-held on our behalf could be subject to insolvency proceedings and we could be treated as a general unsecured creditor of the custodian, inhibiting our ability to exercise ownership rights with respect to such bitcoin. Any loss associated with such insolvency proceedings is unlikely to be covered by any insurance coverage we maintain related to our bitcoin.

Bitcoin is controllable only by the possessor of both the unique public key and private key(s) relating to the local or online digital wallet in which the bitcoin is held. While the Bitcoin blockchain ledger requires a public key relating to a digital wallet to be published when used in a transaction, private keys must be safeguarded and kept private in order to prevent a third party from accessing the bitcoin held in such wallet. To the extent the private key(s) for a digital wallet are lost, destroyed, or otherwise compromised and no backup of the private key(s) is accessible, neither we nor our custodians will be able to access the bitcoin held in the related digital wallet. Furthermore, we cannot provide assurance that our digital wallets, nor the digital wallets of our custodians held on our behalf, will not be compromised as a result of a cyberattack. The bitcoin and blockchain ledger, as well as other digital assets and blockchain technologies, have been, and may in the future be, subject to security breaches, cyberattacks, or other malicious activities.

Regulatory change reclassifying bitcoin as a security could lead to our classification as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and could adversely affect the market price of bitcoin and the market price of our class A common stock

While senior SEC officials have stated their view that bitcoin is not a “security” for purposes of the federal securities laws, the SEC has so far refused to permit the listing of any bitcoin spot-market-based ETPs, citing, among other things, concerns regarding bitcoin market integrity and custodial protections. It is possible that the SEC could take a contrary position to the one taken by its senior officials or a federal court could conclude that bitcoin is a security. Such a determination could lead to our classification as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, which would subject us to significant additional regulatory controls that could have a material adverse effect on our business and operations and may also require us to substantially change the manner in which we conduct our business.

In addition, if bitcoin is determined to constitute a security for purposes of the federal securities laws, the additional regulatory restrictions imposed by such a determination could adversely affect the market price of bitcoin and in turn adversely affect the market price of our class A common stock.

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A significant decrease in the market value of our bitcoin holdings could adversely affect our ability to service our indebtedness

As a result of our bitcoin acquisition strategy and our Treasury Reserve Policy, the majority of our assets are concentrated in our bitcoin holdings. The concentration of our assets in bitcoin limits our ability to mitigate risk that could otherwise be achieved by purchasing a more diversified portfolio of treasury assets. Accordingly, a significant decline in the market value of bitcoin could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition. Any material adverse effect on our financial condition caused by a significant decline in the market value of our bitcoin holdings may create liquidity and credit risks for our business operations, as we would have limited means to obtain cash beyond the revenues generated by our enterprise analytics software business. To the extent that the cash generated by our enterprise analytics software business is insufficient to satisfy our debt service obligations, and to the extent that the liquidation of our bitcoin holdings would be insufficient to satisfy our debt service obligations, we may be unable to make scheduled payments on our current or future indebtedness, which could cause us to default on our debt obligations. Any default on our current or future indebtedness may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition. See “Risks Related to Our Outstanding and Potential Future Indebtedness” for additional details about the risks which may impact us if we are unable to service our indebtedness.

Our bitcoin acquisition strategy exposes us to risk of non-performance by counterparties

Our bitcoin acquisition strategy exposes us to the risk of non-performance by counterparties, whether contractual or otherwise. Risk of non-performance includes inability or refusal of a counterparty to perform because of a deterioration in the counterparty’s financial condition and liquidity or for any other reason. For example, our execution partners, custodians, or other counterparties might fail to perform in accordance with the terms of our agreements with them, which could result in a loss of bitcoin, a loss of the opportunity to generate funds, or other losses.

Our primary counterparty risk with respect to our bitcoin is custodian performance obligations under the various custody arrangements we have entered into. A series of recent high-profile bankruptcies, closures, liquidations, regulatory enforcement actions and other events relating to companies operating in the digital asset industry, including the filings for bankruptcy protection by Three Arrows Capital, Celsius Network, Voyager Digital, FTX Trading and Genesis Global Capital, the closure or liquidation of certain financial institutions that provided lending and other services to the digital assets industry, including Signature Bank and Silvergate Bank, SEC enforcement actions against Coinbase, Inc. and Binance Holdings Ltd., the placement of Prime Trust, LLC into receivership following a cease-and-desist order issued by Nevada’s Department of Business and Industry, and the filing of a civil fraud lawsuit by the New York Attorney General against Genesis Global Capital, its parent company Digital Currency Group, Inc., and former partner Gemini Trust Company have highlighted the perceived and actual counterparty risk applicable to digital asset ownership and trading. Although these bankruptcies, closures and liquidations have not resulted in any loss or misappropriation of our bitcoin, nor have such events adversely impacted our access to our bitcoin, legal precedent created in these bankruptcy and other proceedings may increase the risk of future rulings adverse to our interests in the event one or more of our custodians becomes a debtor in a bankruptcy case or is the subject of other liquidation, insolvency or similar proceedings.

While all of our custodians are subject to regulatory regimes intended to protect customers in the event of a custodial bankruptcy, receivership or similar insolvency proceeding, no assurance can be provided that our custodially-held bitcoin will not become part of the custodian’s insolvency estate if one or more of our custodians enters bankruptcy, receivership or similar insolvency proceedings. Additionally, if we pursue any strategies to create income streams or otherwise generate funds using our bitcoin holdings, we would become subject to additional counterparty risks. Any significant non-performance by counterparties, including in particular the custodians with which we custody substantially all of our bitcoin, could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition, and operating results.

Risks Related to Our Enterprise Analytics Software Business Strategy

We depend on revenue from a single software platform and related services as well as revenue from our installed customer base

Our revenue is derived from sales of our analytics productssoftware platform and related technical support, consulting, and education services.  We expect these sales to account for a large portion of our revenues for the foreseeable future. Although demand for analytics productssoftware has grown in recent years,continued to grow, the market for analytics offerings continues to evolve. Resistance from consumer and privacy groups to increased commercial collection, use, and sharing of personal data has grown in recent years and our customers, potential customers, or the general public may perceive that use of data on spending patterns and other personal behavior, governmentalour analytics software could violate individual privacy rights. In addition, increasing government restrictions on the collection, use, and transfer of personal data and other developments maycould impair the further growth of the market for analytics software, especially in foreign markets. Because we depend on revenue from a single software platform and related services, our business could be harmed by a decline in demand for, or in the adoption or prices of, our platform and related services as a result of, among other factors, any change in our pricing or packaging model, increased competition, maturation in the markets for our platform, or other risks described in this market.Quarterly Report. In addition, the adoption of our bitcoin acquisition strategy and the increase in our indebtedness has caused and may in the future cause certain of our existing or prospective customers to form negative perceptions regarding our corporate risk profile or our financial viability as a commercial counterparty, and such negative perceptions could negatively impact sales of our analytics software platform

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and related services to current or prospective customers. Such risks can also be exacerbated if the price of bitcoin declines or due to adverse developments in the digital assets industry including, for example, the high-profile filings for bankruptcy protection by companies operating in that industry, such as the recent bankruptcy filings by Three Arrows Capital, Voyager Digital, BlockFi and FTX Trading, and the SEC enforcement actions against Coinbase, Inc. and Binance Holdings Ltd. We cannotalso depend on our installed customer base for a substantial portion of our revenue. If our existing customers cancel or fail to renew their service contracts or fail to make additional purchases from us for any reason, including due to the risks inherent in our bitcoin acquisition strategy, our revenue could decrease and our operating results could be sure that this market willmaterially adversely affected.

As our customers increasingly shift from a product license model to a cloud subscription model, we could face higher future rates of attrition, and such a shift could continue to affect the timing of revenue recognition or reduce product licenses and product support revenues, which could materially adversely affect our operating results

We offer our analytics platform in the form of a product license or a cloud subscription. Given that it is relatively easy for customers to migrate on and off our cloud subscription platform, as we continue to shift our customers toward our cloud platform, we could face higher future rates of attrition among our customers. In addition, the payment streams and revenue recognition timing for our product licenses are different from those for our cloud subscriptions. For product licenses, customers typically pay us a lump sum soon after entering into a license agreement, and we typically recognize product licenses revenue when control of the license is transferred to the customer. For cloud subscriptions, customers typically make periodic payments over the subscription period and we recognize subscription services revenues ratably over the subscription period. As a result, as our customers increasingly shift to, or new customers purchase, cloud subscriptions instead of product licenses, the resulting change in payment terms and revenue recognition may result in our recognizing less revenue in the reporting period in which the sale transactions are consummated than has been the case in prior periods, with more revenue being recognized in future periods. This change in the timing of revenue recognition could materially adversely affect our operating results and cash flows for the periods during which such a shift or change in purchasing occurs. Accordingly, in any particular reporting period, cloud subscription sales could negatively impact product license sales to our existing and prospective customers, which could reduce product licenses and product support revenues. Additionally, our ability to accelerate our cloud strategy could be negatively impacted by any inability to provide necessary sales and sales engineering support, including the support of channel partners, our internal sales team, and digital marketing. Finally, if we are not able to successfully grow or, even if it does grow, that businesses will adopt our solutions.

We have spent, and intend to keep spending, considerable resources to educate potential customers about analytics offerings in general and our offerings in particular.  However, we cannot be sure that these expenditures will help anysales of our offeringscloud subscription platform, we may not be able to achieve any additional market acceptance.  If the market failsscale necessary to grow or grows more slowly thanachieve increased operating margins.

We use channel partners and if we currently expect or businesses failare unable to adopt our offerings,maintain successful relationships with them, our business, operating results, and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.affected

In addition to our direct sales force, we use channel partners, such as system integrators, consulting firms, resellers, solution providers, managed service providers, OEMs, and technology companies, to license and support our offerings. For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, transactions by channel partners for which we recognized revenue accounted for 28.8% of our total product licenses revenues, and our ability to achieve revenue growth in the future will depend in part on our ability to maintain these relationships. Our channel partners may offer customers the products and services of several different companies, including competing offerings, and we cannot be certain that they will prioritize or devote adequate resources to selling our offerings. If we are unable to maintain our relationships with our channel partners, or if we experience a reduction in sales by our channel partners, our business, operating results, and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

In addition, we rely on our channel partners to operate in accordance with applicable laws and regulatory requirements. If they fail to do so, we may need to incur significant costs in responding to investigations or enforcement actions or paying penalties assessed by the applicable authorities. We also rely on our channel partners to operate in accordance with the terms of their contractual agreements with us. For example, some of our agreements with our channel partners prescribe the terms and conditions pursuant to which they are authorized to resell or distribute our software and offer technical support and related services. If our channel partners do not comply with their contractual obligations to us, our business, operating results, and financial condition may be materially adversely affected.

Our recognition of deferred revenue and advance payments is subject to future performance obligations and may not be representative of revenues for succeeding periods

Our deferred revenue and advance payments totaled $186.8 million as of September 30, 2023. The timing and ultimate recognition of our deferred revenue and advance payments depend on various factors, including our performance of various service obligations.

Because of the possibility of customer changes or delays in customer development or implementation schedules or budgets, and the need for us to satisfactorily perform product support and other services, deferred revenue and advance payments at any particular date may not be representative of actual revenue for any succeeding period.

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In addition, we had $95.5 million of other remaining performance obligations as of September 30, 2023, consisting of the portions of multi-year contracts that will be invoiced in the future that are not reflected on our balance sheet. As with deferred revenue and advance payments, these other remaining performance obligations at any particular date may not be representative of actual revenue for any succeeding period.

We may lose sales, or sales may be delayed, due to the long sales and implementation cycles of certain of our offerings, which could materially adversely affect our revenues and operating results

The decision to purchase our offerings typically requires our customers to invest substantial time, money, personnel, and other resources, which can result in long sales cycles that can exceed nine months. These long sales cycles increase the risk that intervening events, such as the introduction of new offerings and changes in customer budgets and purchasing priorities, will affect the size, timing, and completion of an order. Even if an order is completed, the time and resources required to implement and integrate our offerings vary widely depending on customer needs and the complexity of deployment. If we lose sales or sales are delayed due to these long sales and implementation cycles, our revenues and operating results for that period may be materially adversely affected.

Our results in any particular period may depend on the number and volume of large transactions in that period and these transactions may involve lengthier, more complex, and more unpredictable sales cycles than other transactions

Larger, enterprise-level transactions often require considerably more resources, are often more complex to implement, and typically require additional management approval, which may result in a lengthier, more complex, and less predictable sales cycle and may increase the risk that an order is delayed or not brought to completion. We may also encounter greater competition and pricing pressure on these larger transactions, and our sales and delivery efforts may be more costly. The presence or absence of one or more large transactions in a particular period may have a material effect on our revenues and operating results for that period and may result in lower estimated revenues and earnings in future periods. For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, our top three product licenses transactions with recognized revenue totaled $8.7 million, or 15.3% of total product licenses revenues, compared to $12.1 million, or 20.5% of total product licenses revenues, for the nine months ended September 30, 2022.

Our offerings face intense competition, which may lead to lower prices for our products and services,offerings, reduced gross margins, loss of market share, and reduced revenue

The analytics market is highly competitive and subject to rapidly changing technology paradigms.technology. Within the analytics space, we compete with many different types ofsoftware vendors, including (i) large software vendors, such as IBM,® (Cognos®), SAP® (BO), Microsoft,® (Power BI™), Oracle, Qlik, Salesforce, and Oracle® (OBIEE), that provide one or more products that directly compete with our products, (ii) open source analytics vendors, such as OpenText™ Analytics and Hitachi (Pentaho®), (iii) various other analytics software providers, such as Qlik™, Tableau Software®, TIBCO®, Information Builders®, and the SAS® Institute, (iv) other vendors offering cloud-based offerings, such as GoodData and Birst, and (v) companies with EIoT technologies or technologies categorized as user authentication products that are primarily focused on traditional forms of identity verification such as smart cards, tokens, and password managers.SAP. Our future success depends on the effectiveness with which we canour ability to differentiate our offerings and successfully compete with these vendors and other potential competitors across analytics implementation projects of varying sizes. Our ability to compete successfully depends on a number of factors, both within and outside of our control. Some of these factors include software deployment options; analytical, mobility, data discovery, visualization, artificial intelligence (“AI”), and machine learning capabilities; performance and scalability; the quality and reliability of our customer service and support; and brand recognition. Failure to maintain adequate technology differentiation fromcompete successfully in any one of these competitors couldor other areas may reduce the demand for our offerings and materially adversely affect our revenue from both existing and prospective customers.

Some of our competitors have longer operating histories, more focused business strategies and significantly greater financial, technical, and marketing resources than we do. As a result, they may be able to respond more quickly to new or emerging technologies and changes in customer requirements or devote greater resources to the development, promotion, sale, and marketing of their offerings than we can, such as offering certain analytics products free of charge when bundled with other software offerings.products. In addition, many of our competitors have strong relationships with current and potential customers, extensive industry and specialized business knowledge, as well asand corresponding proprietary technologies that they can leverage, such as multidimensional databases and ERP repositories.leverage. As a result, they may be able to prevent us from penetrating new accounts or expanding within existing accounts.

Increased competition may lead to price cuts, reduced gross margins, and loss of market share. We may not be ableThe failure to compete successfully against current and future competitors, and the failure to meet the competitive pressures we face may have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition.

Current and future competitors may also make strategic acquisitions or establish cooperative relationships among themselves or with others. By doing so, these competitors may increase their ability to meet the needs of our potential customers by their expanded offerings.  Our current or prospective channel partners may establish cooperative relationships with our current or future competitors.


These relationships may limit our ability to sell our analytics offerings through specific distribution channels. Accordingly, new competitors or alliances among current and future competitors may emerge and rapidly gain significant market share. These developmentsshare, which could limit our ability to obtain revenues from new customers and to sustain software maintenance revenues from our installed customer base. In addition, basic office productivity software suites, such as Microsoft Office, could evolve to offer advanced analysis and reporting capabilities that may reduce the demand for our analytics offerings.

Integration of artificial intelligence into our enterprise analytics product offerings and our use of artificial intelligence in our operations could result in reputational or competitive harm, legal liability, and other adverse effects on our business

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We depend on revenue from a single suite of productshave integrated, and related services as well as revenue from our installed customer base

Our MicroStrategy 10 platform and related services account for a substantial portionplan to further integrate, AI capabilities into certain components of our revenue. Becauseenterprise analytics product offerings and we expect to use AI in our operations. Such integration and use of this revenue concentration,AI may become more important in our product offerings and operations over time. These AI-related initiatives, whether successful or not, could cause us to incur substantial costs and could result in delays in our software release cadence. Our competitors or other third parties may incorporate AI into their products or operations more quickly or more successfully than we do, which could impair our ability to compete effectively. Additionally, AI algorithms may be flawed and datasets underlying AI algorithms may be insufficient or contain biased information. If the AI tools integrated into our products or that we use in our operations produce analyses or recommendations that are or are alleged to be deficient, inaccurate, or biased, our reputation, business, financial condition, and results of operations may be adversely affected.

Other companies have experienced cybersecurity incidents that implicate confidential and proprietary company data and/or the personal data of end users of AI applications integrated into their software offerings or used in their operations. If we were to experience a cybersecurity incident, whether related to the integration of AI capabilities into our product offerings or our use of AI applications in our operations, our business and results of operations could be harmed by a declineadversely affected. AI also presents various emerging legal, regulatory and ethical issues, and the incorporation of AI into our product offerings and our use of AI applications in demand for,our operations could require us to expend significant resources in developing, testing and maintaining our product offerings and may cause us to experience brand, reputational, or incompetitive harm, or incur legal liability. On October 30, 2023, the adoption or prices of, these products and related services as a result of,Biden administration issued an Executive Order to, among other factors, anythings, establish extensive new standards for AI safety and security. Other jurisdictions may decide to adopt similar or more restrictive legislation that may render the use of such technologies challenging. These restrictions may make it harder for us to conduct our business using AI, lead to regulatory fines or penalties, require us to change in our pricingproduct offerings or packaging model, increased competition, maturation in the markets for these products,business practices, or other risks described in this Quarterly Report.prevent or limit our use of AI.

We also depend on our installed customer base for a substantial portion of our revenue. We have contracts with our license customers for ongoing supportRisks Related to Our Technology and maintenance, as well as contracts for cloud-based subscription services that provide recurring revenues to us. In addition, our installed customer base has historically generated additional new license and services revenues for us. If our existing customers cancel or fail to renew their service contracts or fail to purchase additional products or services, our revenue could decrease and our operating results could be materially adversely affected.Intellectual Property

If we are unable to develop and release product enhancements and new offerings and software enhancements to respond to rapid technological change, new customer requirements, or evolving industry standards in a timely and cost-effective manner, our business, operating results, and financial condition could be materially adversely affected

The market for our offerings is characterized by frequent new offerings and software enhancements in response to rapid technological change, frequent new product introductions and enhancements, changing customer demands,requirements, and evolving industry standards. The introduction of offerings embodying new technologiesor enhanced offerings can quickly make existing offerings obsolete and unmarketable.ones obsolete. We believe that our future success depends largely on our ability to:

to continue to support a number of popular operating systems and databases;

databases, maintain and improve our current offerings;

offerings, rapidly develop new offerings and productsoftware enhancements that achieve market acceptance;

acceptance, maintain technological competitiveness;competitiveness, and

meet an expanding range of customer requirements.

Analytics applications are inherently complex, and it can take a long time and require significant research and development expenditures to developcan be costly and test new offerings and product enhancements.time consuming. In addition, customers may delay their purchasing decisions because they anticipate that new or enhanced versions of our offerings will soon become available.available or because of concerns regarding the complexity of migration or performance issues related to new offerings. We cannot be sure that we will succeed in developing, marketing, and delivering, on a timely and cost-effective basis, new or enhanced offerings that respond to technological change or new customer requirements, nor can we be sure that any new or enhanced offerings will achieve market acceptance. Moreover, even if we introduce aour new offering,offerings achieve market acceptance, we may experience a decline in revenues of our existing offerings that is not fully matched by the new offering’s revenue. For example, customers may delay making purchases of a new offering to permit them to make a more thorough evaluation of the offering, or until industry and marketplace reviews become widely available.  Some customers may hesitate migrating to a new offering due to concerns regarding the complexity of migration and product infancy issues on performance.  In addition, we may lose existing customers who choose a competitor’s offering rather than migrate to our new offering. This could result in a temporary or permanent revenue shortfall and materially adversely affect our business.business, operating results, and financial condition.

A substantial customer shiftWe depend on technology licensed to us by third parties, and changes in or discontinuances of such licenses could impair our software, delay implementation of our offerings, or force us to pay higher license fees

We license third-party technologies that are incorporated into or utilized by our existing offerings. These licenses may be terminated, or we may be unable to license third-party technologies for future offerings. In addition, we may be unable to renegotiate acceptable third-party license terms, or we may be subject to infringement liability if third-party technologies that we license are found to infringe intellectual property rights of others. Changes in or discontinuance of third-party licenses could lead to a material increase in our costs or to our offerings becoming inoperable or their performance being materially reduced. As a result, we may need to incur additional development costs to help ensure continued performance of our offerings, and we may experience a decreased demand for our offerings.

Changes in third-party software or systems or the emergence of new industry standards could materially adversely affect the operation of and demand for our existing software

The functionalities of our software depend in part on the ability of our software to interface with our customers’ information technology (“IT”) infrastructure and cloud environments, including software applications, network infrastructure, and end user devices, which are supplied to our customers by various other vendors. When new or updated versions of these third-party software or systems are introduced, or new industry standards in related fields emerge, we may be required to develop updated versions of or enhancements to our software to help ensure that it continues to effectively interoperate with our customers’ IT infrastructure and cloud environments. If

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new or modified operating systems are introduced or new web standards and technologies or new standards in the deploymentfield of MicroStrategy Analytics fromdatabase access technology emerge that are incompatible with our software, development efforts to maintain the interoperability of our software with our customers’ IT infrastructure and cloud environments could require substantial capital investment and employee resources. If we are unable to update our software in a perpetualtimely manner, cost-effectively, or at all, the ability of our software license model to perform key functions could be impaired, which may impact our cloud services model could affect the timingcustomers’ satisfaction with our software, potentially result in breach of revenue recognitionwarranty or other claims, and materially adversely affect demand for our operating resultssoftware.

We offerThe nature of our analytics platformsoftware makes it particularly susceptible to undetected errors, bugs, or security vulnerabilities, which could cause problems with how the software performs and, in turn, reduce demand for our software, reduce our revenue, and lead to litigation claims against us

Despite extensive testing by us and our current and potential customers, we have in the form of a perpetualpast discovered software licenseerrors, bugs, or security vulnerabilities (including the log4j and a cloud-based subscription.  The payment streamsSpringShell vulnerabilities which surfaced in December 2021 and March 2022, respectively, and affected companies worldwide) in our offerings after commercial shipments began and they may be found in future offerings or releases. This could result in lost revenue, recognition timing for our perpetual software licenses are different from those for our cloud-based subscriptions.  For perpetual software licenses, customers typically pay us a lump sum soon after entering into a software license agreement and revenue is typically recognized upon delivery of the software to the customer.  For cloud-based subscriptions, customers typically make periodic payments over the subscription period and revenue is typically recognized ratably over the subscription period.  As a result, if a substantial number of current or new customers shift to subscribingdamage to our cloud services offerings instead of purchasing perpetual software licenses for MicroStrategy Analytics, the resulting changereputation, or delays in payment terms and revenue recognition may materially adversely affectmarket acceptance, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and cash flows forfinancial condition. We may also need to expend resources and capital to correct these defects if they occur.

Our customer agreements typically contain provisions designed to limit our exposure to product liability, warranty, and other claims. It is possible these provisions are unenforceable in certain domestic or international jurisdictions, and we may be exposed to such claims. A successful claim against us could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition.

Our intellectual property is valuable, and any inability to protect it could reduce the reporting periods during which such a shift occurs.


Our investment in new business strategies and initiatives could disrupt the operationsvalue of our ongoing businessofferings and present risks that we have not adequately anticipatedbrand

We have invested, and in the futureUnauthorized third parties may invest, in new business strategies and initiatives.  For example, in recent years we have introduced a number of innovative technologies designedtry to enable companies to capitalize on Big Data, mobile applications, cloud-based services, security, and Internet of Things trends in the marketplace. These endeavors may involve significant risks and uncertainties, including distraction of management from other business operations, the dedication of significant research and development, sales and marketing, and other resources to these new initiatives at the expensecopy or reverse engineer portions of our other business operations, generation of insufficient revenue to offset expenses associated with new initiatives, incompatibilitysoftware or otherwise obtain and use our intellectual property. Copyrights, patents, trademarks, trade secrets, confidentiality procedures, and contractual commitments can only provide limited protection. Any intellectual property owned by us may be invalidated, circumvented, or challenged. Any of our new technologiespending or future intellectual property applications, whether or not currently being challenged, may not be issued with third-party platforms, inadequate returnthe scope we seek, if at all. Moreover, amendments to and developing jurisprudence regarding U.S. and international law may affect our ability to protect our intellectual property and defend against claims of capital,infringement. In addition, although we generally enter into confidentiality agreements with our employees and other risks thatcontractors, the confidential nature of our intellectual property may not be maintained. Furthermore, the laws of some countries do not provide the same level of protection of our intellectual property as do the laws of the United States. If we cannot protect our intellectual property against unauthorized copying or use, we may not have adequately anticipated.  Because new strategiesremain competitive.

We may be obligated to disclose our proprietary source code to our customers, which may limit our ability to protect our intellectual property and initiativescould reduce the renewals of our support services

Certain of our customer agreements contain provisions permitting the customer to become a party to, or a beneficiary of, a source code escrow agreement under which we place the proprietary source code for our applicable services and products in escrow with a third party. Under these escrow agreements, the source code to the applicable product may be released to the customer, typically for its use to maintain, modify, and enhance the product, upon the occurrence of specified events, such as our filing for bankruptcy, discontinuance of our support services, and/or ceasing our business operations generally.

Disclosing the content of our source code may limit the intellectual property protection we can obtain or maintain for that source code or the services and products containing that source code. It also could permit a customer to which a product’s source code is disclosed to support and maintain that software product without being required to purchase our support services. Each of these could harm our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

Third parties may claim we infringe their intellectual property rights

We periodically receive notices from third parties claiming we are inherently risky, these strategiesinfringing their intellectual property rights. The frequency of such claims may increase as we expand our offerings and initiativesbranding, the number of offerings and level of competition in our industry grow, the functionality of offerings overlaps, and the volume of issued patents, patent applications, and copyright and trademark registrations continues to increase. Responding to any infringement claim, regardless of its validity, could:

be time-consuming, costly, and/or result in litigation;
divert management’s time and attention from developing our business;
require us to pay monetary damages or enter into royalty or licensing agreements that we would normally find unacceptable;
require us to stop selling certain of our offerings;

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require us to redesign certain of our offerings using alternative non-infringing technology or practices, which could require significant effort and expense;
require us to rename certain of our offerings or entities; or
require us to satisfy indemnification obligations to our customers or channel partners.

Additionally, while we monitor our use of third-party software, including open-source software, our processes for controlling such use in our offerings may not be successfuleffective. If we fail to comply with the terms or conditions associated with third-party software that we use, if we inadvertently embed certain types of third-party software into one or more of our offerings, or if third-party software that we license is found to infringe the intellectual property rights of others, we could become subject to infringement liability and be required to re-engineer our offerings, discontinue the sale of our offerings, or make available to certain third parties or generally available, in source code form, our proprietary code, any of which could materially adversely affect our business, operating results, and financial condition.

If a successful infringement claim is made against us and we fail to develop or license a substitute technology or brand name, as applicable, our business, results of operations, financial condition, and operating results.or cash flows could be materially adversely affected.

Risks Related to Our Operations

Business disruptions, including interruptions, delays, or failures of our systems, third-party data center hosting facilitiesfacility, or other third-party services, as a result of geopolitical tensions, acts of terrorism, natural disasters, pandemics (like the COVID-19 pandemic), and similar events, could materially adversely affect our operating results or result in a material weakness in our internal controls that could adversely affect the market price of our stock

A significant portion of our research and development activities or certain other critical business operations are concentrated in facilities in Northern Virginia, China, Argentina, and Poland. In addition, we serve our customers and manage certain critical internal processes using a third-party data center hosting facilitiesfacility located in the United States and England and other third-party services, including Amazon Web ServicesAWS, Azure, and other cloud services. We could experience a disruptionAny disruptions or failurefailures of our systems or the third-party hosting facilitiesfacility or other services that we use. Such disruptions or failures could includeuse, including as a result of a natural disaster, fire, cyber-attack,cyberattack (including the potential increase in risk for such attacks due to cyberwarfare in connection with the ongoing Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts), act of terrorism, geopolitical conflict (including due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts and any potential conflict involving China and Taiwan), pandemic (including the COVID-19 pandemic), the effects of climate change, or other catastrophic event, as well as power outages, or telecommunications infrastructure outages, or a decision by one of our third-party service providers to close facilities that we use without adequate notice or to materially change the pricing or terms of their services, host country restrictions on the conduct of our business operations or the availability of our offerings, or other unanticipated problems with our systems or the third-party services that we use, includingsuch as a failure to meet service standards.

We are a highly automated business and any such disruptions or failuresstandards, could (i) result in the destruction or disruption of any of our critical business operations, controls or procedures, or information technology systems, (ii) severely affectimpact our ability to conduct normalour business operations including delaying completion of sales and provision of services, (iii)or to attract new customers or maintain existing customers, or result in a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting, (iv) cause our customers to terminate their subscriptions, (v) result in our issuing credits to customers or paying penalties or fines, (vi) harm our reputation, (vii) adversely affect our attrition rates or our ability to attract new customers, or (viii) cause our offerings to be perceived as not being secure, any of which could materially adversely affect our future operating results.

We use channel partners and if we are unable to maintain successful relationships with them, our business, operating results, and financial condition could be materially adversely affected

In addition to our direct sales force, we use channel partners such as resellers, value-added resellers, system integrators, consulting firms, original equipment manufacturers, and technology partners to license and support our products.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, transactions by channel partners for which we recognized revenues accounted for 24.5% of our total product licenses revenues.  Our channel partners may offer customers the products and services of several different companies, including offerings that compete with ours.  Because our channel partners generally do not have exclusive relationships with us, we cannot be certain that they will prioritize or devote adequate resources to selling our products.  Moreover, divergence in strategy or contract defaults by any of these channel partners may materially adversely affect our ability to develop, market, sell, or support our offerings.

Although we believe that direct sales will continue to account for a majority of our product licenses revenues, we seek to maintain a significant level of sales activities through our channel partners.  There can be no assurance that our channel partners will continue to cooperate with us.  In addition, actions taken or not taken by such parties may materially adversely affect us. Our ability to achieve revenue growth in the future will depend in part on our ability to maintain successful relationships with our channel partners. If we are unable to maintain our relationships with these channel partners, our business, operating results, and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

In addition, we rely on our channel partners to operate in accordance with the terms of their contractual agreements with us.  For example, some of our agreements with our channel partners prescribe the terms and conditions pursuant to which they are authorized to resell or distribute our software and offer technical support and related services.  We also typically require our channel partners to represent to us the details of product licenses transactions sold to end user customers.  If our channel partners do not comply with their contractual obligations to us, our business, operating results, and financial condition may be materially adversely affected.


Our recognition of deferred revenue and advance payments is subject to future performance obligations and may not be representative of revenues for succeeding periods

Our gross current and non-current deferred revenue and advance payments totaled $191.1 million as of September 30, 2017.  We offset our accounts receivable and deferred revenue for any unpaid items, which totaled $65.9 million, resulting in net current and non-current deferred revenue and advance payments of $125.2 million as of September 30, 2017.  The timing and ultimate recognition of our deferred revenue and advance payments depend on various factors, including our performance of various service obligations.

Because of the possibility of customer changes or delays in customer development or implementation schedules or budgets, and the need for us to satisfactorily perform product support and other services, deferred revenue and advance payments at any particular date may not be representative of actual revenue for any succeeding period.

Our international operations are complex and expose us to risks that could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition

We receive a significant portion of our total revenues from international sales and conduct our business activities in various foreign countries, including some emerging markets where we have limited experience, where the challenges of conducting our business can be significantly different from those we have faced in more developed markets, and where business practices may create internal control risks. International revenues accounted for 42.1%44.5% and 36.5%38.8% of our total revenues for the three months ended September 30, 20172023 and 2016,2022, respectively, and 39.9%42.7% and 38.6%40.5% of our total revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 20172023 and 2016,2022, respectively. Our international operations require significant management attention and financial resources.

There are certainresources and expose us to additional risks, inherent in our international business activities, including:

fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates;

new, or changes in, regulatory requirements;

tariffs, export and import restrictions, restrictions on foreign investments, tax laws, sanctions, laws and policies that favor local competitors (such as mandatory technology transfers), and other trade barriers or protection measures;

costs of localizing offerings;

lack of acceptance of localized offerings;

difficulties in and costs of staffing, managing, and operating our international operations;

tax issues, including restrictions on repatriating earnings;

weaker intellectual property protection;

economic weakness or currency related crises;

the burden of complyingcompliance with a wide variety of laws, including those relating to labor matters, antitrust, procurement and contracting, consumer and data protection, privacy, data localization, governmental access to data, network security, and encryption;

costs of localizing offerings and lack of acceptance of localized offerings;

difficulties in and costs of staffing, managing, and operating our international operations;
economic weakness or currency-related crises;
generally longer payment cycles and greater difficulty in collecting accounts receivable;

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weaker intellectual property protection;

increased risk of corporate espionage or misappropriation, theft, or misuse of intellectual property, particularly in foreign countries where we have significant software development operations that have access to product source code, such as China;

our ability to adapt to sales practices and customer requirements in different cultures;

corporate espionage;natural disasters, acts of war (including risks relating to the ongoing conflict between Russia and

Ukraine, a potential broadening of the Israel-Hamas conflict to other countries in the Middle East, and any potential conflict involving China and Taiwan), terrorism, or pandemics (including the COVID-19 pandemic); and

political instability and security risks in the countries where we are doing business.

We may face heightened risksbusiness, including, without limitation, political and economic instability caused by the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine and economic sanctions adopted in connection with our international operations asresponse to the conflict, and a resultpotential broadening of the impending withdrawal ofIsrael-Hamas conflict to other countries in the United Kingdom from the European Union, commonly referred to as “Brexit.”  The future effects of Brexit are uncertain and will depend on any agreements the United Kingdom makes to retain access to E.U. markets either during a transitional period or more permanently.  Brexit could, among other outcomes, disrupt the free movement of goods, services and people between the United Kingdom and the European Union, and significantly disrupt trade between the United Kingdom and the European Union. In addition, Brexit could lead to legal uncertainty and potentially divergent national laws and regulations, including tax laws and regulations, as the United Kingdom determines which E.U. laws to replace or replicate. Middle East.

Disruptions to trade, weakening of economic conditions, economic and legal uncertainties, or changes in currency rates may adversely affect our business, financial condition, operating results, and cash flows.


Various corporate tax reform bills The United States has put in place higher tariffs and other proposals have been or are currently under consideration by Congressrestrictions on trade with China, the European Union, Canada, and the Trump administration.  These proposals include,Mexico, among other items,countries, including limiting trade and/or imposing tariffs on imports from such countries. In addition, China, the European Union, Canada, and Mexico, among others, have either threatened or put into place retaliatory tariffs of their own. These tariffs and any further escalation of protectionist trade measures could adversely affect the markets in which we sell our offerings and, in turn, our business, financial condition, operating results, and cash flows. It is unclear whether and to what extent such measures will be reversed in the future or whether the Biden administration will make additional changes to U.S. trade policy that may result in further impacts on our business.

Changes to the U.S. taxation of our international income, or changes in foreign tax laws, could have a material effect on our future operating results. For example, the Tax Act led to corporate income tax rate changes, in varying, uncertain, or unspecified amounts, the modification or elimination of certain tax incentives, changes to the existing regime for taxing overseas earnings, (including possible modifications to the current regime for repatriating such earnings), and measures to prevent BEPS.  It is not clear whether, or to what extent, these proposals may be enacted.  Although the overall impact that such proposals may have on our future effective tax rate is unclear at this time, significant changes to the U.S. taxation of our international income could have a material adverse effect on our operating results.

From time to time, we may undertake various potential intercompany transactions and legal entity restructurings that involve our international subsidiaries. We consider various factors in evaluating these potential transactions and restructurings, including the alignment of our corporate structure with our organizational objectives, the operational and tax efficiency of our corporate structure,BEPS, and the long-term cash flows and cash needsUnited Kingdom adopted legislation imposing a tax related to offshore receipts in respect of our business. Such transactions and restructurings could negatively impact our overallintangible property held in low tax rate and result in additional tax liabilities.jurisdictions.

In addition,Moreover, compliance with foreign and U.S. laws and regulations that are applicable to our international operations is complex and may increase our cost of doing business in international jurisdictions,jurisdictions. Our failure to comply with these laws and our international operations couldregulations has exposed, and may in the future expose, us to fines and penalties if we fail to comply with these regulations.penalties. These laws and regulations include anti-bribery laws, such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the U.K.UK Bribery Act, and local laws prohibiting corrupt payments to governmental officials.government officials, and local laws relating to procurement, contracting, and antitrust. These laws and regulations also include import and export requirements and economic and trade sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control and the U.S. Department of Commerce Department based on U.S. foreign policy and national security goals against targeted foreign states, organizations, and individuals. Although we have implemented policies and procedures designed to help ensure compliance with these laws, there can be no assurance that our employees, channel partners, and other persons with whom we do business will notmay take actions in violation of our policies or these laws. For example, following an internal review initiated in 2018, we believe our Brazilian subsidiary failed or likely failed to comply with local procurement regulations in conducting business with certain Brazilian government entities and these matters are the subject of investigation by Brazilian authorities. Any violationsviolation of these laws could subject us to civil or criminaladministrative penalties, including substantial fines, prohibitions, or prohibitionsother limitations on our ability to offersell our products and servicesofferings to one or more countries, and could also materially damage our reputation and our brand.

These factors may have a material adverse effect on our future sales, and, consequently, on our business, operating results, and financial condition.

We may lose sales, or sales may be delayed, due to the long sales and implementation cycles of certain of our products and services, which could reduce our revenues

To date, our customers have typically invested substantial time, money, and other resources, and involved many people in the decision to license our software products and purchase our related services.  As a result, we may wait nine months or more after the first contact with a customer for that customer to place an order while it seeks internal approval for the purchase of our products or services.  During this long sales cycle, events may occur that affect the size and/or timing of the order or even cause it to be canceled.  For example, our competitors may introduce new offerings, or the customer’s own budget and purchasing priorities may change.

Even after an order is placed, the time it takes to deploy our products and complete services engagements can vary widely.  Implementing some of our offerings can take several months, depending on the customer’s needs, and may begin only with a pilot program.  It may be difficult to deploy our products if the customer has complicated deployment requirements, which typically involve integrating databases, hardware, and software from different vendors.  If a customer hires a third party to deploy our products, we cannot be sure that our products will be deployed successfully.

Our results in any particular period may depend on the number and volume of large transactions in that period and these transactions may involve lengthier, more complex, and more unpredictable sales cycles than other transactions

As existing and potential customers seek to standardize on a single analytics vendor or require greater vendor capacity to meet their growing analytics needs, our business may experience larger transactions at the enterprise level and larger transactions may account for a greater proportion of our business. The presence or absence of one or more large transactions in a particular period may have a material positive or negative effect on our revenue and operating results for that period.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, our top three product licenses transactions with recognized revenue totaled $4.5 million and $6.6 million, respectively, or 7.2% and 8.7% of total product licenses revenues, respectively.  These transactions represent significant business and financial decisions for our customers, require considerable effort on the part of customers to assess alternative products, and often require additional levels of management approval.  In addition, large transactions are often more complex than smaller transactions.  These factors generally lengthen the typical sales cycle and increase the risk that customers may postpone or delay purchasing decisions from one period to another subsequent or later period, or that customers will alter their purchasing requirements.  We may also encounter greater competition and pricing pressure in larger transactions, and the sales effort and service delivery scope for larger transactions may require us to use additional resources to execute the transaction.  These factors could result in lower than anticipated revenue and earnings for a particular period or in lower estimated revenue and earnings in future periods.


We face a variety of risks in doing business with U.S., and foreign federal, state, and local governments and government agencies, including risks related to the procurement process, budget constraints and cycles, termination of contracts, and compliance with government contracting requirements

Our customers include the U.S. government, and a number of state and local governments and government agencies. There are a variety of risks in doing business with government entities, including:

Procurement.Contracting with public sector customers is highly competitive and can be time-consuming and expensive, requiring us to incur significant up-front time and expense without any assurance that we will win a contract.

Budgetary Constraints and Cycles.  Demand and payment for our products and services are impacted by publicPublic sector budgetary cycles and funding availability, with funding reductions or delays adversely impacting public sectorimpact demand and payment for our products and services.offerings.

Termination of Contracts.Public sector customers often have contractual or other legal rights to terminate current contracts for convenience or due to a default. If a contract is terminated for convenience, which can occur if the customer’s needs change, we may only be able to collect fees for productssoftware or services delivered prior to termination and settlement expenses. If a contract is terminated due to a default, we may not recover even those amounts, and we may be liable for excess costs incurred by the customer for procuring alternative productssoftware or services.

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Compliance with Government Contracting Requirements.Government contractors are required to comply with a variety of complex laws, regulations, and contractual provisions relating to the formation, administration, or performance of government contracts that give public sector customers substantial rights and remedies, many of which are not typically found intypical for commercial contracts. These may include rights with respect toregarding price protection, the accuracy of information provided to the government, contractor compliance with socio-economic policies, and other terms that are particularunique to government contracts. Federal, state, and local governmentsGovernments and government agencies routinely investigate and audit contractors for compliance with these requirements. If, as a result of an audit or review, it is determined that we have failed to comply with these requirements, we may be subject to civil and criminal penalties andor administrative sanctions, including contract termination, of contracts, forfeiture of profits, cost associated with the triggering of price reduction clauses, fines, and suspensions or debarment from future government business and we may suffer harm to our reputation.

Our customers also include a number of foreign governments and government agencies. Similar procurement, budgetary, contract, and audit risks also apply to our doing business with these entities. In addition, compliance with complex regulations and contracting provisions in a variety of jurisdictions can be expensive and consume significant management resources. In certain jurisdictions, our ability to win business may be constrained by political and other factors unrelated to our competitive position in the market. Each of these difficulties could materially adversely affect our business and results of operations.

We depend on technology licensed to us by third parties, and the loss of this technology could impair our software, delay implementation of our offerings, or force us to pay higher license fees

We license third-party technologies that are incorporated into or utilized by our existing offerings. There can be no assurance that the licenses for such third-party technologies will not be terminated or that we will be able to license third-party software for future offerings. In addition, we may be unable to renegotiate acceptable third-party license terms, or we may be subject to infringement liability if third-party software that we license is found to infringe intellectual property rights of others. Changes in or the loss of third-party licenses could lead to a material increase in our costs, or to our software offerings becoming inoperable or their performance being materially reduced.  As a result, we may need to incur additional development costs to help ensure continued performance of our offerings, and we may experience a decreased demand for our offerings.

If we are unable to recruit or retain skilled personnel, or if we lose the services of our Chairman of the Board of Directors, President & Chief Executive Officer,Michael J. Saylor, our business, operating results, and financial condition could be materially adversely affected

Our future success depends on our continuing ability to attract, train, assimilate, and retain highly skilled personnel. CompetitionThere has historically been significant competition for thesequalified employees is intense,in the technology industry, and such competition may be further amplified by evolving restrictions on immigration, travel, or availability of visas for skilled technology workers. We may not be able to retain our current key employees or attract, train, assimilate, and retain other highly skilled personnel in the future. Our future success also depends in large part on the continued service of Michael J. Saylor, our Chairman of the Board of Directors President & Chiefand Executive Officer.Chairman. If we lose the services of Mr. Saylor, or if we are unable to attract, train, assimilate, and retain the highly skilled personnel we need, our business, operating results, and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.


The emergence of new industry standards may materially adversely affect the demand for our existing offerings

The emergence of new industry standards in related fields may materially adversely affect the demand for our existing offerings.  This could happen if new web standards and technologies or new standards in the field of operating system support emerge that are incompatible with customer deployments of our software offerings.  For example, if we are unable to adapt our software offerings on a timely basis to new standards in database access technology, the ability of our software offerings to access customer databases could be impaired.

The nature of our software offerings makes them particularly susceptible to undetected errors, bugs, or security vulnerabilities, which could cause problems with how the offerings perform and which could, in turn, reduce demand for our offerings, reduce our revenue, and lead to product liability claims against us

Software as complex as ours may contain undetected errors, bugs, or security vulnerabilities.  Although we test our software offerings extensively, we have in the past discovered software errors, bugs, or security vulnerabilities in our offerings after their introduction.  Despite testing by us and our current and potential customers, errors, bugs, or security vulnerabilities may be found in new offerings or releases after commercial shipments begin.  This could result in lost revenue, damage to our reputation, or delays in market acceptance, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition.  We may also need to expend resources and capital to correct these defects.

Our agreements with customers typically contain provisions designed to limit our exposure to product liability, warranty, and other claims.  It is possible, however, that these provisions may not be effective under the laws of certain domestic or international jurisdictions and we may be exposed to product liability, warranty, and other claims.  A successful product liability claim against us could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition.

Changes in laws or regulations relating to privacy or the collection, processing, disclosure, storage, localization, or transmission of personal data, or any actual or perceived failure by us or our third-party service providers to comply with such laws and regulations, contractual obligations, or applicable privacy policies, could materially adversely affect our business

Aspects of our business including our cloud services offerings and Usher, involve collecting, processing, disclosing, storing, and transmitting personal data, which are subject to certain privacy policies, contractual obligations, and certain federal, state,U.S. and foreign laws, regulations, and directives relating to privacy and data protection. TheWe store a substantial amount of customer and employee data, that we store throughincluding personal data, on our cloud services offerings, networks and other systems including personal data, is increasing.and the cloud environments we manage. In addition, the types of data subject to protection as personal data in the European Union, China, the United States, and elsewhere have been expanding. In recent years, the collection and use of personal data by companies have come under increased regulatory and public scrutiny, especially in relation to the collection and processing of sensitive data, such as healthcare, biometric, genetic, financial services, and government data.children’s data, precise location data, and data regarding a person’s race or ethnic origins, political opinions, or religious beliefs. For example, in the United States, protected health information is subject to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”).  HIPAA has been supplemented by the Health Information Technology, which can provide for Economic and Clinical Health Act with the result of increased civil and criminal penalties for noncompliance. Entities performing certain functions(such as us) that engage in creating, receiving, maintaining, or transmitting protected health information provided by covered entities and other business associates are directly subject to enforcement under HIPAA. Our access to protected health information through our cloud services offerings triggers obligations to comply with certain privacy rules and data security requirements under HIPAA.

In addition to potential enforcement by the United States Department of Health and Human Services for potential HIPAA violations, we are also potentially subject to privacy enforcement from the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”). The FTC has been particularly focused on certain activities related to the processing of sensitive data, including the unpermitted processing of health and genetic data through its recent enforcement actions and is expanding the types of privacy violations that it interprets to be “unfair” under Section 5 of the FTC Act, as well as the types of activities it views to trigger the Health Breach Notification Rule (which the FTC also has the authority to enforce). The agency is also in the process of developing rules related to commercial surveillance and data security that may impact our business. We will need to account for the FTC’s evolving rules and guidance for proper privacy and data security practices in order to mitigate our risk for a potential enforcement action, which may be costly. If we are subject to a potential FTC enforcement action, we may be subject to a settlement order that requires us to adhere to very specific privacy and data security practices, which may impact our business. We may also be required to pay fines as part of a settlement (depending on the nature of the alleged violations). If we violate any consent order that we reach with the FTC, we may be subject to additional fines and compliance requirements. We face risks of similar enforcement from State Attorneys General and, potentially, other regulatory agencies.

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Any systems failure or security breach that results in the release of, or unauthorized access to, personal data, or any failure or perceived failure by us or our third-party service providers to comply with applicable privacy policies, contractual obligations, or any applicable laws or regulations relating to privacy or data protection, could result in proceedings against us by domestic or foreign governmentalgovernment entities or others.others, including private plaintiffs in litigation. Such proceedings could result in the imposition of sanctions, fines, penalties, liabilities, government orders, and/or governmental orders requiring that we change our data practices, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, reputation, and financial condition.

Various federal, state,U.S. and foreign legislative, regulatory, or other governmentalgovernment bodies may enact new or additional laws or regulations, or issue rulings that invalidate prior laws or regulations, concerning privacy, data storage, data protection, and cross-border transfer of data that could materially adversely impact our business. For example,In the European Union, the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) took effect in October 2015,May 2018. GDPR establishes requirements regarding the handling and security of personal data, requires disclosure of data breaches to individuals, customers, and data protection authorities in certain circumstances, requires companies to honor data subjects’ requests relating to their personal data, permits regulators to impose fines of up to €20,000,000 or 4% of global annual revenue, whichever is higher, and establishes a private right of action. Furthermore, a new ePrivacy Regulation, regulating electronic communications, was proposed in 2017 and is under consideration by the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the European Council. In July 2020, the Court of Justice of the European Union issued a ruling that declared(“CJEU”) invalidated the U.S.-EU Safe Harbor Framework invalid.  Following this ruling, U.S. and European authorities agreedPrivacy Shield, which provided a mechanism to and in July 2016 the European Commission formally adopted, a new mechanism for lawfully transferringtransfer personal data from the European Union to the United States referredand certain other countries. In the wake of the invalidation of the U.S.-EU Privacy Shield, we transitioned to reliance on the EU Standard Contractual Clauses (“SCCs”) to lawfully transfer certain personal data from the European Union to the United States. The CJEU decision also drew into question the long-term viability of the SCCs for transfers of personal data from the EU and European Economic Area to the U.S. As a result, in October 2022, President Biden signed an executive order to implement the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework, which would serve as a replacement to the “PrivacyEU-U.S. Privacy Shield.”   The European Union initiated the process to adopt an adequacy decision for the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework in December 2022 and the European Commission adopted the adequacy decision on July 10, 2023. The adequacy decision will permit U.S. companies who self-certify to the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework to rely on it as a valid data transfer mechanism for data transfers from the EU to the U.S. and will also provide support for the use of standard contractual clauses. However, some privacy advocacy groups have already suggested that they will be challenging the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework. If these challenges are successful, they may not only impact the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework, but they may also further limit the viability of the standard contractual clauses and other data transfer mechanisms. The uncertainty around this issue has the potential to impact our business internationally. Because the rules involving this data transfer mechanism are also undergoing revision and this transfer mechanism may also be declared invalid (or require us to change our business practices) in the future, these developments may require us to provide an alternative means of data transfer. In addition, the required terms for contracts containing SCCs along with recommended supplemental provisions are changing and may require us to assume additional obligations, otherwise inhibit or restrict our ability to undertake certain activities, or incur additional costs related to data protection.

In addition, in April 2016,June 2021, the European ParliamentData Protection Board (“EDPB”) issued a new set of SCCs and formal recommendations on measures to ensure compliance with the CouncilEU data protection requirements when transferring personal data outside of the European Union formallyEconomic Area (the “EDPB Recommendations”). The new SCCs were required to be in place for new transfers of personal data as of September 27, 2021 and to replace those being used for existing transfers of personal data by December 27, 2022. The new SCCs place obligations on us in relation to government authorities’ access requests in respect of personal data transferred under the SCCs, and other obligations to bring the SCCs in line with the requirements of the GDPR. The EDPB Recommendations are designed to be read in tandem with the new SCCs and set out new requirements for organizations to assess third countries and identify appropriate supplementary data protection and security measures to be implemented on a case-by-case basis where needed.

Moreover, due to Brexit, the SCCs issued by the European Commission are no longer automatically adopted in the United Kingdom post-Brexit. In response, the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”) published a template Addendum to the new EU SCCS which adapts the new EU SCCs for UK use. In the alternative, the ICO also published the international data transfer agreement (“IDTA”). The IDTA replaces the current set of SCCs being used in the UK. The UK SCCs Addendum and IDTA, after having been put before UK parliament, have been in force as of March 2022 and UK-based organizations were required to start using the UK IDTA or Addendum for new data transfer arrangements starting in September 2022. The UK and the U.S. also agreed to a U.S.-UK “data bridge,” which went into effect on October 12, 2023. This functions similarly to the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework and provides an additional legal mechanism for companies to transfer data from the UK to the U.S.

The rules involving these alternative SCC data transfer options are continually undergoing revision and these transfer mechanisms may also be declared invalid (or require us to change our business practices) in the future, requiring us to provide an alternative means of data transfer or implement significant changes in our data security and protection practices. In addition, the required terms for contracts containing SCCs along with recommended supplemental provisions are changing and may require us to assume additional obligations, otherwise inhibit or restrict our ability to undertake certain activities, or incur additional costs related to data protection.

Similar requirements are also coming into force in other countries. Brazil enacted the Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados (the “Brazilian General Data Protection Law”), which became effective in August 2020 and imposes requirements largely similar to GDPR on products and services offered to users in Brazil. In China, we may also be subject to the Cybersecurity Law that went into effect in June 2017 and

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the revision of the Personal Information Security Specification that went into effect in October 2020, which have broad but uncertain application and impose a number of new privacy and data security obligations. China also adopted new legislation on the protection of privacy and personal data in November 2021, including the Personal Information Protection Law (“PIPL”) and Data Security Law that impose new data processing obligations on us. Under these new regulations, if an entity operating in China violates the law, regulators may order it to take corrective actions, issue warnings, confiscate illegal income, suspend services, revoke operating permits or business licenses, or issue a fine. The fine can be up to ¥50 million or 5 percent of an organization’s annual revenue for the prior financial year.

Further, in connection with cross-border transfer of personal information under the PIPL in China, China regulators published the Draft Rules on Standard Contracts Regarding Export of Personal Information and, under the PIPL, the adoption of standard contractual clauses between the data controller (the entity which transfers personal information to a location outside the PRC) and the offshore recipient is required to lawfully facilitate the offshore transfer of personal information from China. These requirements apply to companies operating in China and seeking to transfer personal data outside of China and organizations which do not satisfy these conditions may be required to satisfy additional regulatory requirements and/or be subject to penalties or fines.

Other countries are considering new or expanded laws governing privacy and data security that may impact our business practices. These developments, including in Brazil and China, may impact our activities with our customers, other MicroStrategy entities and vendors, and require us to take additional and appropriate steps in light of data transfers between the U.S. and the EU (and the UK), as well as transfers and onward transfers of personal data from the EU to other non-EU countries.

State privacy laws in the United States also may impact our business operations. The state of California has adopted a comprehensive generalprivacy law, the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”), which took effect in January 2020 and became enforceable in July 2020. We have been required to devote substantial resources to implement and maintain compliance with the CCPA, and noncompliance could result in regulatory investigations and fines or private litigation. Moreover, in November 2020, California voters approved a privacy law, the California Privacy Rights Act (“CPRA”), which amends the CCPA to create additional privacy rights and obligations in California, and went into effect on January 1, 2023. Numerous other states have passed laws similar to the CCPA, which will go into effect in 2023 and beyond. More states may follow. These laws may impose additional costs and obligations on us. Similarly, in March 2022, the U.S. federal government also passed the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act of 2022, which will require companies deemed to be part of U.S. critical infrastructure to report any substantial cybersecurity incidents or ransom payments to the federal government within 72 and 24 hours, respectively. The implementing regulations are not expected for another two-to-three years. The Securities and Exchange Commission also has issued new regulations related to cyber attacks that may require additional reporting and other compliance obligations, as well as creating additional risks related to public notifications concerning cyber incidents.

Furthermore, the U.S. Congress is considering comprehensive privacy legislation. At this time, it is unclear whether Congress will pass such a law and if so, when and what it will require and prohibit. Moreover, it is not clear whether any such legislation would give the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) any new authority to impose civil penalties for violations of the Federal Trade Commission Act in the first instance, whether Congress will grant the FTC rulemaking authority over privacy and information security, or whether Congress will vest some or all privacy and data security regulatory authority and enforcement power in a new agency, akin to EU data protection regulation, which will take effect in May 2018.  The new law governs data practices and privacy, and establishes new requirements regarding the handling of personal data.  Furthermore, a new ePrivacy regulation, regulating electronic communications, is also slated to take effect in the European Union in 2018.  authorities.

Complying with these and other changing requirements could cause us or our customers to incur


substantial costs or pay substantial fines or penalties, require us to change our business practices, require us to take on more onerous obligations in our contracts, or limit our ability to provide certain products and servicesofferings in certain jurisdictions, any of which could materially adversely affect our business and operating results.  In addition, the Privacy Shield, as well as other mechanisms for lawfully transferring personal data from the European Union to the United States and certain other countries, is being challenged in European courts, which could lead to uncertainty about the legality of such transfers, or burdensome or inconsistent legal requirements.  The Privacy Shield is also subject to annual review by the European Commission and the U.S. Department of Commerce beginning in September 2017, which could result in modifications to the Privacy Shield or its enforcement, or even its invalidation.  In addition, we may be subject to a cybersecurity law that went into effect in China on June 1, 2017 that has uncertain but broad application and imposes a number of new privacy and data security obligations. New laws or regulations restricting or limiting the collection or use of mobile data could also reduce demand for certain of our servicesofferings or require changes to our business practices, which could materially adversely affect our business and operating results.

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If we or our third-party service providers experience a disruption due to a cybersecurity attack or security breach and unauthorized parties obtain access to our customers’, prospects’, vendors’, or channel partners’ data, our data, or our cloud services offerings, networks or other systems, or the cloud environments we manage, our offerings may be perceived as not being secure, our reputation may be harmed, demand for our offerings may be reduced, our operations may be disrupted, we may incur significant legal and financial liabilities, and our business could be materially adversely affected

As part of our business, we process, store, and transmit our customers’, prospects’, vendors’, and channel partners’ information and data as well as our own, including in our cloud services offerings, networks and other systems.  There can be no assurance that any security measures thatsystems and the cloud environments we or our third-party service providers have implemented will be effective against all current or future security threats.  For example, security measuresmanage. Security breaches may be breached as a result ofoccur due to technological error, computer viruses, or third-party action, including intentional misconduct by computer hackers or state actors, physical break-ins, the actions of state actors, industrial espionage, fraudulent inducement of employees, customers, or channel partners to disclose sensitive information such as user namesusernames or passwords, and employee, customer, or channel partner error or malfeasance.  High-profile security breaches at other companies have increased in recent years. A security breach could result in unauthorized access to or disclosure, modification, misuse, loss, or destruction of our customers’, prospects’, vendors’, or channel partners’ data, our data (including our proprietary information, intellectual property, or trade secrets), or our cloud services offerings, networks or other systems, or the cloud environments we manage. Third parties may also conduct attacks designed to prevent access to critical data or systems through ransomware or temporarily deny customers access to our cloud environments.

We, and our service providers, have experienced and may in the future experience attempts by third parties to identify and exploit software and service vulnerabilities, penetrate or bypass our security measures, and gain unauthorized access to our or our customers’ or service providers’ cloud environments, networks, and other systems. Security measures that we or our third-party service providers have implemented may not be effective against all current or future security threats. Because there are many different security breach techniques and such techniques continue to evolve, we may be unable to anticipate, detect, or mitigate attempted security breaches and implement adequate preventative measures.  Third parties may also conduct attacks designed to temporarily deny customers access to our cloud services.  

Any security breach, ransomware attack, or successful denial of service attack could result in a loss of customer confidence in the security of our offerings and damage to our brand, reduce the demand for our offerings, disrupt our normal business operations, require us to spend material resources to investigate or correct the breach, require us to notify affected customers or individuals and/or applicable regulators and others, provide identity theft protection services to individuals, expose us to legal liabilities, including litigation, regulatory enforcement actions, and indemnity obligations, and materially adversely affect our revenuerevenues and operating results. Our software operates in conjunction with and is dependent on third-party products and components across a broad ecosystem. If there is a security vulnerability in one of these products or components, and if there is a security exploit targeting it, we could face increased costs, liability claims, customer dissatisfaction, reduced revenue, or harm to our reputation or competitive position.

These risks will increase as we continue to grow the number and scale of our cloud-based offerings,cloud subscriptions and process, store, and transmit increasingly large amounts of our customers’, prospects’, vendors’, channel partners’, and our own informationdata. In particular, as remote working conditions have led businesses to increasingly rely on virtual environments and data, which may include proprietary or confidential data or personal or identifying information.communication systems, there has been an increase in cyberattacks and other malicious activities.

Our intellectual property is valuable,having entered into an indemnification agreement with Michael J. Saylor, our Chairman of the Board of Directors and any inability to protect itExecutive Chairman, that supplements our conventional director and officer liability insurance provided by third-party insurance carriers could reducenegatively affect our business and the valuemarket price of our products, services, and brandclass A common stock

We rely on a combination of copyrights, patents, trademarks, trade secrets, confidentiality procedures, and contractual commitments to protecthave entered into an indemnification agreement with Michael J. Saylor, our intellectual property. Despite our efforts, these measures can only provide limited protection. Unauthorized third parties may try to copy or reverse engineer portions of our products or otherwise obtain and use our intellectual property. Any patents owned by us may be invalidated, circumvented, or challenged. Any of our pending or future patent applications, whether or not currently being challenged, may not be issued with the scopeChairman of the Board of Directors and Executive Chairman, pursuant to which Mr. Saylor has agreed to personally indemnify our directors and officers with respect to certain claims and expenses excluded from the insurance coverage provided by our commercial director and officer insurance carriers, for which we seek, if at all. Moreover, amendmentsagreed to and developing jurisprudence regarding U.S. patent law may affect our ability to protect our intellectual property and defend against claims of patent infringement. In addition, although we generally enterpay Mr. Saylor an applicable annual fee. Our having entered into confidentiality agreementsthis indemnification agreement with our employees, our former employees may seek employment withMr. Saylor could have adverse effects on our business, partners, customers, or competitors,including making it more difficult to attract and there can be no assuranceretain qualified directors and officers due to the unconventional nature of the arrangement and potential concerns that the confidential nature of our intellectual property will be maintained. Furthermore, the laws of some countries doindemnification arrangement might not provide the same level of protection that might otherwise be provided by coverage obtained entirely through conventional director and officer insurance. In addition, our indemnification arrangement with Mr. Saylor may result in some investors perceiving that our independent directors are not sufficiently independent from Mr. Saylor due to their entitlement to personal indemnification from him, which may have an adverse effect on the market price of our intellectual propertyclass A common stock.

Volatile and significantly weakened global economic conditions have in the past and may in the future adversely affect our industry, business and results of operations

Our overall performance depends in part on worldwide economic and geopolitical conditions. The United States and other key international economies have experienced significant economic and market downturns recently characterized by restricted credit, poor liquidity, reduced corporate profitability, volatility in credit, equity and foreign exchange markets, inflation, bank failures, bankruptcies and overall uncertainty with respect to the economy. In addition, geopolitical and domestic political developments, such as doexisting and

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potential trade wars and other events beyond our control, including the lawsconflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, can increase levels of political and economic unpredictability globally and increase the United States. If we cannot protect our intellectual property against unauthorized copying or use, wevolatility of global financial markets. Moreover, these conditions have affected and may not remain competitive.

Third parties may claim we infringe their intellectual property rights

We periodically receive notices from third parties claiming we are infringing their intellectual property rights, principally patent and trademark rights. We expect the number of such claims will increase as we continue to expandaffect the rate of IT spending; could adversely affect our offeringscustomers’ ability or willingness to attend our events or to purchase our software and branding,service offerings; have delayed and may delay customer purchasing decisions; have reduced and may in the numberfuture reduce the value and duration of offeringscustomer subscription contracts; and levelwe expect these conditions will adversely affect our customer attrition rates. All of competition in our industry segments grow, the functionality of offerings overlaps,these risks and the volume of issued


patents, patent applications, and trademark registrations continues to increase. Responding to any infringement claim, regardless of its validity, could:

be time-consuming, costly, and/or result in litigation;

divert management’s time and attention from developing our business;

require us to pay monetary damages or enter into royalty and licensing agreements that we would not normally find acceptable;

require us to stop selling certain of our offerings;

require us to redesign certain of our offerings using alternative non-infringing technology or practices, which could require significant effort and expense;

require us to rename certain of our offerings or entities; or

require us to satisfy indemnification obligations to our customers and channel partners.

Additionally, while we monitor our use of third-party software, including open source software, we cannot assure you that our processes for controlling such use in our products will be effective.  If we inadvertently embed certain types of open source software into one or more of our products, or if third-party software that we license is found to infringe intellectual property rights of others, we could subject ourselves to infringement liability and be required to re-engineer our products, discontinue the sale of our products if re-engineering could not be accomplished on a timely or cost-effective basis, or make available to certain third parties or generally available, in source code form, our proprietary code, any of whichconditions could materially adversely affect our business,future sales and operating results,results.

Risks Related to Our Class A Common Stock

The market price of our class A common stock has been and financial condition.may continue to be volatile

If a successful infringement claim is made against usThe market price of our class A common stock has historically been volatile and this volatility has been significant in recent periods. Since August 11, 2020, the date on which we failannounced our initial purchase of bitcoin, the closing price of our class A common stock has increased from $123.62 as of August 10, 2020, the last trading day before our announcement, to develop$423.39 as of October 31, 2023. The market price of our class A common stock may fluctuate widely in response to various factors, some of which are beyond our control. These factors include, but are not limited to:

fluctuations in the price of bitcoin, of which we have significant holdings, and in which we expect we will continue to make significant purchases and announcements about our transactions in bitcoin;
changes to our bitcoin acquisition strategy;
announcement of additional capital raising transactions;
regulatory, commercial and technical developments related to bitcoin or license a substitute technology or brand name, as applicable,the Bitcoin blockchain;
quarterly variations in our business, results of operations or those of our competitors;
announcements about our earnings that are not in line with analyst expectations, the likelihood of which may be enhanced because it is our policy not to give guidance relating to our anticipated financial condition,performance in future periods;
announcements by us or cash flows could be materially adversely affected.our competitors of acquisitions, dispositions, new offerings, significant contracts, commercial relationships, or capital commitments;
our ability to develop, market, and deliver new and enhanced offerings on a timely basis;
commencement of, or our involvement in, litigation;
recommendations by securities analysts or changes in earnings estimates and our ability to meet those estimates;
investor perception of our Company;
announcements by our competitors of their earnings that are not in line with analyst expectations;
the volume of shares of our class A common stock available for public sale;
sales or purchases of stock by us or by our stockholders and issuances of awards under our equity incentive plan; and
general economic conditions and slow or negative growth of related markets, including as a result of war, terrorism, infectious diseases (such as COVID-19 and its variants), natural disasters and other global events, and government responses to such events.

For information regarding certain pending intellectual property litigation, see “Part II. Item 1. Legal Proceedings.”

Pending or future litigation could have a material adverse effect on our results of operation and financial condition

In addition, the stock market and the markets for both bitcoin-influenced and technology companies have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to intellectual property litigation, from time to time, we have been subject to other litigation. Regardlessthe operating performance of companies in those markets. These market and industry factors may seriously harm the merits of any claims that may be brought against us, pending or future litigation could result in a diversion of management’s attention and resources and we may be required to incur significant expenses defending against these claims.  If we are unable to prevail in litigation, we could incur substantial liabilities.  Where we can make a reasonable estimate of the liability relating to pending litigation and determine that it is probable, we record a related liability. As additional information becomes available, we assess the potential liability and revise estimates as appropriate. However, because of uncertainties relating to litigation, the amountmarket price of our estimates could be wrong.class A common stock, regardless of our actual operating performance.

Because of the rights of our two classes of common stock and because we are controlled by Michael J. Saylor, who beneficially owns the majority of our class B common stock, Mr. Saylor could transfer control of MicroStrategy to a third party without the approval of our Board of Directors or our other stockholders, prevent a third party from acquiring us, or limit yourthe ability of our other stockholders to influence corporate matters

We have two classes of common stock: class A common stock and class B common stock. Holders of our class A common stock generally have the same rights as holders of our class B common stock, except that holders of class A common stock have one vote per share while holders of class B common stock have ten votes per share. As of October 16, 2017, holders of our class B common stock owned 2,035,18424, 2023, there are 1,964,025 shares of class B common stock or 68.4%outstanding, which accounts for approximately 61.0% of the total voting power.power of our outstanding common stock. As of October 16, 2017,24, 2023, Mr. Saylor, our Chairman of the Board of Directors President & Chiefand Executive Officer,Chairman, beneficially owned 2,011,6681,961,668 shares of class B common stock, or 67.6%60.9% of the total voting power. Accordingly, Mr. Saylor can control MicroStrategy through his ability to determine the outcome of elections of our directors, amend our certificate of incorporation and by-laws, and take other actions requiring the vote or consent of stockholders, including mergers, going-private transactions, and other extraordinary transactions and their terms.

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Our certificate of incorporation allows holders of class B common stock to transfer shares of class B common stock, subject to the approval of stockholders holding a majority of the outstanding class B common stock. Mr. Saylor or a group of stockholders holding a majority of the outstanding class B common stock could, without the approval of our Board of Directors or our other stockholders, transfer voting control of MicroStrategy to a third party. Such a transfer of control could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition. Mr. Saylor or a group of stockholders holding a majority of the outstanding class B common stock could also prevent a change of control of MicroStrategy, regardless of whether holders of class A common stock


might otherwise receive a premium for their shares over the then current market price. In addition, this concentrated control limits stockholders’ ability to influence corporate matters and, as a result, we may take actions that our non-controlling stockholders do not view as beneficial or that conflict with their interests. As a result, the market price of our class A common stock could be materially adversely affected.

Our status as a “controlled company” could make our class A common stock less attractive to some investors or otherwise materially adversely affect our stock price

Because we qualify as a “controlled company” under theNasdaq corporate governance rules, for NASDAQ-listed companies, we are not required to have independent directors comprise a majority of our Board of Directors. Additionally, our Board of Directors is not required to have an independent compensation or nominating committee or to have the independent directors exercise the nominating function. We are also not required to have the compensation of our executive officers be determined by a compensation committee of independent directors. In addition, we are not required to empower our Compensation Committee with the authority to engage the services of any compensation consultants, legal counsel, or other advisors, or to have the Compensation Committee assess the independence of compensation consultants, legal counsel, and other advisors that it engages.

In light of our status as a controlled company, our Board of Directors has determined not to establish an independent nominating committee or have its independent directors exercise the nominating function and has elected instead to have the Board of Directors be directly responsible for nominating members of the Board. A majority of our Board of Directors is currently comprised of independent directors, and our Board of Directors has established a Compensation Committee comprised entirely of independent directors. The Compensation Committee determines the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer.Officer and Executive Chairman. However, our Board of Directors has authorized our Chief Executive Officer to determine the compensation of executive officers other than himself rather than having such compensation determined byand the Compensation Committee,Executive Chairman, except that certain executive officerequity-based compensation that is intended to qualify as performance-based compensation for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code is determined by the Compensation Committee pursuantCommittee. Awards made to directors and officers subject to Section 16 of the requirements of Section 162(m).  AwardsExchange Act under our 2013the 2023 Equity Plan are also approved by the Compensation Committee. Additionally, while our Compensation Committee is empowered with the authority to retain and terminate outside counsel, compensation consultants, and other experts or consultants, it is not required to assess their independence.

Although currently a majority of our Board of Directors is comprised of independent directors and the Compensation Committee is comprised entirely of independent directors, we may elect in the future not to have independent directors constitute a majority of the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee, have our Executive Chairman’s and Chief Executive Officer’s compensation determined by a compensation committee of independent directors, or have a compensation committee of the Board of Directors at all.

Accordingly, should the interests of our controlling stockholder differ from those of other stockholders, the other stockholders may not have the same protections that are afforded to stockholders of companies that are required to follow all of the Nasdaq corporate governance rules for NASDAQ-listed companies.rules. Our status as a controlled company could make our class A common stock less attractive to some investors or otherwise materially adversely affect our stock price.

Revenue recognitionFuture sales, or the perception of future sales, of our class A common stock, convertible debt instruments or other convertible securities could depress the price of our class A common stock

We may issue and sell additional shares of class A common stock, convertible notes, or other securities in subsequent offerings to raise capital or issue shares for other purposes, including in connection with the acquisition of additional bitcoin. For example, since January 1, 2023, we have sold $823.9 million of shares of class A common stock through at-the-market equity offering programs, and we may sell class A common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to an additional $602.1 million from time to time through the August 2023 Sales Agents under the August 2023 Sales Agreement. We cannot predict:

the size of future issuances of equity securities;
the size and terms of future issuances of convertible debt instruments or other convertible securities; or
the effect, if any, that future issuances and sales of our securities will have on the market price of our class A common stock.

Transactions involving newly issued class A common stock, convertible debt instruments, or other convertible securities could result in possibly substantial dilution to holders of our class A common stock.

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Our amended and restated by-laws provide that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware does not have jurisdiction, then any other state court located in the State of Delaware, or if no state court located within the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) is the exclusive forum for certain litigation that may be initiated by our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for such disputes with us or our directors, officers or employees

Our amended and restated by-laws provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware does not have jurisdiction, then any other state court located in the State of Delaware, or if no state court located within the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, other employee or stockholder of the Company to the Company or the Company’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or the Company’s certificate of incorporation or by-laws (in each case, as they may be amended from time to time), or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine. This exclusive forum provision would not apply to suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Exchange Act, which provides for exclusive jurisdiction of the federal courts. It could apply, however, to a suit that falls within one or more of the categories enumerated in the choice of forum provision and asserts claims under the Securities Act, inasmuch as Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. There is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce such provision with respect to claims under the Securities Act, and our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.

The choice of forum provision may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers or other employees, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and our directors, officers and other employees. Alternatively, if a court were to find the choice of forum provision contained in our amended and restated by-laws to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions.

Risks Related to Our Outstanding and Potential Future Indebtedness

Our level and terms of indebtedness could adversely affect our ability to raise additional capital to further execute on our bitcoin acquisition strategy, fund our enterprise analytics software operations, and take advantage of new business opportunities

As of September 30, 2023, we had $2.210 billion aggregate indebtedness, consisting of $650.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2025 Convertible Notes, $1.05 billion aggregate principal amount of 2027 Convertible Notes, $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2028 Secured Notes and $10.5 million of other long-term indebtedness.

Our substantial indebtedness and interest expense could have important consequences to us, including:

limiting our ability to use a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations in other areas of our business, including for acquisition of additional bitcoin, working capital, research and development, expanding our infrastructure, capital expenditures, and other general business activities and investment opportunities in our company, because we must dedicate a substantial portion of these funds to pay interest on and/or service our debt;
limiting our ability to obtain additional financing in the future for acquisition of additional bitcoin, working capital, capital expenditures, debt service, acquisitions, execution of our strategy, and other expenses or investments planned by us;
limiting our flexibility and our ability to capitalize on business opportunities and to react to competitive pressures and adverse changes in government regulation, our business, and our industry;
increasing our vulnerability to a downturn in our business and to adverse economic and industry conditions generally;
placing us at a competitive disadvantage as compared to our competitors that are less leveraged; and
limiting our ability, or increasing the costs, to refinance indebtedness.

We may be unable to service our indebtedness, which could cause us to default on our debt obligations and could force us into bankruptcy or liquidation

Our ability to make scheduled payments on and to refinance our indebtedness depends on and is subject to our financial and operating performance, which is influenced, in part, by general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory, counterparty business, and other risks that are beyond our control, including the availability of financing in the U.S. banking and capital markets. If our cash flows and capital resources are insufficient to fund our debt service obligations, we may be forced to reduce or delay capital expenditures, sell assets, seek additional capital, or restructure or refinance our indebtedness. We cannot assure you that future borrowings will be available to us in an amount sufficient to enable us to service our indebtedness, to refinance our indebtedness, or to fund our other

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liquidity needs. Even if refinancing indebtedness is available, any refinancing of our indebtedness could be at higher interest rates and may require us to comply with more onerous covenants that could further restrict our business operations. In addition, our bitcoin acquisition strategy anticipates that we may issue additional debt in future periods to finance additional purchases of bitcoin, but if we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow to service our debt and make necessary capital expenditures, we may be required to sell bitcoin. These alternative measures may not be successful and may not permit us to meet our scheduled debt service obligations or our financial covenants, which could cause us to default on our debt obligations. In addition, any failure to make payments of interest and principal on our outstanding indebtedness on a timely basis would likely result in a reduction of our credit rating, which could harm our ability to incur additional indebtedness.

Upon the occurrence of an event of default under any of MicroStrategy’s indebtedness, the holders of the defaulted indebtedness could elect to declare all the funds borrowed to be due and payable, together with accrued and unpaid interest and, in the case of our 2028 Secured Notes, enforce their security interests on substantially all of MicroStrategy’s assets and the assets of our subsidiary guarantors, but excluding bitcoins that are currently owned by our MacroStrategy subsidiary or acquired by MacroStrategy in future periods in transactions permitted by the terms of the 2028 Secured Notes. Any of these events could in turn result in cross-defaults under our other indebtedness. We may not have sufficient funds available to pay the amounts due upon any such default, particularly in the event that there has been a decrease in the market value of our bitcoin holdings, and we may not be able to raise additional funds to pay such amounts on a timely basis, on terms we find acceptable, or at all. Any financing that we may undertake under such circumstances could result in substantial dilution of our existing stockholders, and in the absence of being able to obtain such financing, we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation.

The indenture governing our 2028 Secured Notes imposes significant operating and financial restrictions on us and certain subsidiaries of ours, which may prevent us from capitalizing on business opportunities

The indenture governing our 2028 Secured Notes imposes significant operating and financial restrictions on us and certain designated Restricted Subsidiaries (as defined in the indenture for the 2028 Secured Notes). These restrictions limit our ability, and the ability of such restricted subsidiaries, to, among other things:

incur or guarantee additional debt or issue disqualified stock or certain preferred stock;
create or incur liens;
pay dividends, redeem stock, or make certain other distributions;
make certain investments;
create restrictions on the ability of our Restricted Subsidiaries to pay dividends to us or make other intercompany transfers;
transfer or sell assets;
merge or consolidate; and
enter into certain transactions with affiliates.

As a result of these restrictions, we are limited as to how we conduct our business and we may be unable to raise additional indebtedness or conduct equity financing to compete effectively or to take advantage of new business opportunities. The terms of any future indebtedness we may incur could include more restrictive covenants. We cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain compliance with these covenants in the future and, if we fail to do so, that we will be able to obtain waivers from the lenders or amend the covenants.

Our failure to comply with the restrictive covenants described above, as well as other terms of our indebtedness or the terms of any future indebtedness from time to time could result in an event of default, which, if not cured or waived, could result in our being required to repay these borrowings before their due date, the liquidation of our assets serving as collateral and/or potential insolvency proceedings. If we are forced to refinance these borrowings on less favorable terms or if we cannot refinance these borrowings, our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.

We may be required to repay the 2028 Secured Notes prior to their stated maturity date, if the springing maturity feature is triggered

The 2028 Secured Notes have a stated maturity date of June 15, 2028, but include a springing maturity feature that will cause the stated maturity date to spring ahead to the date that is (i) 91 days prior to the existing maturity date of the 2025 Convertible Notes (which is September 15, 2025), (ii) 91 days prior to the existing maturity date of the 2027 Convertible Notes (which is November 16, 2026), or (iii) the maturity date of any future convertible debt that we may issue that is then outstanding, unless on such dates we meet specified liquidity requirements or less than $100,000,000 of aggregate principal amount of the 2025 Convertible Notes, the 2027 Convertible Notes, or such future convertible debt, as applicable, remains outstanding. If such springing maturity feature is triggered, we will be required to pay all amounts outstanding under the 2028 Secured Notes sooner than they would otherwise be due, we may not have sufficient funds available to pay such amounts at that time, and we may not be able to raise additional funds to pay such amounts on a timely basis, on terms we find acceptable, or at all.

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We may not be able to finance required repurchases of the 2028 Secured Notes or the Convertible Notes upon a change of control or a fundamental change

Upon a change of control or a fundamental change as defined in the indentures governing the 2028 Secured Notes and the Convertible Notes, the holders of such notes will have the right to require us to offer to purchase all of the applicable notes then outstanding at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the 2028 Secured Notes and 100% of the principal amount of the Convertible Notes, respectively, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the repurchase date. In order to obtain sufficient funds to pay the purchase price of such notes, we expect that we would have to refinance the notes and we may not be able to refinance the notes on reasonable terms, if at all. Our failure to offer to purchase all applicable notes or to purchase all validly tendered notes would be an event of default under the indentures governing the 2028 Secured Notes and the Convertible Notes.

If a change of control or a fundamental change occurs, we may not have enough assets to satisfy all obligations under the indentures governing the 2028 Secured Notes and the Convertible Notes. Upon the occurrence of a change of control or a fundamental change we could seek to refinance the indebtedness under the 2028 Secured Notes or the Convertible Notes or obtain a waiver from the applicable note holders. However, we may not be able to obtain a waiver or refinance the applicable notes on commercially reasonable terms, if at all. Moreover, the exercise by holders of the 2028 Secured Notes or the Convertible Notes of their right to require us to repurchase such notes could cause a default under future debt agreements, even if the change of control or fundamental change itself does not, due to the financial effect of such repurchase on us.

We may not have the ability to raise the funds necessary to settle for cash conversions of the Convertible Notes

Upon conversion of the 2025 Convertible Notes or the 2027 Convertible Notes, unless we elect (or have previously irrevocably elected) to deliver solely shares of our class A common stock to settle the conversion of such Convertible Notes (other than paying cash in lieu of delivering any fractional share), we will be required to make cash payments in respect of the applicable Convertible Notes being converted as described in the applicable indenture. However, we may not have enough available cash or be able to obtain financing at the time we are required to pay cash with respect to such notes being converted. In addition, our ability to pay cash upon conversions of the Convertible Notes may be limited by law, regulatory authority, the covenants contained in the indenture governing the 2028 Secured Notes, or agreements governing any future indebtedness. Our failure to pay any cash payable on future conversions of the Convertible Notes as required by the respective indentures would constitute a default under the indenture for that series of Convertible Notes and could also lead to a default under the indenture for the other series of Convertible Notes or the 2028 Secured Notes. A default under any indenture could also lead to a default under agreements governing any future indebtedness. If the repayment of the related indebtedness were to be accelerated after any applicable notice or grace periods, we may not have sufficient funds to repay the indebtedness.

The conditional conversion feature of the Convertible Notes, if triggered, may adversely affect our financial condition and operating results

In the event the conditional conversion feature of either the 2025 Convertible Notes or the 2027 Convertible Notes is triggered, holders of the applicable Convertible Notes will be entitled to convert such notes at any time during specified periods at their option. If one or more holders elect to convert their Convertible Notes, unless we elect to satisfy our conversion obligation by delivering solely shares of our class A common stock (other than paying cash in lieu of delivering any fractional share), we would be required to settle a portion or all of our conversion obligation through the payment of cash, which could adversely affect our liquidity. In addition, even if holders do not elect to convert their Convertible Notes, we could be required under applicable accounting pronouncementsrules to reclassify all or a portion of the outstanding principal of the applicable Convertible Notes as a current rather than long-term liability, which would result in a material reduction of our net working capital.

We rely on the receipt of funds from our subsidiaries in order to meet our cash needs and service our indebtedness, including the 2028 Secured Notes, the Convertible Notes, and our other long-term indebtedness, and certain of our subsidiaries holding digital assets may not provide any dividends, distributions, or other payments to us to fund our obligations and meet our cash needs

We depend on dividends, distributions, and other payments from our subsidiaries to fund our obligations, including those arising under the 2028 Secured Notes, the Convertible Notes, and our other long-term indebtedness, and meet our cash needs. The operating results of our subsidiaries at any given time may not be sufficient to make dividends, distributions, or other payments to us in order to allow us to make payments on the 2028 Secured Notes, the Convertible Notes, and our other long-term indebtedness. Our wholly-owned subsidiary, MacroStrategy, which holds the bitcoin that we owned prior to the issuance of the 2028 Secured Notes, the bitcoin that MacroStrategy acquired using the proceeds from the 2025 Secured Term Loan, and the bitcoin that MacroStrategy acquired from the proceeds of the sale of our class A shares pursuant to the sales agreements with various sales agents, is not obligated to provide and may in the future be prohibited from providing any dividends, distributions, or other payments to us to fund our obligations and meet our cash needs under such indebtedness. MacroStrategy holds approximately 142,514 bitcoins that, as of September 30, 2023, had a carrying value of $2.200 billion on our Consolidated Balance Sheet, representing 65.2% of our consolidated total assets at such date. In addition, dividends, distributions, or other payments, as well as other transfers of assets, between our subsidiaries and from our subsidiaries to us

74


may be subject to legal, regulatory, or contractual restrictions, which may materially adversely affect our reported results of operations

We continuously review our compliance with all new and existing revenue recognition accounting pronouncements.  In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“ASU 2014-09”), which supersedes nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance.  See Note 2, Recent Accounting Standards,ability to the Consolidated Financial Statements in “Part I. Item 1. Financial Statements” of this Quarterly Report for further information regarding ASU 2014-09.  We continue to evaluate the impact of this guidance and its subsequent amendments ontransfer cash within our consolidated financial position, resultscompanies and our ability to meet our cash needs and service our indebtedness.

Despite our current level of operations, and cash flows.  Depending on the outcome of these ongoing reviews and the potential issuance of further accounting pronouncements, implementation guidelines, and interpretations,indebtedness, we may be requiredable to modify our reported results, revenue recognition policies, or business practices,incur substantially more indebtedness and enter into other transactions in the future which could materially adversely affectfurther exacerbate the risks related to our resultsindebtedness

Although the indenture governing our 2028 Secured Notes contains, and future debt instruments may contain, restrictions on the incurrence of operations.additional indebtedness and entering into certain types of other transactions, these restrictions are subject to a number of qualifications and exceptions and we may be able to incur significant additional indebtedness in the future. For example, these restrictions do not prevent us from incurring obligations, such as certain trade payables and operating leases, which do not constitute indebtedness as defined under our debt instruments. To the extent we incur additional indebtedness or other obligations, the risks described herein with respect to our indebtedness may increase significantly.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities, and Use of Proceeds, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017,2023, we did not repurchase any equity securities registered by us pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act. See Note 8,6, Treasury Stock, to the Consolidated Financial Statements in “Part I. Item 1. Financial Statements” for further information regarding our share repurchase plan.the Share Repurchase Program, which expired on April 29, 2023.


Item 5. Other Information

Earnings Release

On October 26, 2017,November 1, 2023, we issued a press release announcing the Company’s financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2017.2023. A copy of this press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.Report. The information regarding this press release in this Item 5 (including Exhibit 99.1) shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

Rule 10b5-1 Information

On September 19, 2023, Michael J. Saylor, the Chairman of our Board of Directors and our Executive Chairman, entered into a 10b5-1 trading plan that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c) of the Exchange Act with respect to the sale of up to 400,000 shares of our Class A common stock underlying a vested stock option, which expires if unexercised on April 30, 2024.

Under this trading plan, on each trading day from January 2, 2024 to April 25, 2024, Mr. Saylor plans to exercise and sell 5,000 shares with respect to the stock option, subject to a minimum price condition. To the extent less than 5,000 shares are exercised and sold on a given trading day, the balance can be added to the number of shares exercised and sold on any future trading day up to and including April 26, 2024, which is the last date on which shares may be exercised and sold under the plan.

Other than as described above, none of our directors or officers adopted or terminated a Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement or a non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement (as defined in Item 408(c) of Regulation S-K) during the quarterly period covered by this report.

Item 6. Exhibits

We hereby file as part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10‑Q the exhibits listed in the Index to Exhibits.

All other items not included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are omitted because they are not applicable or the answers thereto are “none.”75



INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit

Number

Description

    3.1

Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the registrant (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2003 (File No. 000-24435)).

    3.2

Amended and Restated By-Laws of the registrant (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 30, 2015 (File No. 000-24435)).

    4.1

Form of Certificate of Class A Common Stock of the registrant (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2003 (File No. 000-24435)).

  31.1    4.2

Indenture, dated as of December 11, 2020, by and between the registrant and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 11, 2020 (File No. 000-24435)).

    4.3

Form of 0.750% Convertible Senior Note due 2025 (included within Exhibit 4.2 incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 11, 2020 (File No. 000-24435)).

    4.4

Indenture, dated as of February 19, 2021, by and between the registrant and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 19, 2021 (File No. 000-24435)).

    4.5

Form of 0% Convertible Senior Note due 2027 (included within Exhibit 4.4 incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 19, 2021 (File No. 000-24435)).

    4.6

Indenture, dated as of June 14, 2021, by and among the registrant, as issuer, MicroStrategy Services Corporation, as a guarantor, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee and notes collateral agent (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 14, 2021 (File No. 000-24435)).

    4.7

Form of 6.125% Senior Secured Note due 2028 (included within Exhibit 4.6 incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 14, 2021 (File No. 000-24435)).

  10.1†

Agreement dated July 12, 2023 between the Company and Kevin Adkisson (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2023 (File No. 000-24435)).

  10.2

Sales Agreement, dated as of August 1, 2023, by and among the Company, Cowen and Company, LLC, Canaccord Genuity LLC and Berenberg Capital Markets LLC (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1.1 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 1, 2023 (File No. 000-24435)).

  31.1

Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, President & ChiefPrincipal Executive Officer.

  31.2

Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Senior Executive Vice President & ChiefPrincipal Financial Officer.

  32.1

Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

  99.1

Press release, dated October 26, 2017,November 1, 2023, regarding the Company’s financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2017.2023.

101.INS

Inline XBRL Instance Document. The instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.

101.SCH

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema.

101.CAL

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase.

101.DEF

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase.

101.LAB

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase.

101.PRE

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase.

104

Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL with applicable taxonomy extension information contained in Exhibits 101).


SIGNATURES

† Management contracts and compensatory plans or arrangements.

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SIGNATURES

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

MICROSTRATEGY INCORPORATED

By:

By:

/s/ Michael J. SaylorAndrew Kang

Michael J. Saylor

Andrew Kang

Chairman of the Board of Directors,

President & Chief Executive Officer

By:

/s/ Phong Le

Phong Le

Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

By:

/s/ Jeanine Montgomery

Jeanine Montgomery

Senior Vice President & Chief FinancialAccounting Officer

Date: October 26, 2017November 1, 2023

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