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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 15,November 5, 2014.

Registration No. 333-195036333-199650


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



Amendment No. 2AMENDMENT NO. 1
to

TO
FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Under
The Securities Act of 1933



TRUECAR, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 7379
(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
 04-3807511
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

120 Broadway, Suite 200
Santa Monica, California 90401
(800) 200-2000

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)



Scott Painter
Chief Executive Officer
120 Broadway, Suite 200
Santa Monica, California 90401
(800) 200-2000

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)



Copies to:

David J. Segre
Tony Jeffries
Damien Weiss
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C.
650 Page Mill Road
Palo Alto, California 94304
(650) 493-9300

 

Michael Guthrie
Chief Financial Officer
Troy Foster
Chief Legal and Compliance Officer
120 Broadway, Suite 200
Santa Monica, California 90401
(800) 200-2000

 

Christopher L. Kaufman
Steven B. Stokdyk
Latham & Watkins LLP
355 South Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90071-1560
(213) 485-1234



Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:
As soon as practicable after this registration statement becomes effective.

            If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box.    o

            If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.    o

            If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.    o

            If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.    o

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

Large accelerated filero Accelerated filero Non-accelerated filerý
(do not check if a
smaller reporting company)
 Smaller reporting companyo



CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

  
Title of Each Class of Securities
to be Registered

 Amount to be
Registered(1)

 Proposed Maximum
Offering Price Per
Share

 Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering
Price(2)

 Amount of
Registration Fee(3)

 Amount to be
Registered(1)

 Proposed Maximum
Offering Price per
Share(2)

 Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering
Price(2)

 Amount of
Registration Fee(3)

Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share

 8,941,250 $14.00 $125,177,500 $16,123.00 7,362,991 $16.47 $121,268,461.77 $14,091.40

(1)
Estimated pursuant to 457(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Includes an additional 1,166,250960,390 shares that the underwriters have the option to purchase.

(2)
Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.fee in accordance with Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, based on the average of the high and low sales prices of the Registrant's Common Stock as reported by The NASDAQ Global Select Market on October 30, 2014.

(3)
Previously paid.

            The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

   


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The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

Subject to Completion: Dated May 15,November 5, 2014

7,775,0006,402,601 Shares

LOGO

Common Stock

          ThisTrueCar, Inc. is offering 1,000,000 shares to be sold in this offering. The selling stockholders identified in this prospectus are offering an initial public offeringadditional 5,402,601 shares. TrueCar will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the shares of common stock of TrueCar, Inc.being sold by the selling stockholders.

          Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for the common stock. It is currently estimated that the initial public offering price per share will be between $12.00 and $14.00.          Our common stock has been approved for listingis listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "TRUE". On November 4, 2014, the last reported sale price of our common stock on The NASDAQ Global Select Market was $17.19 per share.

          We are an "emerging growth company" under the federal securities laws and are therefore subject to reduced public company reporting requirements.

          Investing in our common stock involves risks. See "Risk Factors" beginning on page 1519 to read about factors you should consider before buying shares of our common stock.



          Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.



 Per Share
 Total
 

Initial publicPublic offering price

 $  $  

Underwriting discounts(1)

 $  $  

Proceeds, before expenses, to TrueCar

 $  $

Proceeds, before expenses, to the selling stockholders

$$  

(1)
See "Underwriting" for a description of the compensation payable to the underwriters.



          To the extent that the underwriters sell more than 7,775,0006,402,601 shares of common stock, the underwriters have the option to purchase up to an additional 1,166,250960,390 shares from us at the initial public offering price less the underwriting discount.

          Scott Painter, our Founder and Chief Executive Officer, has indicated an interest in purchasing up to an aggregate of approximately $1,500,000$500,000 of TrueCar's common stock in this offering at the initial public offering price. Because this indication of interest is not a binding agreement or commitment to purchase, Mr. Painter may elect not to purchase shares in this offering or the underwriters may elect not to sell any shares in this offering to Mr. Painter. The underwriters will receive the same discount from any shares of our common stock purchased by Mr. Painter as they will from any other shares of our common stock sold to the public in this offering.



          The underwriters expect to deliver the shares against payment in New York, New York on or about                          , 2014.



J.P. MorganGoldman, Sachs & Co. J.P. Morgan Stanley RBC Capital Markets


JMP Securities






Cowen and Company
JMP Securities

Prospectus dated                          , 2014.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
 
Page
 

Prospectus Summary

  1 

Summary Consolidated Financial and Other Data

  1013 

Risk Factors

  1519 

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Industry and Market Data

  3641 

Use of Proceeds

  3843

Market Price of Common Stock

43 

Dividend Policy

  3843 

Capitalization

  3944 

Dilution

  4145 

Selected Consolidated Financial and Other Data

  4447 

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

  4952 

Business

  89 

Management

  105106 

Executive Compensation

  118119 

Certain Relationships, Related Party and Other Transactions

  140 

Principal and Selling Stockholders

  147146 

Description of Capital Stock

  151150 

Shares Eligible for Future Sale

  157155 

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders

  160158 

Underwriting

  164162 

Legal Matters

  169167 

Experts

  169167 

Where You Can Find More Information

  169167 

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

  F-1 



          Through and including                                        , 2014 (the 25th day afterNeither we, the date of this prospectus), all dealers effecting transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to a dealer's obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as an underwriter and with respect to an unsold allotment or subscription.



          Neither weselling stockholders, nor the underwriters have authorized anyone to provide you with information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectuses we have prepared. We and the underwriters take no responsibility for, and provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the shares offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this prospectus is current only as of its date.

          For investors outside the United States:    Neither we, the selling stockholders, nor any of the underwriters have done anything that would permit this offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in the United States. You are required to inform yourselves about, and to observe any restrictions relating to, this offering and the distribution of this prospectus.

i


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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

          This summary highlights selected information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus and is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed information and financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. This summary may not contain all the information you should consider before investing in our common stock. You should carefully read this prospectus in its entirety before investing in our common stock, including the sections titled "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. Unless the context otherwise requires, we use the terms "TrueCar," the "Company," "we," "us" and "our" in this prospectus to refer to TrueCar, Inc. and, where appropriate, our consolidated subsidiaries.


Overview

          Our mission is to transform the car-buying experience for consumers and the way that dealers attract customers and sell cars. We have established an intelligent, data-driven online platform operating on a common technology infrastructure, powered by proprietary data and analytics. We operate our company-branded platform on the TrueCar website and our TrueCar.com website.branded mobile experience. In addition, we customize and operate our platform for affinity group marketing partners, such as USAA and Consumer Reports, financial institutions, and other large enterprises such as Boeing and Verizon. We enable users to obtain market-based pricing data on new and used cars, and to connect with our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers.

          We benefit consumers by providing information related to what others have paid for a make and model of car in their area and, where available, estimated prices for that make and model of car, which we refer to as upfront pricing information, from our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers. This upfront pricing information generally includes guaranteed savings off MSRP which the consumer may then take to the dealer in the form of a Guaranteed Savings Certificate and apply toward the purchase of the specified make and model of car. We benefit our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers by enabling them to attract these informed, in-market consumers in a cost-effective, accountable manner, which we believe helps them to sell more cars.

          We are currently focused primarily on new car transactions. In the future, we intend to introduce additional products and services designed to improve the car-buying and car-ownership experience through TrueCar Labs, an incubator focused on developing innovative solutions for the automotive ecosystem. TrueCar Labs deploys new products and solutions in their earliest phase in order to seek feedback from consumers and dealers, enabling them to shape a better product experience. For example, we are developing TrueTrade to provide users with an estimated daily market value for their existing cars and a guaranteed trade-in price.price which we plan to launch in 2015. In addition, we are developing TrueLoan and TrueLease to provide users with a more convenient way to finance their cars at TrueCar Certified Dealers. We are also in the process of launching a number of new services for our dealers designed to enable them to make better informed inventory management and pricing decisions and to close transactions more efficiently.

          Our network of over 7,7009,100 TrueCar Certified Dealers consists primarily of new car franchises, representing all major makes of cars, as well as independent dealers. TrueCar Certified Dealers operate in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. We estimate that users of our platform purchasing cars from TrueCar Certified Dealers accounted for approximately 3.2%3.4% of all new car sales in the United States in the firstsecond quarter of 2014, excluding fleet car sales, an increase from 2.4% in 2013 and 1.5% in 2012. Since our founding in 2005, TrueCar users have purchased over 1.21.5 million cars from TrueCar Certified Dealers, including nearly 400,000 during 2013Dealers. We obtain automobile purchase data from a variety of sources and 126,000use this data to provide consumers and dealers with highly accurate, geographically specific, real-time pricing information.


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          Our subsidiary, ALG, Inc., provides data and consulting services regarding determination of the residual value of an automobile at given points in time in the three months ended March 31, 2014.future. These residual values are used to underwrite automotive loans and leases to determine payments by consumers. In addition, financial institutions use this information to measure exposure and risk across loan, lease and fleet portfolios.

          During 2013, we generated revenues of $134.0 million and recorded a net loss of $25.1 million. Of the $134.0 million in revenues, 89% consisted of transaction revenues with the remaining 11% derived primarily from the sale of data and consulting services to the automotive and financial services industries. Revenues from the sale of data and consulting services are derived primarily from the operations of our ALG subsidiary. During the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2014, we generated


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revenues of $43.9$94.4 million and recorded a net loss of $9.9$25.0 million. Of the $43.9$94.4 million in revenues, 91% consisted of transaction revenues with the remaining 9% derived primarily from the sale of data and consulting services to the automotive and financial services industries. Transaction revenues primarily consist of fees paid to us by our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers under our pay-for-performance business model where we generally earn a fee only when a TrueCar user purchases a car from them.


Industry Overview and Market Opportunity

          The automotive sector is one of the largest segments of the U.S. economy. There were 15.5 million new cars sold in the United States in 2013 for a total retail value of nearly $500 billion, based on information published by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, or BEA, and the National Automobile Dealers Association, or NADA. In 2013, the largest automotive dealer group accounted for only 1.9% of new vehicle sales, and the top ten dealer groups accounted in the aggregate for only 8.2% of new vehicle sales, according to Automotive News.

          Consumers face a number of complex issues when buying a car, including obtaining market pricing information with respect to the car they want to buy and negotiating a transaction. While consumers have a number of available information sources that provide pricing data, these alternatives generally do not have information on what others actually paid for a car. As a result, consumers still lack the market data and upfront pricing information that might shorten the negotiation with the dealer and lead to a successful transaction.

          Automobile dealers operate in a highly competitive market in which access to consumers and informed vehicle pricing are essential to dealer profitability. Overall dealer profitability is closely tied to the volume of new car sales as those sales can lead to higher-margin offerings for the dealer such as trade-ins, financing, maintenance and service, and accessories. In addition, dealers can earn financial incentives and improved vehicle allocation from manufacturers based on their volume of new car sales. Automobile dealers are increasingly shifting from reliance on their physical location and offline media and turning to the Internet to attract consumers and broaden their reach. However, dealers must pay high marketing costs to attract customers and lack empirical data on pricing at the local level. As a result of these challenges, automobile dealers are looking for ways to attract informed, in-market consumers in a cost-effective and accountable manner and effectively price their vehicle inventory to achieve their sales goals.


Our Solution

          We have established an intelligent, data-driven online platform operating on a common technology infrastructure, powered by proprietary data and analytics. We operate our company-branded platform via the TrueCar website and our TrueCar.com website.branded mobile experience. In addition, we customize and operate our platform for affinity group marketing partners, such as USAA, and Consumer Reports, financial institutions, and other large enterprises such as Boeing and Verizon. We enable users to obtain


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market-based pricing data on new and used cars, and to connect with our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers. We believe the combination of transparent market data, upfront pricing information and guaranteed savings off MSRP benefits both consumers and dealers, resulting in more transactions by users of our platform.


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Why consumers choose TrueCar

          We believe consumers choose TrueCar.com and our affinity group marketing partner websites to simplify the car-buying process and to achieve confidence in the price they receive for a car. Our platform provides the following benefits:

          Upfront pricing information.    We access a broad array of transaction data to provide consumers with relevant pricing information on every major make and model of new car sold in the U.S. We also generally provide consumers with an Estimated TrueCar Dealer Price based on data provided by TrueCar Certified Dealers in their area.

          Quality of service of our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers.    We strive to provide consumers with a superior car-buying experience through our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers. To become a TrueCar Certified Dealer, dealers must agree to adhere to certain conditions, including providing upfront pricing information and guaranteed savings off MSRP, where available.

          Price Confidence.    Our users generally receive up to three Guaranteed Savings Certificates, which provide a guaranteed savings off MSRP on the user's specified make and model of car. Our platform allows the user to compare relevant market data for their specified make and model of car with the guaranteed savings from MSRP identified in these certificates. For the yearsix months ended December 31, 2013,June 30, 2014, TrueCar users paid, on average, approximately $3,000nearly $3,200 less than MSRP.

Why dealers use TrueCar

          We believe dealers use TrueCar to attract informed, in-market consumers in a cost-effective and accountable manner, efficiently price their inventory and, ultimately, sell more cars.

          Under our pay-for-performance business model, we generally earn a fee only when a consumer purchases a car, providing dealers with an accountable marketing channel. We typically charge TrueCar Certified Dealers $299 upon the sale of a new car to a TrueCar user. In 2013, the overall industry average advertising expense per new car across all forms of media was $616, according to NADA. By helping dealers better target their acquisition efforts to in-market consumers using our platform, we believe that dealers can improve their close rates, which results in other operating cost efficiencies such as savings on selling expenses and inventory carrying costs.

Why affinity groups partner with TrueCar

          For many of our affinity group marketing partners, offering a car-buying service is a valuable benefit for their members, but it is not a service that they can provide easily themselves. Affinity groups partner with TrueCar to extend our platform to their members under their own brands. We generally provide members of these groups with access to the same benefits of the TrueCar website and our own TrueCar.com websitebranded mobile experience with the added recognition of their affinity membership, and other benefits such as improved financing terms and manufacturer incentives. These affinity group marketing partners include USAA, Consumer Reports, AAA, American Express and PenFed.

The future of the TrueCar solution

          In the future, we intend to introduce additional products and services to improve the car-buying and car-ownership experience through TrueCar Labs, an incubator focused on


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developing innovative solutions for the automotive ecosystem. TrueCar Labs deploys new products and solutions in their earliest phase in order to seek feedback from consumers and dealers, enabling them to shape a better product experience. For example, we are developing TrueTradeTrueCar Labs announced the release of the SellMyCar mobile application to provide users withhelp consumers receive an estimated daily market value forupfront price on their existing cars and a guaranteed trade-in price.trade-in. In addition, we are developing TrueLoan and TrueLease to provide users with a more convenient way to finance their cars at TrueCar Certified Dealers. We are also in the process of launching a number of new services for our dealers designed to enable them to make better informed inventory management and pricing decisions and to close transactions more efficiently. We believe that these innovations will offer an improved car-buying experience that will delight consumers and better enable dealers to generate orders from the Internet.


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Our Strengths

          We believe that our platform offers a superior car-buying experience for our users and TrueCar Certified Dealers. Our strengths include:

Accountable business model operating at scale with powerful network effects

          We operate a pay-for-performance business model that allows in-market car buyers to interact with our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers. In addition, our platform is adaptable on a state-by-state basis in response to the local regulatory environment. As the number of vehicles purchased by our users from our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers continues to grow, we believe the platform will become increasingly attractive to high-quality automobile dealers. In addition, as more in-market consumers utilize our platform, the incremental search, inventory and purchase information generated will increase the utility of our data and analytics platform for all participants.

Nationwide network of TrueCar Certified Dealers representing all major makes sold in the U.S.

          We have built our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers to provide broad nationwide coverage to our users. Our network of over 7,7009,100 TrueCar Certified Dealers consists primarily of new car franchises, representing all major makes of cars, as well as independent dealers. TrueCar Certified Dealers operate in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Robust data and proprietary analytics platform

          Our digital platform is powered by data and proprietary analytics. Our data repository contains a wide variety of information, including vehicle-specific information on automotive transactions, vehicle registration records, consumer buying patterns and behavior, demographic information, and macroeconomic data. Our platform also enables our pay-for-performance business model by identifying sales for which a dealer generally pays us a fee only when a TrueCar user purchases a car or based on other performance-based metrics.

Long-term, strategic relationships with affinity groups

          We have built long-term relationships with our affinity group marketing partners for which we operate automobile buying programs. We also offer car-buying programs as an employee benefit directly to corporate customers and, indirectly, through employee benefit plan administrators. We believe that affinity group members represent an attractive audience for our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers because the affinity group or employment relationship creates a deeper level of engagement between the in-market car buyer and the TrueCar Certified Dealer.


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Operations guided by insights derived from quantitative data analysis

          We access consumer, dealer and third-party data to power our platform. We believe our quantitative analytical capabilities enable us to derive insights into consumers and dealers that help inform several of our key areas of focus. Our business intelligence organization is also responsible for tracking internal performance metrics, gleaning insights, and helping to improve our operations.

Visionary management team with extensive automotive expertise

          Our Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Scott Painter, is a pioneer in the online automotive industry, having founded CarsDirect, one of the industry's first successful online automotive businesses. Scott has dedicated his career in the automotive industry to demonstrating that transparency is a more profitable business model. A team of experienced senior executives, with management backgrounds at automotive


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manufacturers and retailers, online automotive marketing firms, state dealer associations, Internet companies and financial institutions, augments his leadership.


Growth Strategy

          We are in the early stages of pursuing our mission to transform car-buying for consumers and dealers. Key elements of our growth strategy are:

Expand the number of visitors to our platform

          We intend to grow TrueCar.comtraffic on the TrueCar website trafficand our branded mobile applications by building our brand through marketing campaigns that emphasize the value of trust and transparency in the car-buying process and the benefits of transacting with TrueCar Certified Dealers. We intend to grow affinity group marketing partner traffic by promoting creative marketing programs, such as subsidizing interest rates on loans, and providing other incentives from third parties that deliver a tangible economic benefit to transacting members, increasing awareness of the car-buying program among the members of our affinity group marketing partners and adding new affinity group marketing partners that bring additional users to our platform.

Improve the user experience

          We seek to increase the number of transactions between users of our platform and TrueCar Certified Dealers through a variety of methods, including consistently evaluating and improving our products to enhance the user experience, engaging users with relevant content about car pricing, available incentives and other benefits, while also expanding and improving the geographic coverage of our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers.

Expand monetization opportunities

          Over time, we intend to increase monetization opportunities by introducing additional products and services to improve the car-buying and car-ownership experience.car ownership experience as well as working more closely with automobile manufacturers. For example, we are developing TrueTrade to provide consumers with an estimated daily market value for their existing cars and a guaranteed trade-in price. In addition, we are developing TrueLoan and TrueLease to provide users with a more convenient way to finance their cars at TrueCar Certified Dealers.


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Risks Affecting Our Business

          Our business is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including those highlighted in the section titled "Risk Factors" immediately following this prospectus summary. These risks include, but are not limited to, the following:


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Recent Developments

Preliminary Financial Results

          The following sets forth our preliminary financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 that we announced on November 5, 2014. We anticipate that we will file our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended September 30, 2014 on November 13, 2014.

 
 Three Months Ended
September 30,
 Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
Consolidated Statements of Operations
 2014 2013 2014 2013 
 
 (In thousands, except per share amounts)
 

Revenues

 $56,751 $37,547 $151,178 $93,813 

Costs and operating expenses:

             

Cost of revenue

  4,666  3,652  12,524  11,087 

Sales and marketing

  36,399  21,878  97,458  51,287 

Technology and development

  10,906  5,512  26,751  16,934 

General and administrative

  14,919  7,716  42,873  20,658 

Depreciation and amortization

  3,388  3,241  9,474  9,175 
          

Total costs and operating expenses

  70,278  41,999  189,080  109,141 
          

Loss from operations

  (13,527) (4,452) (37,902) (15,328)

Interest income

  14  30  41  91 

Interest expense

  (27) (58) (327) (1,809)

Other income

  20  5  30  19 
          

Loss before provision for income taxes

  (13,520) (4,475) (38,158) (17,027)

Provision for income taxes

  (120) (136) (437) (409)
          

Net loss

 $(13,640)$(4,611)$(38,595)$(17,436)
          
          

Net loss per share:

             

Basic and diluted

 $(0.18)$(0.08)$(0.56)$(0.30)
          
          

Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted

  76,880  59,799  68,315  58,096 
          
          

Other Financial Information:

             

Adjusted EBITDA

 $3,860 $2,411 $6,628 $2,409 
          
          

Non-GAAP net income (loss)

 $339 $(994)$(3,569)$(8,893)
          
          

Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Data
 At September 30,
2014
 
 
 (in thousands)
 

Cash and cash equivalents

 $112,999 

Working capital

  111,974 

Property and equipment, net

  28,688 

Total assets

  261,767 

Total indebtedness

  10,970 

Total stockholders' equity

  214,677 


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Key Metrics

 
 Three Months Ended
September 30, 2014
 Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2014
 

Units

 171,775 447,282 

Franchise Dealer Count

 
8,149
 
8,149
 

Transaction Revenue Per Franchise Dealer

 
$6,567
 
$18,663
 

Average Monthly Unique Visitors

 
4.6 million
 
4.3 million
 

          The preliminary financial results presented above are subject to the completion of our financial closing procedures and related review. These procedures have not been completed. Accordingly, these results may change and those changes may be material.

          The financial data and key metrics included in this prospectus have been prepared by and are the responsibility of our management. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP has not audited, reviewed, compiled or performed any procedures with respect to the accompanying preliminary financial data. Accordingly, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP does not express an opinion or any other form of assurance with respect thereto.

GAAP

          Revenues were $56.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, an increase of 51% as compared to $37.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013. Revenues were $151.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, an increase of 61% as compared to $93.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The increases in revenues are primarily due to increased transaction volume on our platform which we attribute to an increase in marketing spend and an increase in the number of TrueCar Certified Dealers in our network, platform and product enhancements, and the overall growth in sales of the automotive industry.

          Net loss was $(13.6) million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 as compared to net loss of $(4.6) million for the three months ended September 30, 2013. Net loss was $(38.6) million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 as compared to net loss of $(17.4) million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The increases in the net losses as compared to the corresponding periods in 2013 are primarily due to increased expenses related to an increase in the number of and the grant date fair value of equity based awards.

Non-GAAP

          Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP net (loss) income are not measures of our financial performance calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or GAAP, and neither should be considered as an alternative to net (loss) income, operating (loss) income or any other measures derived in accordance with GAAP. See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for a description of Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP net (loss) income, how we use them and their limitations.

          Adjusted EBITDA was $3.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, an increase of 60% as compared to $2.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013. Adjusted EBITDA was $6.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, an increase of 175% as compared to $2.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The increases in Adjusted EBITDA are primarily due to increased revenues as well as improved non-GAAP operating margins.


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          The following table presents a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to preliminary net loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 (in millions):

 
 Three Months Ended
September 30,
 Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
 2014 2013 2014 2013 

Net loss

 $(13,640)$(4,611)$(38,595)$(17,436)

Non-GAAP Adjustments:

             

Interest income

  (14) (30) (41) (91)

Interest expense

  27  58  327  1,809 

Depreciation and amortization

  3,388  3,241  9,474  9,175 

Stock-based compensation

  9,440  1,968  20,978  5,584 

IPO-related expenses

      3,717   

Warrant expense

  3,675  1,626  8,289  2,888 

Change in fair value of contingent consideration

    23    71 

Ticker symbol acquisition costs

      803   

Certain litigation costs(1)

  864    1,239   

Provision for income taxes

  120  136  437  409 
          

Adjusted EBITDA

 $3,860 $2,411 $6,628 $2,409 
          
          

          Non-GAAP net income was $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, an increase of 130% as compared to a Non-GAAP net loss of $(1.0) million for the three months ended September 30, 2013. Non-GAAP net loss was $(3.6) million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, a decrease of 60% as compared to a Non-GAAP net loss of $(8.9) million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The increases in Non-GAAP net (loss) income are primarily due to increased revenues as well as improved operating margins, exclusive of stock-based compensation.

          The following table presents a reconciliation of Non-GAAP net income to net loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 (in millions):

 
 Three Months Ended
September 30,
 Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
 2014 2013 2014 2013 

Net loss

 $(13,640)$(4,611)$(38,595)$(17,436)

Non-GAAP Adjustments:

             

Stock-based compensation

  9,440  1,968  20,978  5,584 

Warrant expense

  3,675  1,626  8,289  2,888 

Change in fair value of contingent consideration

    23    71 

Ticker symbol acquisition costs

      803   

IPO-related expenses

      3,717   

Certain litigation costs(1)

  864    1,239   
          

Non-GAAP net income (loss)

 $339 $(994)$(3,569)$(8,893)
          
          

(1)
The excluded amounts relate to legal costs incurred in connection with a claim we filed against Sonic Automotive Holdings, Inc. for trademark infringement and related matters. We have not historically excluded these costs from Adjusted EBITDA; however, as we have incurred increasing costs to advance our claim, we believe that their exclusion is appropriate to facilitate period-to-period operating performance comparisons.

          We have provided the results described above primarily because our financial closing procedures and related review for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 are not


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yet complete. As a result, there is a possibility that our final results will vary from the results described above.


Corporate Information

          Our principal executive offices are located at 120 Broadway, Suite 200, Santa Monica, California 90401, and our telephone number is (800) 200-2000. Our website is www.TrueCar.com.websites are www.TrueCar.com and www.True.com. Information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our websitewebsites is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and you should not consider information on our websitewebsites to be part of this prospectus.

          We originally incorporated under the name "Zag.com Inc." in Delaware in February 2005. We later changed our name to TrueCar, Inc.

          TrueCar, the TrueCar logo and other trademarks or service marks of TrueCar appearing in this prospectus are the property of TrueCar. Trade names, trademarks and service marks of other companies appearing in this prospectus are the property of their respective holders. We have omitted the ® and ™ designations, as applicable, for the trademarks used in this prospectus.

          We are an emerging growth company as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (JOBS Act) and are therefore subject to reduced public company reporting requirements. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest to occur of: the last day of the fiscal year in which we have more than $1.0 billion in annual revenue; the date we qualify as a "large accelerated filer," with at least $700 million of equity securities held by non-affiliates; the issuance, in any three-year period, by us of more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities; and the last day of the fiscal year ending after the fifth anniversary of our initial public offering.


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Reverse Stock Split

          Our board of directors and stockholders approved a 2-for-3 reverse split of our common stock and our Series A convertible preferred stock, or preferred stock, which was effected on May 2, 2014. All references to common stock, preferred stock, options to purchase common stock, restricted stock, share data, per share data, warrants and related information have been retroactively adjusted where applicable in this prospectus to reflect the reverse stock split of our common stock and our preferred stock as if it had occurred at the beginning of the earliest period presented.

 


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THE OFFERING

Common stock offered by us

 7,775,0001,000,000 shares

Common stock offered by the selling stockholders

5,402,601 shares

Common stock to be outstanding after this offering

 

71,038,26777,814,334 shares (78,774,724 shares if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full)

Option to purchase additional shares from us

 

We have granted the underwriters an option, exercisable for 30 days after the date of this prospectus, to purchase up to an additional 1,166,250960,390 shares from us.

Use of proceeds

 

We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering primarily for general corporate purposes, including working capital, operating expenses and capital expenditures. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds to acquire or invest in complementary technologies, solutions, products, services, businesses or other assets, although we have no present commitments or agreements to enter into any acquisitions or investments. See "Use of Proceeds."

Concentration of ownership

 

Upon completion of this offering, the executive officers, directors and 5% stockholders of our company and their affiliates will beneficially own, in the aggregate, approximately 66.1%66.4% of our outstanding capital stock.

Directed share program

The underwriters have reserved for sale, at the initial public offering price, up to 777,500 shares of the common stock being sold pursuant to this offering, which equals 10% of such shares being sold. Scott Painter, our Founder and Chief Executive Officer, has indicated an interest in purchasing up to an aggregate of approximately $1,500,000 of such reserved shares and the remainder of such shares may be sold to business associates, advisors and friends of TrueCar. All such shares purchased will be subject to the 180-day contractual lock-up described more fully in "Underwriting." The number of shares available for sale to the general public in this offering will be reduced to the extent these persons purchase reserved shares. Any reserved shares not purchased will be offered by the underwriters to the general public on the same terms as the other shares.

NASDAQ trading symbol

 

"TRUE"

          Scott Painter, our Founder and Chief Executive Officer, has indicated an interest in purchasing up to an aggregate of approximately $1,500,000$500,000 of TrueCar's common stock in this offering at the initial public offering price. Because this indication of interest is not a binding agreement or commitment to purchase, Mr. Painter may elect not to purchase shares in this offering or the underwriters may elect not to sell any shares in this offering to Mr. Painter. The underwriters will receive the same discount from any shares of our common stock purchased by Mr. Painter as they will from any other shares of our common stock sold to the public in this offering.

          The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding after this offering is based on 63,263,26776,814,334 shares of our common stock (including convertible preferred stock on an as converted basis) outstanding at March 31,June 30, 2014, and excludes:


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      1,229,830 shares of common stock have been issued pursuant to stock option exercises from April 1, 2014 to May 15, 2014 for an aggregate exercise price of approximately $1.0 million, which includes 1,102,040 shares of common stock issued to Scott Painter, our Founder and Chief Executive Officer, for an aggregate exercise price of approximately $823,000;

    1,333,332 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options granted to our CEO in April 2014, with a weighted average exercise price of $45.00$9.40 per share;

    5,781,811 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options granted from April 1, 2014 to May 15, 2014, with a weighted average exercise price of $12.81 per share;

    720,146713,539 shares of common stock subject to restricted stock units ("RSUs") granted from April 1, 2014 to May 15,outstanding at June 30, 2014;

    1,297,2791,273,640 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our stock-based compensation plans, consisting of shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our Amended and Restated 2005 Stock Plan (the "2005 Stock Plan") at March 31, 2014 (after giving effect to an increase of 4,000,000 shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under our 2005 Stock Plan after March 31, 2014, the grant of options to purchase 7,115,143 shares of common stock after March 31, 2014, the grant of 720,146 shares of common stock subject to RSUs after March 31, 2014, and forfeitures returned to the 2005 Stock Plan of 20,321 shares), which shares will be added to the shares to be reserved under our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan to the extent not granted prior to the completion of this offering;(the "2014 Plan");

    any shares of common stock that become available subsequent to this offering under our 2014 Plan as a result of the expiration, termination without exercise or forfeiture or repurchase of awards granted under our Amended and Restated 2005 Stock Plan (the "2005 Stock Plan") or our 2008 Stock Plan (the "2008 Stock Plan"), as more fully described in "Executive Compensation — Employee Benefits and Stock Plans";

    any shares that become available under our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, pursuant to provisions thereof that automatically increase the share reserves under the plan each year, as more fully described in "Executive Compensation — Employee Benefits and Stock Plans"; and


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    5,967,4233,981,198 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants outstanding at March 31,June 30, 2014, with a weighted average exercise price of $5.50 per share, of which 3,265,168 shares of common stock were issued to our largest stockholder, United Services Automobile Association, pursuant to an exercise on May 12, 2014 for an aggregate exercise price of approximately $9.5 million; and

    1,797,312 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants issued from April 1, 2014 to May 15, 2014, with a weighted average exercise price of $13.05$10.73 per share.

          Unless otherwise noted, the information in this prospectus reflects and assumes the following:

    a two-for-three reverse stock split effected on May 2, 2014;

    the filingno purchase by our executive officers, directors or 5% stockholders of our amended and restated certificate of incorporationany shares to be sold in connection with the completion of this offering;

    no exercise of outstanding options;

    no exercise of outstanding warrants; and

    no exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase up to an additional 1,166,250                  shares of common stock from us in this offering.

 


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SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL AND OTHER DATA

          The following tables summarize our consolidated financial data. You should read the summary consolidated financial data set forth below in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements, the notes to our consolidated financial statements and the section titled "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" contained elsewhere in this prospectus.

          We have derived the summary consolidated statement of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2012 and 2013 from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. We have derived the summary unaudited consolidated statement of operations data for the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2013 and 2014 and our unaudited consolidated balance sheet data as of March 31,June 30, 2014 from our unaudited interim consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements were prepared on a basis consistent with our annual financial statements and include, in the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair statement of the financial information contained in those statements. We have derived the summary consolidated statement of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2010 from our unaudited consolidated financial statements, which are not included in this prospectus. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected in the future, and our interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year or any other period.

 


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 Year Ended December 31,  Three Months
Ended
March 31,
 
  Year Ended December 31,  Six Months
Ended
June 30,
 
 

 
2009
 
2010(1)
 
2011(2)(3)
 
2012
 
2013
 2013  2014   
2011(1)(2)
 
2012
 
2013
 2013  2014  

 (in thousands, except per share amounts)  (in thousands, except per share amounts) 

Consolidated Statement of Operations Data:

                          

Revenues

 $15,831 $38,149 $76,330 $79,889 $133,958 $25,043 $43,930  $76,330 $79,889 $133,958 $56,266 $94,427 

Cost and operating expenses:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization presented separately below)(4)(3)

 1,360 3,315 7,660 13,559 15,295 3,762 3,720  7,660 13,559 15,295 7,435 7,858 

Sales and marketing(4)(3)

 8,866 18,751 41,992 70,327 75,180 13,783 27,767  41,992 70,327 75,180 29,409 61,059 

Technology and development(4)(3)

 6,597 7,407 18,457 21,960 23,685 5,804 7,330  18,457 21,960 23,685 11,422 15,843 

General and administrative(4)

 5,180 11,480 21,912 34,228 30,857 6,313 11,517 

General and administrative(3)

 21,912 34,228 30,857 12,942 27,955 

Depreciation and amortization

 625 1,086 4,148 11,768 11,569 3,066 3,114  4,148 11,768 11,569 5,934 6,086 
                          

Total costs and operating expenses

 22,628 42,039 94,169 151,842 156,586 32,728 53,448  94,169 151,842 156,586 67,142 118,801 
                          

Loss from operations

 (6,797) (3,890) (17,839) (71,953) (22,628) (7,685) (9,518) (17,839) (71,953) (22,628) (10,876) (24,374)

Interest income

 94 109 199 229 121 32 17  199 229 121 61 27 

Interest expense

 (123) (73) (66) (3,359) (1,988) (1,241) (170) (66) (3,359) (1,988) (1,751) (301)

Other income (expense), net

 (45) 4 (20) (18) 18 8   (20) (18) 18 14 10 

Change in fair value of preferred stock warrant liability

 51 (524) (1,882)      (1,882)     
                          

Loss before (provision) benefit for income taxes

 (6,820) (4,374) (19,608) (75,101) (24,477) (8,886) (9,671) (19,608) (75,101) (24,477) (12,552) (24,638)

(Provision) benefit for income taxes

  (73) 10,690 606 (579) (137) (250)

Benefit (provision) for income taxes

 10,690 606 (579) (273) (317)
                          

Net loss

 $(6,820)$(4,447)$(8,918)$(74,495)$(25,056)$(9,023)$(9,921) $(8,918)$(74,495)$(25,056)$(12,825)$(24,955)
                          
                          

Cumulative dividends on Series B, Series C and Series D Preferred Stock

 (2,511) (3,180) (2,370)      (2,370)     

Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest

 1,099 877      
                          

Net loss attributable to common stockholders of TrueCar, Inc.

 $(8,232)$(6,750)$(11,288)$(74,495)$(25,056)$(9,023)$(9,921) $(11,288)$(74,495)$(25,056)$(12,825)$(24,955)
                          
                          

Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders:

                          

Basic and diluted(5)(6)

 $(3.43)$(1.43)$(0.49)$(1.33)$(0.43)$(0.16)$(0.17)

Basic and diluted(4)(5)

 $(0.49)$(1.33)$(0.43)$(0.22)$(0.39)
                          
                          

Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding used in computing net loss per share attributable to common stockholders:

                          

Basic and diluted(5)(6)

 2,400 4,714 22,823 55,828 58,540 56,137 60,102 
               
               

Pro forma net loss per share: basic and diluted (unaudited)(5)(6)

         $(0.43)   $(0.16)
               
               

Pro forma weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted (unaudited)(5)(6)

         58,853   62,959 

Basic and diluted(4)(5)

 22,823 55,828 58,540 57,231 63,962 
                          
                          

Other Financial Information:

                          

Adjusted EBITDA(7)

 $(5,191)$1,712 $(3,538)$(46,523)$2,140 $(2,632)$878 

Adjusted EBITDA(6)

 $(3,538)$(46,523)$2,140 $(2)$2,771 
                          
                          

Non-GAAP net (loss) income(7)

 $3,137 $(60,815)$(11,875)$(7,899)$(3,906)
           
           

(1)
On June 1, 2010, we acquired the remaining non-controlling interest in TrueCar.com, Inc.

(2)
During the preparation of the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2011, we identified adjustments relating to timing of revenue recognition, accrued sales taxes and expenses on related party


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    loans affecting 2010 and prior periods. The aggregate amount of these adjustments would have reduced net loss by $360,000 for 2009 and $420,000 for 2010. We concluded these adjustments were not material to any prior reporting period. We also concluded that recording the cumulative effect of these adjustments of $780,000 during the year ended December 31, 2011 was not material individually or in the aggregate to the 2011 financial statements and accordingly, we recorded these adjustments during the year ended December 31, 2011.



(3)(2)
In 2011, we completed the acquisitions of Carperks, Honk LLC, and ALG Inc. See Note 3 to our consolidated financial statements for information regarding the purchase accounting associated with these acquisitions.



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(4)(3)
The following table presents stock-based compensation expense included in each respective expense category:

 Year Ended December 31,  Three Months
Ended
March 31,
 
  Year Ended December 31,  Six Months
Ended
June 30,
 
 

 
2009
 
2010
 
2011
 
2012
 
2013
 2013  2014   
2011
 
2012
 
2013
 2013  2014  

 (in thousands)  (in thousands) 

Cost of revenue

 $ $29 $47 $122 $141 $25 $54  $47 $122 $141 $53 $163 

Sales and marketing

 223 272 1,076 1,571 2,561 524 1,036  1,076 1,571 2,561 1,104 2,344 

Technology and development

 214 41 1,096 1,428 1,762 341 706  1,096 1,428 1,762 783 1,865 

General and administrative

 170 1,214 3,989 7,199 4,882 683 2,348  3,989 7,199 4,882 1,676 7,168 
                          

Total stock-based compensation expense

 $607 $1,556 $6,208 $10,320 $9,346 $1,573 $4,144  $6,208 $10,320 $9,346 $3,616 $11,540 
                          
                          
(5)(4)
See Note 2 to our audited consolidated financial statements for an explanation of the calculations of our basic and diluted net loss per share of common stock, and pro forma basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders.

(6)(5)
All share, per-share and related information havehas been retroactively adjusted, where applicable, to reflect the impact of a 2-for-3 reverse stock split, which was effected on May 2, 2014.

(7)(6)
Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of our financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income, operating income or any other measures derived in accordance with GAAP. For a definition of Adjusted EBITDA and a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net loss, see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures." Adjusted EBITDA for the six months ended June 30, 2014 excludes amounts related to legal costs incurred in connection with a claim we filed against Sonic Automotive Holdings, Inc. for trademark infringement and related matters. We have not historically excluded these costs from Adjusted EBITDA; however, as we have incurred increasing costs to advance our claim, we believe that their exclusion is appropriate to facilitate period-to-period operating performance comparisons.

(7)
Non-GAAP net (loss) income is not a measure of our financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net (loss) income, operating (loss) income or any other measures derived in accordance with GAAP. For a definition of Non-GAAP net (loss) income and a reconciliation of Non-GAAP net (loss) income, see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures."


 At March 31, 2014 

 
Actual
 
Pro
Forma(1)
 
Pro Forma
As
Adjusted(2)
 

 (in thousands)
  At June 30, 2014 

Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Data

        
Actual
 
Pro
Forma(1)
 

 (in thousands)
 

Cash and cash equivalents

 $42,575 $42,575 $132,677  $111,845 $127,234 

Working capital excluding restricted cash

 36,220 36,220 128,632  114,450 129,839 

Property and equipment, net

 15,926 15,926 15,926  17,104 17,104 

Total assets

 173,925 173,925 260,451  247,593 262,982 

Total indebtedness

 4,893 4,893 4,893    

Convertible preferred stock

 29,224   

Total stockholders' equity

 110,721 139,945 228,782  214,722 230,111 

(1)
The pro forma column reflects the automatic conversion of all outstanding shares of our Series A Preferred Stock into 2,857,143 shares of our common stock immediately prior to the closing of this offering.

(2)
The pro forma as adjusted column gives effect to the pro forma adjustments set forth in footnote 1 abovesale and the saleissuance by us of 7,775,0001,000,000 shares of our common stock offered byin this prospectus atoffering based upon an assumed initial public offering price of $13.00$17.19 per share, which is the midpointlast reported sale price of the estimated


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    offering price range set forthour common stock on the cover page of this prospectus,The NASDAQ Global Select Market on November 4, 2014, after deducting estimated underwritingunderwriters' discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses.

              The pro forma as adjusted information presented in the consolidated balance sheet data is illustrative only and will change based on the actual initial public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing.expenses payable by us. Each $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $13.00$17.19 per share which is the midpoint of the estimated offering price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase or decrease, as applicable, each of cash and cash equivalents, additional paid-inworking capital, total assets and total stockholders' equity and total capitalizationon a pro forma basis by approximately $7.2$1.0 million, assuming that the number of shares offered by us and the selling stockholders, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions. Similarly, each increase or decreasesame.


Table of one million shares in the number of shares offered by us in this offering would increase or decrease, as applicable, cash and cash equivalents, additional paid-in capital, total stockholders' equity and total capitalization by approximately $12.1 million, assuming an initial public offering price of $13.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the estimated offering price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions.Contents

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

          Adjusted EBITDA is aand Non-GAAP net (loss) income are financial measuremeasures that isare not calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or GAAP. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net loss adjusted to exclude interest income, interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, change in the fair value of preferred stock warrant liability, stock-based compensation, non-cash warrant expense, transaction costs from acquisitions, change in fair value of contingent consideration, stock-based compensation, IPO-related expenses, ticker symbol acquisition costs, certain litigation costs, and income taxes. We define Non-GAAP net (loss) as net loss adjusted to exclude stock-based compensation, change in fair value of preferred stock warrant liability, non-cash warrant expense, transaction costs from acquisitions, change in the fair value of contingent consideration, ticker symbol acquisition costs, IPO-related expenses, and transaction costs from acquisitions.certain litigation costs. We have provided below a reconciliation of each of Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP net (loss) income to net loss, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. Neither Adjusted EBITDA nor Non-GAAP net (loss) income should not be considered as an alternative to net loss or any other measure of financial performance calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. In addition, our Adjusted EBITDA measureand Non-GAAP net (loss) income measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other organizations as they may not calculate Adjusted EBITDA or Non-GAAP net (loss) income in the same manner as we calculate the measure.these measures.

          We have included Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP net (loss) income in this prospectus as it is anthey are important measuremeasures used by our management and board of directors to assess our operating performance. We believe that using Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP net (loss) income facilitates operating performance comparisons on a period-to-period basis because this measure excludesthese measures exclude variations primarily caused by changes in our capital structure, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, changes in fair values of preferred stock warrant liability and contingent consideration, stock-based compensation expense, ticker symbol acquisition costs, and transaction costs from acquisitions.the excluded items noted above. In addition, we believe that Adjusted EBITDA, Non-GAAP net (loss) income and similar measures are widely used by investors, securities analysts, rating agencies and other parties in evaluating companies as a measure of financial performance and debt service capabilities.

          Our use of each of Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP net (loss) income has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider itthem in isolation or as a substitute offor analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are:

    Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the payment or receipt of interest or the payment of income taxes;

    neither Adjusted EBITDA does not reflectnor Non-GAAP net (loss) income reflects changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;

    although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized may have to be replaced in the future, and Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect


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      cash capital expenditure requirements for such replacements or for new capital expenditures or any other contractual commitments;



    neither Adjusted EBITDA does not considernor Non-GAAP net (loss) income reflects the cash costs to advance our claims in respect of our litigation against Sonic Automotive Holdings, Inc.;

    neither Adjusted EBITDA nor Non-GAAP net (loss) income considers the potentially dilutive impact of shares issued or to be issued in connection with share-based compensation or warrant issuances; and

    other companies, including companies in our own industry, may calculate Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP net (loss) income differently thanfrom how we do, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure.

 


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Because of these limitations, you should consider Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP net (loss) income alongside other financial performance measures, including various cash flow metrics, net loss and our other GAAP results. In addition, in evaluating Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP net (loss) income, you should be aware that in the future we will incur expenses such as those that are the subject of adjustments in deriving Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP net (loss) income, and you should not infer from our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP net (loss) income that our future results will not be affected by these expenses or any unusual or non-recurring items.

          The following table presents a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net loss for each of the periods presented:

 Year Ended December 31,  Six Months
Ended
June 30,
 
 

  
2011
  
2012
  
2013
 2013  2014  

  (in thousands) 

Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Loss:

                

Net loss

 $(8,918)$(74,495)$(25,056)$(12,825)$(24,955)

Non-GAAP adjustments:

                

Interest income

  (199) (229) (121) (61) (27)

Interest expense

  66  3,359  1,988  1,751  301 

Depreciation and amortization

  4,148  11,768  11,569  5,934  6,086 

Change in fair value of preferred stock warrant liability

  1,882         

Warrant expense

  2,112  1,990  3,740  1,262  4,615 

Transaction costs from acquisitions

  1,853         

Change in fair value of contingent consideration

    1,370  95  48   

Stock-based compensation

  6,208  10,320  9,346  3,616  11,540 

IPO-related expenses

           3,717 

Ticker symbol acquisition costs

          803 

Certain litigation costs(1)

          374 

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

  (10,690) (606) 579  273  317 
            

Adjusted EBITDA

 $(3,538)$(46,523)$2,140 $(2)$2,771 
            
            

 Year Ended December 31,  Three Months
Ended
March 31,
 
 

  
2009
  
2010
  
2011
  
2012
  
2013
 2013  2014  

  (in thousands) 

Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Loss:

                      

Net loss

 $(6,820)$(4,447)$(8,918)$(74,495)$(25,056)$(9,023)$(9,921)

Non-GAAP adjustments:

                      

Interest income

  (94) (109) (199) (229) (121) (32) (17)

Interest expense

  123  73  66  3,359  1,988  1,241  170 

Depreciation and amortization

  625  1,086  4,148  11,768  11,569  3,066  3,114 

Change in fair value of preferred stock warrant liability

  (51) 524  1,882         

Warrant expense

  419  2,956  2,112  1,990  3,740  382  2,335 

Transaction costs from acquisitions

      1,853         

Change in fair value of contingent consideration

        1,370  95  24   

Stock-based compensation

  607  1,556  6,208  10,320  9,346  1,573  4,144 

Ticker symbol acquisition costs

              803 

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

    73  (10,690) (606) 579  137  250 
                

Adjusted EBITDA

 $(5,191)$1,712 $(3,538)$(46,523)$2,140 $(2,632)$878 
                
                
(1)
The excluded amounts relate to legal costs incurred in connection with a claim we filed against Sonic Automotive Holdings, Inc. for trademark infringement and related matters. We have not historically excluded these costs from Adjusted EBITDA; however, as we have incurred increasing costs to advance our claim, we believe that their exclusion is appropriate to facilitate period-to-period operating performance comparisons.


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          Non-GAAP net (loss) income is not a measure of our financial performance under GAAP. We define Non-GAAP net (loss) as net loss adjusted to exclude stock-based compensation, non-cash warrant expense, change in the fair value of contingent consideration, ticker symbol acquisition costs, IPO-related expenses, certain litigation costs, and transaction costs from acquisitions. We have provided below a reconciliation of Non-GAAP net loss to net loss, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. Non-GAAP net (loss) income should not be considered as an alternative to net loss or any other measure of financial performance calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.

          The following table presents a reconciliation of Non-GAAP Net (Loss) income to net loss for each of the periods presented:

 Year Ended
December 31,
 
 Six Months
Ended
June 30,
 
 

  
2011
  
2012
  
2013
 2013  2014  

  (in thousands) 

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Net (Loss) Income to Net Loss:

                

Net loss

 $(8,918)$(74,495)$(25,056)$(12,825)$(24,955)

Non-GAAP adjustments:

                

Stock-based compensation

  6,208  10,320  9,346  3,616  11,540 

Change in fair value of preferred stock warrant liability

  1,882         

Warrant expense

  2,112  1,990  3,740  1,262  4,615 

Transaction costs from acquisitions

  1,853         

Change in fair value of contingent consideration

    1,370  95  48   

Ticker symbol acquisition costs

          803 

IPO-related expenses

          3,717 

Certain litigation costs(1)

          374 
            

Non-GAAP net (loss) income          

 $3,137 $(60,815)$(11,875)$(7,899)$(3,906)
            
            

(1)
The excluded amounts relate to legal costs incurred in connection with a claim we filed against Sonic Automotive Holdings, Inc. for trademark infringement and related matters.

 


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RISK FACTORS

          Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should consider carefully the risks and uncertainties described below, together with all of the other information in this prospectus, including our consolidated financial statements and related notes, before deciding whether to purchase shares of our common stock. If any of the following risks is realized, our business, financial condition, operating results and prospects could be materially and adversely affected. In that event, the trading price of our common stock could decline and you could lose part or all of your investment.


Risks Related to Our Business and Industry

If key industry participants, including car dealers and automobile manufacturers, perceive us in a negative light or our relationships with them suffer harm, our ability to grow and our financial performance may be damaged.

          Our primary source of revenue consists of fees paid by TrueCar Certified Dealers to us in connection with the sales of automobiles to our users. In addition, our value proposition to consumers depends on our ability to provide pricing information on automobiles from a sufficient number of automobile dealers by brand and in a given consumer's geographic area. If our relationships with our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers suffer harm in a manner that leads to the departure of these dealers from our network, then our revenue and ability to maintain and grow unique visitor traffic will be adversely affected.

          At the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012, due to certain regulatory and publicity-related challenges, many dealers cancelled their agreements with us and our franchise dealer count fell from 5,571 at November 30, 2011 to 3,599 at February 28, 2012.

          TrueCar Certified Dealers have no contractual obligation to maintain their relationship with us. Accordingly, these dealers may leave our network at any time or may develop or use other products or services in lieu of ours. Further, while we believe that our service provides a lower cost, accountable customer acquisition channel, dealers may have difficulty rationalizing their marketing spend across TrueCar and other channels, which potentially has the effect of diluting our dealer value proposition. If we are unable to create and maintain a compelling value proposition for dealers to become and remain TrueCar Certified Dealers, our dealer network would not grow and may begin to decline.

          In addition, although the automobile dealership industry is fragmented, a small number of groups have significant influence over the industry. These groups include state and national dealership associations, state regulators, car manufacturers, consumer groups, individual dealers and consolidated dealer groups. To the extent that these groups believe that automobile dealerships should not partner with us, this belief may become quickly and widely shared by automobile dealerships and we may lose a significant number of dealers in our network. A significant number of automobile dealerships are also members of larger dealer groups, and to the extent that a group decides to leave our network, this decision would typically apply to all dealerships within the group.

          Furthermore, automobile manufacturers may provide their franchise dealers with financial or other marketing support, provided that such dealers adhere to certain marketing guidelines. Automobile manufacturers may determine that the manner in which certain of their franchise dealers use our platform is inconsistent with the terms of such marketing guidelines, which determination could result in potential or actual loss of the manufacturers' financial or other marketing support to the dealers whose use of the platform is deemed objectionable. The potential or actual loss of such marketing support may cause such dealers to cease being members of our TrueCar Certified


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Dealer network, which may adversely affect our ability to maintain or grow the number of dealers in our network.

We cannot assure you that we will maintain strong relationships with the dealers in our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers or that we will not suffer dealer attrition in the future. We may also have disputes with dealers from time to time, including relating to the collection of fees from them and other matters. We may need to modify our products, change pricing or take other actions to address dealer concerns in the future. If a significant number of these automobile dealerships decided to leave our network or change their financial or business relationship with us, then our business, growth, operating results, financial condition and prospects would suffer. Additionally, if we are unable to add dealers to our network, our growth could be impaired.


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Our recent, rapid growth may not be indicative of our future growth and, if we continue to grow rapidly, we may not be able to manage our growth effectively.

          Our revenue grew from $38.1 million in 2010 to $134.0 million in 2013 and from $25.0$56.3 million for the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2013 to $43.9$94.4 million for the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2014. We expect that, in the future, as our revenue increases, our rate of growth will decline. In addition, we will not be able to grow as fast or at all if we do not accomplish the following:

          We may not successfully accomplish any of these objectives. We plan to continue our investment in future growth. We expect to continue to expend substantial financial and other resources on:

          In addition, our historical rapid growth has placed and may continue to place significant demands on our management and our operational and financial resources. We have also experienced significant growth in the number of users of our platform as well as the amount of data that we analyze. As we continue to grow, we expect to hire additional personnel. Finally, our organizational structure is becoming more complex as we add additional staff, and we will need to improve our operational, financial and management controls as well as our reporting systems and procedures. We will require significant capital expenditures and the allocation of valuable management resources to grow and change in these areas without undermining our corporate culture of rapid innovation, teamwork and attention to the car-buying experience for the consumer and the economics of the dealer.


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We may be unable to maintain or grow relationships with information data providers or may experience interruptions in the data feeds they provide, which may limit the information that we are able to provide to our users and dealers as well as the timeliness of such information and may impair our ability to attract or retain consumers and TrueCar Certified Dealers and to timely invoice our dealers.

          We receive automobile purchase data from many third-party data providers, including our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers, dealer management system data feed providers, data aggregators and integrators, survey companies, purveyors of registration data and our affinity group marketing partners. In the states in which we employ a pay-per-sale billing model, we use this data to match purchases with users that obtained a Guaranteed Savings Certificate from a TrueCar Certified Dealer so that we may collect a transaction fee from those dealers and recognize revenue from the related transactions.

          From time to time, we experience interruptions in one or more data feeds that we receive from third-party data providers, particularly dealer management system data feed providers, in a manner that affects our ability to timely invoice the dealers in our network. These interruptions may occur for a number of reasons, including changes to the software used by these data feed providers and difficulties in renewing our agreements with third-party data feed providers. In the states in which we employ a pay-per-sale billing model, an interruption in the data feeds that we receive may affect our ability to match automobile purchases with users that obtained a Guaranteed Savings Certificate from a TrueCar Certified Dealer, thereby delaying our submission of an invoice to an automobile dealer in our network for a given transaction and delaying the timing of cash receipts from the dealer. The redundancies of data feeds received from multiple providers may not result in sufficient data to match automobile purchases with users that obtained a Guaranteed Savings Certificate from a TrueCar Certified Dealer. In the case of an interruption in our data feeds, our billing structure may transition to a subscription model for automobile dealers in our network until the interruption ceases. However, our subscription billing model may result in lower revenues during an interruption and, when an interruption ceases, we are not always able to retroactively match a transaction and collect a fee. In addition, our likelihood of collection of the fee owed to us for a given transaction decreases for those periods in which we are unable to submit an invoice to automobile dealers. Interruptions which occur in close proximity to the end of a given reporting period could result in delays in our ability to recognize those transaction revenues in that reporting period and these short falls in transaction revenue could be material to our operating results.

We have operated our business at scale for a limited period of time and we cannot predict whether we will continue to grow. If we are unable to successfully respond to changes in the market, our business could be harmed.

          Our business has grown rapidly as users and automobile dealers have increasingly used our products and services. However, our business is relatively new and has operated at a substantial scale for only a limited period of time. Given this limited history, it is difficult to predict whether we will be able to maintain or grow our business. We expect that our business will evolve in ways which may be difficult to predict. For example, we anticipate that over time we may reach a point when investments in new user traffic are less productive and the continued growth of our revenue will require more focus on increasing the number of transactions from which we derive revenue. It is also possible that car dealers could broadly determine that they no longer believe in the value of our services. In the event of these or any other developments, our continued success will depend on our ability to successfully adjust our strategy to meet the changing market dynamics. If we are


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unable to do so, our business could be harmed and our results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.


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We have a history of losses and we may not achieve or maintain profitability in the future.

          We have not been profitable since inception and had an accumulated deficit of $172.5$187.5 million at March 31,June 30, 2014. From time to time in the past, we have made significant investments in our operations which have not resulted in corresponding revenue growth and, as a result, increased our losses. We expect to make significant future investments to support the further development and expansion of our business and these investments may not result in increased revenue or growth on a timely basis or at all. In addition, as a public company, we will incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. As a result of these increased expenditures, we will have to generate and sustain increased revenue to achieve and maintain profitability.

          We may incur significant losses in the future for a number of reasons, including slowing demand for our products and services, increasing competition, weakness in the automobile industry generally, as well as other risks described in this prospectus, and we may encounter unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications and delays, and other unknown factors. If we incur losses in the future, we may not be able to reduce costs effectively because many of our costs are fixed. In addition, to the extent that we reduce variable costs to respond to losses, this may affect our ability to acquire consumers and dealers and grow our revenues. Accordingly, we may not be able to achieve or maintain profitability and we may continue to incur significant losses in the future, and this could cause the price of our common stock to decline.

The loss of a significant affinity group marketing partner or a significant reduction in the number of cars purchased from our TrueCar Certified Dealers by members of our affinity group marketing partners would reduce our revenue and harm our operating results.

          Our financial performance is substantially dependent upon the number of automobiles purchased from TrueCar Certified Dealers by users of TrueCar.comthe TrueCar website and our branded mobile applications and the car-buying sites we maintain for our affinity group marketing partners. Currently, a majority of the automobiles purchased by our users were matched to the car-buying sites we maintain for our affinity group marketing partners. As a result, our relationships with our affinity group marketing partners are critical to our business and financial performance. However, several aspects of our relationship with affinity groups might change in a manner that harms our business and financial performance, including:

          A significant change to our relationships with affinity group marketing partners may have a negative effect on our business in other ways. For example, the termination by an affinity group marketing partner of our relationship may create the perception that our products and services are no longer beneficial to the members of affinity groups or a more general negative association with our business. In addition, a termination by an affinity group marketing partner may result in the loss of the data provided to us by them with respect to automobile transactions. This loss of data may decrease the quantity and quality of the information that we provide to consumers and may also


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reduce our ability to identify transactions for which we can invoice dealers. If our relationships with


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affinity group marketing partners change our business, revenue, operating results and prospects may be harmed.

Any adverse change in our relationship with United Services Automobile Association, or USAA, could harm our business.

          The single largest source of user traffic from our affinity group marketing partners comes from the site we maintain for USAA and USAA is our largest single stockholder. Upon completion of this offering, and after giving effect to its sale of shares in the offering, USAA currently owns 17,065,691will own 14,065,691 shares, which represents 26.3%18.0% of our outstanding shares of common stock at May 13,June 30, 2014. In 2013, 171,795 units, or 43.0% of all units purchased by users from TrueCar Certified Dealers, were matched to users of the car-buying site we maintain for USAA. We define units as the number of automobiles purchased by our users from TrueCar Certified Dealers through TrueCar.comthe TrueCar website and our branded mobile applications or the car buying sites we maintain for our affinity group marketing partners. In the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2014, 46,92398,464 units, or 37%36% of all units purchased by users from TrueCar Certified Dealers, were matched to users of the car-buying site we maintain for USAA. As such, USAA has a significant influence on our operating results. In May 2014, we entered into an extension of our affinity group marketing agreement with USAA that extends through February 13, 2020, but we cannot assure you that our agreement with USAA will be extended at the expiration of the current agreement on terms satisfactory to us, or at all. In addition, USAA has broad discretion in how the car-buying site we maintain for USAA is promoted and marketed on its own website. Changes in this promotion and marketing has in the past and may in the future adversely affect the volume of user traffic we receive from USAA. We cannot assure you that changes in our relationship with USAA or its promotion and marketing of our platform will not adversely affect our business and operating results in the future.

We are subject to a complex framework of federal and state laws and regulations primarily concerning vehicle sales, advertising and brokering, many of which are unsettled, still developing and contradictory, which have in the past, and could in the future, subject us to claims, challenge our business model or otherwise harm our business.

          Various aspects of our business are or may be subject, directly or indirectly, to U.S. federal and state laws and regulations. Failure to comply with such laws or regulations may result in the suspension or termination of our ability to do business in affected jurisdictions or the imposition of significant civil and criminal penalties, including fines or the award of significant damages against us and our TrueCar Certified Dealers in class action or other civil litigation.

State Motor Vehicle Sales, Advertising and Brokering Laws

          The advertising and sale of new or used motor vehicles is highly regulated by the states in which we do business. Although we do not sell motor vehicles, state regulatory authorities or third parties could take the position that some of the regulations applicable to dealers or to the manner in which motor vehicles are advertised and sold generally are directly applicable to our business. If our products and services are determined to not comply with relevant regulatory requirements, we or our TrueCar Certified Dealers could be subject to significant civil and criminal penalties, including fines, or the award of significant damages in class action or other civil litigation as well as orders interfering with our ability to continue providing our products and services in certain states. In addition, even absent such a determination, to the extent dealers are uncertain about the applicability of such laws and regulations to our business, we may lose, or have difficulty increasing the number of, TrueCar Certified Dealers in our network, which would affect our future growth.

          Several states in which we do business have laws and regulations that strictly regulate or prohibit the brokering of motor vehicles or the making of so-called "bird-dog" payments by dealers


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to third parties in connection with the sale of motor vehicles through persons other than licensed


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salespersons. If our products or services are determined to fall within the scope of such laws or regulations, we may be forced to implement new measures, which could be costly, to reduce our exposure to those obligations, including the discontinuation of certain products or services in affected jurisdictions. Additionally, such a determination could subject us or our TrueCar Certified Dealers to significant civil or criminal penalties, including fines, or the award of significant damages in class action or other civil litigation.

          In addition to generally applicable consumer protection laws, many states in which we do business have laws and regulations that specifically regulate the advertising for sale of new or used motor vehicles. These state advertising laws and regulations are frequently subject to multiple interpretations and are not uniform from state to state, sometimes imposing inconsistent requirements on the advertiser of a new or used motor vehicle. If the content displayed on the websites we operate is determined or alleged to be inaccurate or misleading, under motor vehicle advertising laws, generally applicable consumer protection laws, or otherwise, we could be subject to significant civil and criminal penalties, including fines, or the award of significant damages in class action or other civil litigation. Moreover, such allegations, even if unfounded or decided in our favor, could be extremely costly to defend, could require us to pay significant sums in settlements, and could interfere with our ability to continue providing our products and services in certain states.

          From time to time, certain state authorities and dealer associations have taken the position that aspects of our products and services violate state brokering, bird-dog, or advertising laws. When such allegations have arisen, we have endeavored to resolve the identified concerns on a consensual and expeditious basis, through negotiation and education efforts, without resorting to the judicial process. In certain instances, we have nevertheless been obligated to suspend all or certain aspects of our business operations in a state pending the resolution of such issues, the resolution of which included the payment of fines in 2011 and 2012 in the aggregate amount of approximately $26,000. For example, in the beginning of 2012, following implementation of our first nationwide television advertising campaign, state regulatory inquiries with respect to the compliance of our products and services with state brokering, bird-dog, and advertising laws intensified to a degree not previously experienced by us. Responding to and resolving these inquiries, as well as our efforts to ameliorate the related adverse publicity and loss of TrueCar Certified Dealers from our network, resulted in decreased revenues and increased expenses and, accordingly, increased our losses during much of 2012.

          In October 2013, we received an Investigative Demand from the Oregon Attorney General (the "Oregon Inquiry") requesting information regarding potential noncompliance with the Oregon Unlawful Trade Practices Act. We are cooperating with the Oregon Department of Justice in an effort to reach consensual resolution of the issues raised by the Oregon Inquiry without making material, unfavorable adjustments to our business practices or user experience in Oregon. We cannot assure you that these efforts will be successful.

          More recently, in May 2014, we received a letter from the Consumer Protection Division of the Mississippi Attorney General's Office (the "Mississippi Inquiry") suggesting that we may be acting unlawfully as an auto broker in Mississippi. We intend to cooperate with the Mississippi Attorney General's office in an effort to reach consensual resolution of the issues raised by the Mississippi Inquiry without making material unfavorable adjustments to our business practices or user experience in Mississippi. We cannot assure you that these efforts will be successful.

          If state regulators or other third parties take the position in the future that our products or services violate applicable brokering, bird-dog, or advertising laws or regulations, responding to such allegations could be costly, could require us to pay significant sums in settlements, could require us to pay civil and criminal penalties, including fines, could interfere with our ability to


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continue providing our products and services in certain states, or could require us to make adjustments to our products and services or the manner in which we derive revenue from our


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participating dealers, any or all of which could result in substantial adverse publicity, loss of TrueCar Certified Dealers from our network, decreased revenues, increased expenses, and decreased profitability.

Federal Advertising Regulations

          The Federal Trade Commission, or the FTC, has authority to take actions to remedy or prevent advertising practices that it considers to be unfair or deceptive and that affect commerce in the United States. If the FTC takes the position in the future that any aspect of our business constitutes an unfair or deceptive advertising practice, responding to such allegations could require us to pay significant damages, settlements, and civil penalties, or could require us to make adjustments to our products and services, any or all of which could result in substantial adverse publicity, loss of participating dealers, lost revenues, increased expenses, and decreased profitability.

Federal Antitrust Laws

          The antitrust laws prohibit, among other things, any joint conduct among competitors that would lessen competition in the marketplace. Some of the information that we obtain from dealers is competitively sensitive and, if disclosed inappropriately, could potentially be used by dealers to impede competition or otherwise diminish independent pricing activity. A governmental or private civil action alleging the improper exchange of information, or unlawful participation in price maintenance or other unlawful or anticompetitive activity, even if unfounded, could be costly to defend and adversely impact our ability to maintain and grow our dealer network. For example, we have been informed that the FTC's Bureau of Competition is conducting an investigation to determine whether firms in the retail automotive industry may have violated Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act by agreeing to refuse to deal with us. We have received a Civil Investigative Demand dated February 11, 2014 requesting that we produce certain documents and information to the FTC related to the matters under investigation by it. We are cooperating with the FTC in an effort to supply the information required by the request without unduly burdening our resources. We cannot assure you that these efforts will be successful.

          In addition, governmental or private civil actions related to the antitrust laws could result in orders suspending or terminating our ability to do business or otherwise altering or limiting certain of our business practices, including the manner in which we handle or disclose dealer pricing information, or the imposition of significant civil or criminal penalties, including fines or the award of significant damages against us and our TrueCar Certified Dealers in class action or other civil litigation.

Other

          The foregoing description of laws and regulations to which we are or may be subject is not exhaustive, and the regulatory framework governing our operations is subject to continuous change. The enactment of new laws and regulations or the interpretation of existing laws and regulations in an unfavorable way may affect the operation of our business, directly or indirectly, which could result in substantial regulatory compliance costs, civil or criminal penalties, including fines, adverse publicity, loss of participating dealers, lost revenues, increased expenses, and decreased profitability. Further, investigations by government agencies, including the FTC, into allegedly anticompetitive, unfair, deceptive or other business practices by us or our TrueCar Certified Dealers, could cause us to incur additional expenses and, if adversely concluded, could result in substantial civil or criminal penalties and significant legal liability.


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We participate in a highly competitive market, and pressure from existing and new companies may adversely affect our business and operating results.

          We face significant competition from companies that provide listings, information, lead generation, and car-buying services designed to reach consumers and enable dealers to reach these consumers.

          Our competitors offer various products and services that compete with us. Some of these competitors include:

          We compete with many of the above-mentioned companies and other companies for a share of car dealers' overall marketing budget for online and offline media marketing spend. To the extent that car dealers view alternative marketing and media strategies to be superior to TrueCar, we may not be able to maintain or grow the number of TrueCar Certified Dealers and our TrueCar Certified Dealers may sell fewer cars to users of our platform, and our business, operating results and financial condition will be harmed.

          We also expect that new competitors will continue to enter the online automotive retail industry with competing products and services, which could have an adverse effect on our revenue, business and financial results.

          Our competitors could significantly impede our ability to expand our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers and to reach consumers. Our competitors may also develop and market new technologies that render our existing or future products and services less competitive, unmarketable or obsolete. In addition, if our competitors develop products or services with similar or superior functionality to our solutions, we may need to decrease the prices for our solutions in order to remain competitive. If we are unable to maintain our current pricing structure due to competitive pressures, our revenue will be reduced and our operating results will be negatively affected.

          Our current and potential competitors may have significantly more financial, technical, marketing and other resources than we have, and the ability to devote greater resources to the development, promotion, and support of their products and services. Additionally, they may have more extensive automotive industry relationships than we have, longer operating histories and greater name recognition. As a result, these competitors may be better able to respond more quickly with new technologies and to undertake more extensive marketing or promotional campaigns. In addition, to the extent any of our competitors have existing relationships with dealers or automobile manufacturers for marketing or data analytics solutions, those dealers and automobile manufacturers may be unwilling to continue to partner with us. If we are unable to compete with these companies, the demand for our products and services could substantially decline.

          In addition, if one or more of our competitors were to merge or partner with another of our competitors, the change in the competitive landscape could adversely affect our ability to compete effectively. Our competitors may also establish or strengthen cooperative relationships with our current or future third-party data providers, technology partners, or other parties with whom we have relationships, thereby limiting our ability to develop, improve, and promote our solutions. We


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may not be able to compete successfully against current or future competitors, and competitive pressures may harm our revenue, business and financial results.


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If we suffer a significant interruption in our ability to gain access to third-party data, our business and operating results will suffer.

          Our business also relies on our ability to analyze data for the benefit of our users and the TrueCar Certified Dealers in our network. In addition, the effectiveness of our user acquisition efforts depends in part on the availability of data relating to existing and potential users of our platform. If we experience a material disruption in the data provided to us or if third-party data providers terminate their relationship with us, the information that we provide to our users and TrueCar Certified Dealers may be limited, the quality of this information may suffer, and our business, results of operations and financial conditions could be materially and adversely affected.

The success of our business relies heavily on our marketing and branding efforts, especially with respect to TrueCar.com,the TrueCar website and our branded mobile applications, as well as those efforts of the affinity group marketing partners whose websites we power, and these efforts may not be successful.

          We believe that an important component of our growth will be the growth of our TrueCar.com business.business derived from the TrueCar website and our branded mobile applications. Because TrueCar.com is a consumer brand, we rely heavily on marketing and advertising to increase the visibility of this brand with potential users of our products and services. We currently advertise through television and radio marketing campaigns, traditional print media, sponsorship programs and other means, the goal of which is to increase the strength, recognition and trust in the TrueCar.com brand and drive more unique visitors to our website and mobile applications. We incurred expenses of $75.2 million and $27.8$61.1 million on sales and marketing in the year ended December 31, 2013 and the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2014, respectively.

          Our business model relies on our ability to scale rapidly and to decrease incremental user acquisition costs as we grow. Some of our methods of advertising, including our television marketing campaign, are not currently profitable on a standalone basis because they have not yet resulted in the acquisition of sufficient users visiting our website and mobile applications such that we may recover such costs by attaining corresponding revenue growth. If we are unable to recover our marketing costs through increases in user traffic and in the number of transactions by users of our platform, or if we discontinue our broad marketing campaigns, it could have a material adverse effect on our growth, results of operations and financial condition.

          In addition, the number of transactions generated by the members of our affinity group marketing partners depends in part on the emphasis that these affinity group marketing partners place on marketing the purchase of cars within their platforms. For example, USAA is a large diversified financial services group of companies serving the United States military community with hundreds of highly competitive product and service offerings. At any given time, USAA's car-buying service may or may not be a priority relative to its other offerings. Consequently, changes in how USAA promotes and markets the car buying site we maintain for them can and has, from time to time in the past, affected the volume of purchases generated by USAA members. For example, in the past USAA adjusted the location and prominence of the links to our platform on their web pages, adversely affecting the volume of traffic. Should USAA or one or more of our other affinity group marketing partners decide to de-emphasize the marketing of our platform, or if their marketing efforts are otherwise unsuccessful, our revenue, business and financial results will be harmed.


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We in part rely on Internet search engines to drive traffic to our website, and if we fail to appear prominently in the search results, our traffic would decline and our business would be adversely affected.

          We depend in part on Internet search engines such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo! to drive traffic to our website. For example, when a user types an automobile into an Internet search engine, we rely on a high organic search ranking of our webpages in these search results to refer the user


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to our website. However, our ability to maintain high, non-paid search result rankings is not within our control. Our competitors' Internet search engine optimization efforts may result in their websites receiving a higher search result page ranking than ours, or Internet search engines could revise their methodologies in a way that would adversely affect our search result rankings. If Internet search engines modify their search algorithms in ways that are detrimental to us, or if our competitors' efforts are more successful than ours, overall growth in our user base could slow or our user base could decline. Internet search engine providers could provide automobile dealer and pricing information directly in search results, align with our competitors or choose to develop competing services. Our website has experienced fluctuations in search result rankings in the past, and we anticipate similar fluctuations in the future. Any reduction in the number of users directed to our website through Internet search engines could harm our business and operating results.

We may be unable to maintain or grow relationships with information data providers, which may limit the information that we are able to provide and could impair our ability to attract or retain consumers and TrueCar Certified Dealers.

          We receive automobile purchase data from many third-party data providers, including our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers, dealer management system providers, data aggregators and integrators, survey companies, purveyors of registration data and our affinity group marketing partners. In the states in which we employ a pay-per-sale billing model, we use this data to match purchases with users that obtained a Guaranteed Savings Certificate from a TrueCar Certified Dealer so that we may collect a transaction fee from those dealers. We also analyze this data and provide insights to our users and TrueCar Certified Dealers, driving traffic to our platform and strengthening our relationships with the automobile dealers in our network.

          From time to time, we experience interruptions in the data feeds that we receive from third-party data providers, particularly dealer management system providers, in a manner that affects our ability to invoice the dealers in our network. These interruptions may occur for a number of reasons, including changes to the software of a dealer management system provider. In the states in which we employ a pay-per-sale billing model, an interruption in the data that we receive undermines our ability to match automobile purchases with users that obtained a Guaranteed Savings Certificate from a TrueCar Certified Dealer, thereby delaying our submission of an invoice to an automobile dealer in our network for a given transaction. In the case of an interruption in our data feeds, our billing structure may transition to a subscription model for automobile dealers in our network until the interruption ceases. Our subscription billing model typically results in decreased revenues during the interruption and, when an interruption ceases, we are not always able to retroactively match a transaction and collect a fee. In addition, our likelihood of collection of the fee owed to us for a given transaction decreases during the period in which we are unable to submit an invoice to automobile dealers and, in any case, our recognition of transaction revenues where there has been an interruption in the data provided to us by dealer management systems will be delayed.

The failure to maintain our brand would harm our ability to grow unique visitor traffic and to expand our dealer network.

          Maintaining and enhancing the TrueCar brand will depend largely on the success of our efforts to maintain the trust of our users and TrueCar Certified Dealers and to deliver value to each of our users and TrueCar Certified Dealers. If our existing or potential users perceive that we are not focused primarily on providing them with a better car-buying experience, our reputation and the strength of our brand will be adversely affected.

          Complaints or negative publicity about our business practices, our marketing and advertising campaigns, our compliance with applicable laws and regulations, the integrity of the data that we


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provide to users, data privacy and security issues, and other aspects of our business, irrespective of their validity, could diminish users' and dealers' confidence in and the use of our products and services and adversely affect our brand. These concerns could also diminish the trust of existing and potential affinity group marketing partners. There can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain or enhance our brand, and failure to do so would harm our business growth prospects and operating results.

If we are unable to provide a compelling car-buying experience to our users, the number of transactions between our users and TrueCar Certified Dealers will decline and our revenue and results of operations will suffer harm.

          We cannot assure you that we are able to provide a compelling car-buying experience to our users, and our failure to do so will mean that the number of transactions between our users and TrueCar Certified Dealers will decline and we will be unable to effectively monetize our user traffic. We believe that our ability to provide a compelling car-buying experience is subject to a number of factors, including:


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    our access to a sufficient amount of data to enable us to be able to provide relevant pricing information to consumers.

The growth of our business relies significantly on our ability to increase the number of TrueCar Certified Dealers such that we are able to increase the number of transactions between our users and TrueCar Certified Dealers. Failure to do so would limit our growth.

          Our ability to grow the number of TrueCar Certified Dealers, both on an overall basis and by brand in important geographies, is an important factor in growing our business. As described elsewhere in this "Risk Factors" section, we are a new participant in the automobile retail industry, our business has sometimes been viewed in a negative light by car dealerships, and there can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain or grow the number of car dealers in our network.

          In addition, our ability to increase the number of TrueCar Certified Dealers in an optimized manner depends on strong relationships with other constituents, including car manufacturers and state dealership associations. From time to time, car manufacturers have communicated concerns about our business to the dealers in our network. For example, some car manufacturers maintain guidelines that prohibit dealers from advertising a car at a price that is below an established floor. If a TrueCar Certified Dealer within our network submits a price to us that falls below pricing guidelines established by the applicable manufacturer, the manufacturer may discourage that dealer from remaining in the network and may discourage other dealers within its brand from joining the network. For example, in late 2011, Honda publicly announced that it would not provide advertising allowances to dealers that remained in our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers. While we subsequently addressed Honda's concerns and they ceased withholding advertising allowances from our TrueCar Certified Dealers, discord with specific car manufacturers impedes our ability to grow our dealer network. In addition, state dealership associations maintain significant influence over the dealerships in their state as lobbying groups and as thought leaders. To the extent that these associations view us in a negative light, our reputation with car dealers in the corresponding state may be negatively affected. If our relationships with car manufacturers or state dealership


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associations suffer, our ability to maintain and grow the number of car dealers in our network will be harmed.

          We cannot assure you that we will expand our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers in a manner that provides a sufficient number of dealers by brand and geography for our unique visitors and failure to do so would harm our growth.

Our ability to grow our complementary product offerings may be limited, which could negatively impact our growth rate, revenues and financial performance.

          As we introduce or expand additional offerings for our platform, such as automobile trade-ins, financing, leasing, maintenance and insurance, we may incur losses or otherwise fail to enter these markets successfully. Our expansion into these markets will place us in competitive and regulatory environments with which we are unfamiliar and involves various risks, including the need to invest significant resources and the possibility that returns on such investments will not be achieved for several years, if at all. In attempting to establish our new product offerings, such as TrueTrade, TrueLoan and TrueLease, we expect to incur significant expenses and face various other challenges, such as expanding our sales force and management personnel to cover these markets and complying with complicated regulations that apply to these markets. In addition, we may not successfully demonstrate the value of these ancillary products to consumers, and failure to do so would compromise our ability to successfully expand into these additional revenue streams.


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          Moreover, our affinity group marketing partners already offer products in many of these adjacent markets. For example, USAA, our largest stockholder and most significant affinity group marketing partner, offers financing and insurance products for its members. For those affinity group marketing partners that offer products in adjacent markets that we seek to enter, our ability to offer products in these markets to their members will be limited. If we are unable to successfully expand our third party ancillary product offerings, our growth rate, revenue and operating performance may be harmed.

If our mobile products do not adequately address the shift to mobile technology by our users, the number of transactions between our users and TrueCar Certified Dealers may not grow as quickly and our operating results could be harmed and our growth could be negatively affected.

          Our future success depends in part on the continued growth in the use of our mobile products by our users and the number of transactions with TrueCar Certified Dealers that are completed by those users. In the year ended December 31, 2013, approximately 25% of unique visitors to our TrueCar.com website and the car buying sites we maintain for our affinity group marketing partners were attributable to mobile devices and in the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2014 this figure grew to approximately 27%28%. The shift to mobile technology by our users may harm our business in the following ways:

    the use of mobile technology may not continue to grow at historical rates, and consumers may not continue to use mobile technology for automobile research;

    mobile technology may not be accepted as a viable long-term platform for a number of reasons, including actual or perceived lack of security of information and possible disruptions of service or connectivity;

    we may not continue to innovate and introduce enhanced products on mobile platforms;

    consumers may believe that our competitors offer superior mobile products; or


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    our mobile applications may become incompatible with operating systems such as iOS or Android or the devices they support.

          If use of our mobile products does not continue to grow, our business and operating results could be harmed.

Our business is subject to risks related to the larger automotive ecosystem, including consumer demand, global supply chain challenges and other macroeconomic issues.

          Decreases in consumer demand could adversely affect the market for automobile purchases and, as a result, reduce the number of consumers using our platform. Consumer purchases of new and used automobiles generally decline during recessionary periods and other periods in which disposable income is adversely affected. For example, the number of new vehicle sales in the United States decreased from approximately 16.1 million in 2007 to approximately 10.4 million in 2009, according to BEA. Purchases of new and used automobiles are typically discretionary for consumers and have been, and may continue to be, affected by negative trends in the economy, including the cost of energy and gasoline, the availability and cost of credit, reductions in business and consumer confidence, stock market volatility and increased unemployment. A reduction in the number of automobiles purchased by consumers could adversely affect automobile dealers and car manufacturers and lead to a reduction in other spending by these constituents, including targeted incentive programs. In addition, our business may be negatively affected by challenges to the larger automotive ecosystem, including global supply chain challenges, such as those resulting from the


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Japanese tsunami in 2011 and other macroeconomic issues. The foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Seasonality may cause fluctuations in our unique visitors, revenue and operating results.

          Our revenue trends are a reflection of consumers' car buying patterns. Across the automotive industry, consumers tend to purchase a higher volume of cars in the second and third quarters of each year, due in part to the introduction of new vehicle models from manufacturers. In the past, these seasonal trends have not been pronounced due the overall growth of our business, but we expect that in the future our revenues may be affected by these seasonal trends. Our business will also be impacted by cyclical trends affecting the overall economy, specifically the retail automobile industry, as well as by actual or threatened severe weather events.

We may require additional capital to pursue our business objectives and respond to business opportunities, challenges or unforeseen circumstances. If capital is not available to us, our business, operating results and financial condition may be harmed.

          Since our founding, we have raised substantial equity and debt financing to support the growth of our business. Because we intend to continue to make investments to support the growth of our business, we may require additional capital to pursue our business objectives and respond to business opportunities, challenges or unforeseen circumstances, including to increase our marketing expenditures to improve our brand awareness, develop new products or services or further improve existing products and services, enhance our operating infrastructure and acquire complementary businesses and technologies. Accordingly, we may need to engage in equity or debt financings to secure additional funds. However, additional funds may not be available when we need them, on terms that are acceptable to us, or at all. In addition, our current revolving credit facility contains restrictive covenants relating to our capital raising activities and other financial and operational matters, and any debt financing that we secure in the future could involve further restrictive covenants which may make it more difficult for us to obtain additional capital and to pursue business opportunities. Volatility in the credit markets may also have an adverse effect on our ability to obtain debt financing.


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          If we raise additional funds through further issuances of equity or convertible debt securities, our existing stockholders could suffer significant dilution, and any new equity securities we issue could have rights, preferences and privileges superior to those of holders of our common stock. If we are unable to obtain adequate financing or financing on terms satisfactory to us, when we require it, our ability to continue to pursue our business objectives and to respond to business opportunities, challenges or unforeseen circumstances could be significantly limited, and our business, operating results, financial condition and prospects could be adversely affected.

We collect, process, store, share, disclose and use personal information and other data, and our actual or perceived failure to protect such information and data could damage our reputation and brand and harm our business and operating results.

          We collect, process, store, share, disclose and use personal information and other data provided by consumers and dealers. We rely on encryption and authentication technology licensed from third parties to effect secure transmission of such information. We may need to expend significant resources to protect against security breaches or to address problems caused by breaches. Any failure or perceived failure to maintain the security of personal and other data that is provided to us by consumers and dealers could harm our reputation and brand and expose us to a risk of loss or litigation and possible liability, any of which could harm our business and operating results.


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          In addition, from time to time, concerns have been expressed about whether our products, services, or processes compromise the privacy of our users. Concerns about our practices with regard to the collection, use or disclosure of personal information or other privacy related matters, even if unfounded, could harm our business and operating results.

          There are numerous federal, state and local laws around the world regarding privacy and the collection, processing, storing, sharing, disclosing, using and protecting of personal information and other data, the scope of which are changing, subject to differing interpretations, and which may be costly to comply with and may be inconsistent between countries and jurisdictions or conflict with other rules. We generally comply with industry standards and are subject to the terms of our privacy policies and privacy-related obligations to third parties. We strive to comply with all applicable laws, policies, legal obligations and industry codes of conduct relating to privacy and data protection, to the extent possible. However, it is possible that these obligations may be interpreted and applied in new ways or in a manner that is inconsistent from one jurisdiction to another and may conflict with other rules or our practices or that new regulations could be enacted. Any failure or perceived failure by us to comply with our privacy policies, our privacy-related obligations to consumers or other third parties, or our privacy-related legal obligations, or any compromise of security that results in the unauthorized release or transfer of sensitive information, which may include personally identifiable information or other user data, may result in governmental enforcement actions, litigation or public statements against us by consumer advocacy groups or others and could cause consumers and automobile dealers to lose trust in us, which could have an adverse effect on our business. Additionally, if vendors, developers or other third parties that we work with violate applicable laws or our policies, such violations may also put consumer or dealer information at risk and could in turn harm our reputation, business and operating results.

A significant disruption in service on our website or of our mobile applications could damage our reputation and result in a loss of consumers, which could harm our business, brand, operating results, and financial condition.

          Our brand, reputation and ability to attract consumers, affinity groups and advertisers depend on the reliable performance of our technology infrastructure and content delivery. We may experience significant interruptions with our systems in the future. Interruptions in these systems,


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whether due to system failures, computer viruses, or physical or electronic break-ins, could affect the security or availability of our products on our website and mobile application, and prevent or inhibit the ability of consumers to access our products. Problems with the reliability or security of our systems could harm our reputation, result in a loss of consumers, dealers and affinity group marketing partners, and result in additional costs.

          Substantially all of the communications, network, and computer hardware used to operate our website and mobile applications is located at co-location facilities in Los Angeles and Chicago. Although we have two locations, our systems are not fully redundant. In addition, we do not own or control the operation of these facilities. Our systems and operations are vulnerable to damage or interruption from fire, flood, power loss, telecommunications failure, terrorist attacks, acts of war, electronic and physical break-ins, computer viruses, earthquakes, and similar events. The occurrence of any of these events could result in damage to our systems and hardware or could cause them to fail.

          Problems faced by our third-party web hosting providers could adversely affect the experience of our consumers. Our third-party web hosting providers could close their facilities without adequate notice. Any financial difficulties, up to and including bankruptcy, faced by our third-party web hosting providers or any of the service providers with whom they contract may have negative effects on our business, the nature and extent of which are difficult to predict. If our third-party web


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hosting providers are unable to keep up with our growing capacity needs, our business could be harmed.

          Any errors, defects, disruptions, or other performance or reliability problems with our network operations could cause interruptions in access to our products as well as delays and additional expense in arranging new facilities and services and could harm our reputation, business, operating results, and financial condition.

Failure to adequately protect our intellectual property could harm our business and operating results.

          Our business depends on our intellectual property, the protection of which is crucial to the success of our business. We rely on a combination of patent, trademark, trade secret and copyright law and contractual restrictions to protect our intellectual property. In addition, we attempt to protect our intellectual property, technology, and confidential information by requiring our employees and consultants to enter into confidentiality and assignment of inventions agreements and third parties to enter into nondisclosure agreements. These agreements may not effectively prevent unauthorized use or disclosure of our confidential information, intellectual property, or technology and may not provide an adequate remedy in the event of unauthorized use or disclosure of our confidential information, intellectual property, or technology. Despite our efforts to protect our proprietary rights, unauthorized parties may attempt to copy aspects of our website features, software, and functionality or obtain and use information that we consider proprietary.

          Competitors may adopt service names similar to ours, thereby harming our ability to build brand identity and possibly leading to user confusion. For example, we have filed a claim for trademark infringement and related matters against Sonic Automotive, Inc. In addition, there could be potential trade name or trademark infringement claims brought by owners of other registered trademarks or trademarks that incorporate variations of the term "TrueCar."

          We currently hold the "TrueCar.com" Internet domain name and various other related domain names. The regulation of domain names in the United States is subject to change. Regulatory bodies could establish additional top-level domains, appoint additional domain name registrars, or modify the requirements for holding domain names. As a result, we may not be able to acquire or maintain all domain names that use the name TrueCar.


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We may in the future be subject to intellectual property disputes, which are costly to defend and could harm our business and operating results.

          We may from time to time face allegations that we have infringed the trademarks, copyrights, patents and other intellectual property rights of third parties, including from our competitors or non-practicing entities.

          Patent and other intellectual property litigation may be protracted and expensive, and the results are difficult to predict and may require us to stop offering some features, purchase licenses or modify our products and features while we develop non-infringing substitutes or may result in significant settlement costs.

          In addition, we use open source software in our products and will use open source software in the future. From time to time, we may face claims against companies that incorporate open source software into their products, claiming ownership of, or demanding release of, the source code, the open source software or derivative works that were developed using such software, or otherwise seeking to enforce the terms of the applicable open source license. These claims could also result in litigation, require us to purchase a costly license or require us to devote additional research and development resources to change our platform or services, any of which would have a negative effect on our business and operating results.


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          Even if these matters do not result in litigation or are resolved in our favor or without significant cash settlements, these matters, and the time and resources necessary to litigate or resolve them, could harm our business, our operating results and our reputation.

We depend on key personnel to operate our business, and if we are unable to retain, attract and integrate qualified personnel, our ability to develop and successfully grow our business could be harmed.

          We believe our success has depended, and continues to depend, on the efforts and talents of our executives and employees, including Scott Painter, our Founder and Chief Executive Officer.Officer, and John Krafcik, our President. Our future success depends on our continuing ability to attract, develop, motivate and retain highly qualified and skilled employees. Qualified individuals are in high demand, and we may incur significant costs to attract and retain them. In addition, the loss of any of our senior management or key employees could materially adversely affect our ability to execute our business plan and strategy, and we may not be able to find adequate replacements on a timely basis, or at all. Our executive officers and other employees are at-will employees, which means they may terminate their employment relationship with us at any time, and their knowledge of our business and industry would be extremely difficult to replace. We cannot ensure that we will be able to retain the services of any members of our senior management or other key employees. If we do not succeed in attracting well-qualified employees or retaining and motivating existing employees, our business could be materially and adversely affected.

Complying with the laws and regulations affecting public companies will increasehas increased our costs and the demands on management and could harm our operating results.

          As a public company, we will incur significant legal, accounting, and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company and these expenses will increase after we cease to be an "emerging growth company." In addition, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and rules subsequently implemented by the SEC and NASDAQ impose various requirements on public companies, including requiring changes in corporate governance practices. Our management and other personnel will need to devote a substantial amount of time to these compliance initiatives. Moreover, these rules and regulations have increased and will continue to increase our legal, accounting, and financial compliance costs and have made and will continue to make some


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activities more time consuming and costly. For example, we expect these rules and regulations to make it more difficult and more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance, and we may be required to accept reduced policy limits and coverage or to incur substantial costs to maintain the same or similar coverage. These rules and regulations could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified persons to serve on our board of directors or our board committees or as executive officers.

          In addition, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that we assess the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting annually and the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures quarterly. In particular, beginning with the year ending December 31, 2015, we will need to perform system and process evaluation and testing of our internal control over financial reporting to allow management to report on, and our independent registered public accounting firm potentially to attest to, the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, or Section 404. As an "emerging growth company" we may elect to avail ourselves of the exemption from the requirement that our independent registered public accounting firm attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. However, we may no longer avail ourselves of this exemption when we cease to be an "emerging growth company" and, when our independent registered public accounting firm is required to undertake an assessment of our internal control over financial reporting, the cost of our compliance with


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Section 404 will correspondingly increase. Our compliance with applicable provisions of Section 404 will require that we incur substantial accounting expense and expend significant management time on compliance-related issues as we implement additional corporate governance practices and comply with reporting requirements. Moreover, if we are not able to comply with the requirements of Section 404 applicable to us in a timely manner, or if we or our independent registered public accounting firm identifies deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting that are deemed to be material weaknesses, the market price of our stock could decline and we could be subject to sanctions or investigations by the SEC or other regulatory authorities, which would require additional financial and management resources.

          Furthermore, investor perceptions of our company may suffer if, deficienciesin the future, material weaknesses are found, and this could cause a decline in the market price of our stock. Irrespective of compliance with Section 404, any failure of our internal control over financial reporting could have a material adverse effect on our stated operating results and harm our reputation. If we are unable to implement these changes effectively or efficiently, it could harm our operations, financial reporting, or financial results and could result in an adverse opinion on internal control from our independent registered public accounting firm.

We may acquire other companies or technologies, which could divert our management's attention, result in additional dilution to our stockholders and otherwise disrupt our operations and harm our operating results.

          Our success will depend, in part, on our ability to grow our business in response to the demands of consumers, dealers and other constituents within the automotive industry as well as competitive pressures. In some circumstances, we may determine to do so through the acquisition of complementary businesses and technologies rather than through internal development, such as our acquisition of ALG in 2011. The identification of suitable acquisition candidates can be difficult, time-consuming, and costly, and we may not be able to successfully complete identified acquisitions. The risks we face in connection with acquisitions include:

    diversion of management time and focus from operating our business to addressing acquisition integration challenges;


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      coordination of technology, research and development and sales and marketing functions;

      transition of the acquired company's users to our website and mobile applications;

      retention of employees from the acquired company;

      cultural challenges associated with integrating employees from the acquired company into our organization;

      integration of the acquired company's accounting, management information, human resources, and other administrative systems;

      the need to implement or improve controls, procedures, and policies at a business that prior to the acquisition may have lacked effective controls, procedures, and policies;

      potential write-offs of intangibles or other assets acquired in such transactions that may have an adverse effect our operating results in a given period;

      liability for activities of the acquired company before the acquisition, including patent and trademark infringement claims, violations of laws, commercial disputes, tax liabilities, and other known and unknown liabilities; and

      litigation or other claims in connection with the acquired company, including claims from terminated employees, consumers, former stockholders, or other third parties.

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              Our failure to address these risks or other problems encountered in connection with our past or future acquisitions and investments could cause us to fail to realize the anticipated benefits of these acquisitions or investments, cause us to incur unanticipated liabilities, and harm our business generally. Future acquisitions could also result in dilutive issuances of our equity securities, the incurrence of debt, contingent liabilities, amortization expenses, or the write-off of goodwill, any of which could harm our financial condition. Also, the anticipated benefits of any acquisitions may not materialize.

    If our intangible assets and goodwill become impaired we may be required to record a significant non-cash charge to earnings which would materially and adversely affect our results of operations.

              We had goodwill and intangible assets of $84.3$83.3 million at March 31,June 30, 2014. Under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, we review our goodwill for impairment annually in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be fully recoverable. We review our intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. While we have not recognized any impairment charges since our inception, we may recognize impairment charges in future periods in connection with our acquisitions or from other businesses we may seek to acquire in the future. The carrying value of our goodwill and intangible assets may not be recoverable due to factors such as a decline in our stock price and market capitalization, reduced estimates of future revenues or cash flows or slower growth rates in our industry. Estimates of future revenues and cash flows are based on a long-term financial outlook of our operations. Actual performance in the near-term or long-term could be materially different from these forecasts, which could impact future estimates and the recorded value of the intangibles. For example, a significant, sustained decline in our stock price and market capitalization may result in impairment of our intangible assets, including goodwill, and a significant charge to earnings in our consolidated financial statements during the period in which an impairment is determined to exist. In the event we had to reduce the carrying value of our goodwill or intangible assets, any such impairment charge could materially and adversely affect our results of operations.


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    If our ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards and other tax attributes is limited, we may not receive the benefit of those assets.

              We had federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $122.7 million and state net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $106.3 million at December 31, 2013. The federal and state net operating loss carryforwards expire beginning in the years ending December 31, 2026 and 2014, respectively. At December 31, 2013, we had federal and state research and development credit carryforwards of approximately $0.8 million and $0.4 million, respectively. The federal credit carryforwards begin to expire in 2028. The state credit carryforwards can be carried forward indefinitely.

              The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, imposes substantial restrictions on the utilization of net operating losses and other tax attributes in the event of an "ownership change" of a corporation. Accordingly, our ability to use pre-change net operating loss and research tax credits may be limited as prescribed under Internal Revenue Code, or IRC, Sections 382 and 383. Therefore, if we earn net taxable income in the future, our ability to reduce our Federal income tax liability may be subject to limitation. Events which may cause limitation in the amount of the net operating losses and credits that we utilize in any one year include, but are not limited to, a cumulative ownership change of more than 50% over a three-year period. As a result of historical equity issuances, we have determined that the annual utilization of our net operating losses and


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    credits and tax credits may be limited pursuant to IRC Sections 382 and 383. Future changes in our stock ownership, including this offering or future offerings, as well as other changes that may be outside our control could potentially result in further limitations on our ability to utilize our net operating loss and credit carryforwards.


    Risks Related to this Offering and Our Common Stock

    We may fail to meet our publicly announced guidance or other expectations about our business and future operating results, which would cause our stock price to decline.

              We have provided and may continue to provide guidance about our business and future operating results, including preliminary financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2014, as part of our press releases, investor conference calls or otherwise. In developing this guidance, our management must make certain assumptions and judgments about our future performance. Our business results may vary significantly from such guidance due to a number of factors, many of which are outside of our control, and which could materially and adversely affect our operations, financial condition and operating results. Furthermore, if our publicly announced guidance of future operating results fails to meet expectations of securities analysts, investors or other interested parties, the price of our common stock could decline.

    Concentration of ownership among our existing executive officers, directors, and their affiliates may prevent new investors from influencing significant corporate decisions.

              Upon completion of this offering, our executive officers, directors, and holders of 5% or more of our outstanding common stock will beneficially own, in the aggregate, approximately 66.1%66.3% of our outstanding shares of common stock. Some of these persons or entities may have interests that are different from yours. For example, these stockholders may support proposals and actions with which you may disagree or which are not in your interests. These stockholders will beare able to exercise a significant level of control over all matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors, amendment of our certificate of incorporation, and approval of significant corporate transactions. This control could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of our company or changes in management and will make the approval of certain transactions difficult or impossible without the support of these stockholders, which in turn could reduce the price of our common stock.

    The price of our common stock has been and may continue to be volatile, and you could lose all or partthe value of your investment.investment could decline.

              The trading price of our common stock following this offering may fluctuate substantially and may be higher or lower than thehas been volatile since our initial public offering price.and is likely to continue to fluctuate substantially. The trading price of our common stock following this offering will dependdepends on a number of factors, including those described in this "Risk Factors" section, many of which are beyond our control and may not be related to our operating performance. These fluctuations could cause you to lose all or part of your investment in our common stock since you might be unable to sell your shares at or above the price you paid in this offering. Factors that could cause fluctuations in the trading price of our common stock include the following:

      price and volume fluctuations in the overall stock market from time to time;


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      volatility in the market prices and trading volumes of high technology stocks;

      changes in operating performance and stock market valuations of other technology companies generally, or those in our industry in particular;

      sales of shares of our common stock by us or our stockholders;

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      failure of securities analysts to maintain coverage of us, changes in financial estimates by any securities analysts who follow our company, or our failure to meet these estimates or the expectations of investors;

      announcements by us or our competitors of new products;

      the public's reaction to our press releases, other public announcements, and filings with the SEC;

      rumors and market speculation involving us or other companies in our industry;

      actual or anticipated changes in our operating results or fluctuations in our operating results;

      actual or anticipated developments in our business, our competitors' businesses, or the competitive landscape generally;

      litigation involving us, our industry or both, or investigations by regulators into our operations or those of our competitors;

      developments or disputes concerning our intellectual property or other proprietary rights;

      announced or completed acquisitions of businesses or technologies by us or our competitors;

      new laws or regulations or new interpretations of existing laws or regulations applicable to our business;

      changes in accounting standards, policies, guidelines, interpretations, or principles;

      any significant change in our management;

      conditions in the automobile industry; and

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

              The effect of such factors on the trading market for our stock may be enhanced by the lack of a large and established trading market for our stock. 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 those companies. Broad market and industry factors may seriously affect the market price of our common stock, regardless of our actual operating performance. In addition, in the past, following periods of volatility in the overall market and the market prices of a particular company's securities, securities class action litigations have often been instituted against these companies. Litigation of this type, if instituted against us, could result in substantial costs and a diversion of our management's attention and resources.

    Substantial future salesSales of sharessubstantial amounts of our common stock by existing stockholdersin the public markets, or the perception that such sales might occur, could depress the market price of our common stock.

              The market price for our common stock could decline as a result of the sale of substantial amounts of our common stock, particularly sales by our directors, executive officers and significant stockholders, a large number of shares of our common stock becoming available for sale or the perception in the market that holders of a large number of shares intend to sell their shares. Based on shares outstanding at March 31,June 30, 2014, upon completion of this offering we will have outstanding approximately 77,814,334 shares of common stock, approximately 61,654,939 of which are subject to lock-up agreements entered into in connection with our initial public offering, restricting their sale during the period ending at the close of market November 11, 2014. In addition, officers, directors


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    approximately 71,038,267and their affiliates and stockholders selling shares in this offering, who will hold an aggregate of 48,391,666 shares of common stock approximately 61,617,379following completion of which are subjectthis offering, have agreed to extend these sale restrictions for an additional period ending 90 days or, in the 180-day contractual lock-upcase of certain selling stockholders, 120 days after the date of this prospectus as more fully described in "Underwriting." J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Goldman, Sachs & Co. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC may permit our officers, directors, employees and current stockholders to sell shares prior to the expiration of the lock-up agreements.

              After this offering, holders of an aggregate of 59,909,56754,731,966 shares of our common stock at March 31,June 30, 2014, will have rights, subject to some conditions, to require us to file registration statements covering their shares or to include their shares in registration statements that we may file for ourselves or our stockholders. Substantially all of these shares are subject to the 180-day contractual lock-up referred to above.

              In addition, the shares of common stock subject to outstanding options under our equity incentive plans and the shares reserved for future issuance under our equity incentive plans will become eligible for sale in the public market in the future, subject to certain legal and contractual limitations. See "Shares Eligible for Future Sale" for a more detailed description of sales that may occur in the future.

              If a substantial number of shares are sold, or if it is perceived that they will be sold, in the public market, before or after the expiration of the 180-day contractual lock-up period, the trading price of our common stock could decline substantially.

    Anti-takeover provisions contained in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, as well as provisions of Delaware law, could impair a takeover attempt.

              Our certificate of incorporation, bylaws, and Delaware law contain or will containcontains provisions which could have the effect of rendering more difficult, delaying, or preventing an acquisition deemed undesirable by our board of directors. Our corporate governance documents include or will include provisions:

      creating a classified board of directors whose members serve staggered three year terms;

      authorizing "blank check" preferred stock, which could be issued by our board of directors without stockholder approval and may contain voting, liquidation, dividend, and other rights superior to our common stock;

      limiting the liability of, and providing indemnification to, our directors and officers;

      limiting the ability of our stockholders to call and bring business before special meetings;

      requiring advance notice of stockholder proposals for business to be conducted at meetings of our stockholders and for nominations of candidates for election to our board of directors;

      controlling the procedures for the conduct and scheduling of board of directors and stockholder meetings; and

      providing our board of directors with the express power to postpone previously scheduled annual meetings and to cancel previously scheduled special meetings.

              These provisions, alone or together, could delay or prevent hostile takeovers and changes in control or changes in our management.

              As a Delaware corporation, we are also subject to provisions of Delaware law, including Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation law, which prevents some stockholders holding more than 15% of our outstanding common stock from engaging in certain business combinations without approval of the holders of substantially all of our outstanding common stock.

              Any provision of our certificate of incorporation, bylaws or Delaware law that has the effect of delaying or deterring a change in control could limit the opportunity for our stockholders to receive


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    a premium for their shares of our common stock, and could also affect the price that some investors are willing to pay for our common stock.


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    We may invest or spend the proceeds of this offering in ways with which you may not agree or in ways which may not yield a return.

              The net proceeds from the sale of our shares of common stock by us in this offering may be used for general corporate purposes, including working capital. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds to acquire complementary businesses, products, services, or technologies. However, we do not have any agreements or commitments for any acquisitions at this time. Our management will have considerable discretion in the application of the net proceeds, and you will not have the opportunity, as part of your investment decision, to assess whether the proceeds are being used appropriately. The net proceeds may be invested with a view towards long-term benefits for our stockholders and this may not increase our operating results or market value. Until the net proceeds are used, they may be placed in investments that do not produce significant income or that may lose value.

    Purchasers in this offering will experience immediate and substantial dilution in the book value of their investment.

              The anticipated initialassumed public offering price of our common stock of $13.00$17.19 per share, which is the midpointlast reported sale price of the estimated offering range set forthour common stock on the cover page of this prospectus,The NASDAQ Global Select Market on November 4, 2014, is substantially higher than the net tangible book value per share of our outstanding common stock immediately after this offering. Therefore, if you purchase our common stock in this offering, you will incur immediate dilution of $10.97$15.30 in the net tangible book value per share from the price you paid. In addition, following this offering, purchasers who bought shares from us in the offering will have contributed 28.5% of the total consideration paid to us by our stockholders to purchase shares of common stock in exchange for acquiring approximately 10.9% of our total outstanding shares at March 31, 2014 after giving effect to this offering. The exercise of outstanding stock options and warrants will result in further dilution.

    If securities or industry analysts do not publish or cease publishing research or reports about us, our business or our market, or if they change their recommendations regarding our stock adversely, our stock price and trading volume could decline.

              The trading market for our common stock will beis influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities analysts may publish about us, our business, our market, or our competitors. If any of the analysts who may cover us change their recommendation regarding our stock adversely, or provide more favorable relative recommendations about our competitors, our stock price would likely decline. If any analyst who may cover us were to cease coverage of our company or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause our stock price or trading volume to decline.

    We do not expect to declare any dividends in the foreseeable future.

              We do not anticipate declaring any cash dividends to holders of our common stock in the foreseeable future. In addition, the terms of our credit facility currently prohibit us from paying cash dividends on our capital stock. Consequently, investors may need to rely on sales of their common stock after price appreciation, which may never occur, as the only way to realize any future gains on their investment. Investors seeking cash dividends should not purchase our common stock.


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    SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND INDUSTRY AND MARKET DATA

              This prospectus contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, which statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance. In some cases you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as "anticipates," "believes," "could," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "may," "might," "likely," "plans," "potential," "predicts," "projects," "seeks," "should," "target," "will," "would" or similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. Forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus include, but are not limited to, statements about:

      our future financial performance, including our preliminary financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2014 and our expectations regarding our revenue, cost of revenue, gross profit or gross margin, operating expenses, ability to generate cash flow, and ability to achieve, and maintain, future profitability;

      anticipated trends, growth rates and challenges in our business and in the markets in which we operate;

      our ability to anticipate market needs and develop new and enhanced products and services to meet those needs, and our ability to successfully monetize them;

      maintaining and expanding our customer base;

      the impact of competition in our industry and innovation by our competitors;

      our anticipated growth and growth strategies and our ability to effectively manage that growth;

      our ability to sell our products and expand internationally;

      our failure to anticipate or adapt to future changes in our industry;

      the impact of seasonality on our business;

      our ability to hire and retain necessary qualified employees to expand our operations;

      the impact of any failure of our solutions or solution innovations;

      our reliance on our third-party service providers;

      the evolution of technology affecting our products, services and markets;

      our ability to adequately protect our intellectual property;

      the anticipated effect on our business of litigation to which we are a party;

      our ability to stay abreast of new or modified laws and regulations that currently apply or become applicable to our business;

      the increased expenses and administrative workload associated with being a public company;

      failure to maintain an effective system of internal controls necessary to accurately report our financial results and prevent fraud;

      our liquidity and working capital requirements;

      our spending of the net proceeds from this offering;

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      the estimates and estimate methodologies used in preparing our consolidated financial statements and determining option exercise prices; and


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      the future trading prices of our common stock and the impact of securities analysts' reports on these prices.

              We caution you that the foregoing list may not contain all of the forward-looking statements made in this prospectus.

              You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. We have based the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus primarily on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition, operating results and growth prospects. The outcome of the events described in these forward-looking statements is subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors described in the section titled "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in this prospectus. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all risks and uncertainties that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus. Further, our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures or investments we may make. We cannot assure you that the results, events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur, and actual results, events or circumstances could differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.

              The forward-looking statements made in this prospectus relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this prospectus to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this prospectus or to reflect new information or the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements.

              This prospectus also contains estimates and other statistical data, including those relating to our industry and the market in which we operate, that we have obtained or derived from industry publications and reports, including reports from Automotive News, Borrell Associates, J.D. Power and Associates, NADA, R.L. Polk & Co., and other publicly available information. These industry publications and reports generally indicate that they have obtained their information from sources believed to be reliable, but do not guarantee the accuracy and completeness of their information. This information involves a number of assumptions and limitations, and you are cautioned not to give undue weight to these estimates, as there is no assurance that any of them will be reached. Based on our industry experience, we believe that the publications and reports are reliable and that the conclusions contained in the publications and reports are reasonable. The industry in which we operate is subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors, including those described in "Risk Factors." These and other factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the industry publications and reports.


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    USE OF PROCEEDS

              We estimate that the net proceeds from the sale by us of 7,775,0001,000,000 shares of our common stock in this offering will be $88.8$15.4 million, based on an assumed initial public offering price of $13.00$17.19 per share, which is the midpointlast reported sale price of the estimated offering price range set forthour common stock on the cover page of this prospectus,The NASDAQ Global Select Market on November 4, 2014, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses.expenses payable by us. If the underwriters' option to purchase additional shares from us is exercised in full, we estimate that our net proceeds would be $102.9$31.2 million, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses.

              Each $1.00 increase or decrease inexpenses payable by us. We will not receive any proceeds from the assumed initial public offering price of $13.00 per share would increase or decrease the net proceeds that we receive from this offering by $7.2 million, assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions. Similarly, each increase or decrease of one million shares in the numbersale of shares of common stock offered by us would increase or decrease the net proceeds that we receive from this offering by $12.1 million, assuming the assumed initial public offering price remains the same and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions.

              The principal purposes of this offering are to increase our financial flexibility, improve brand awareness, create a public market for our common stock and facilitate our future access toby the public capital markets.selling stockholders.

              We currently intend to use the net proceeds that we receive from this offering primarily for general corporate purposes, including working capital, operating expenses and capital expenditures. We may also use a portion of thesuch net proceeds to acquire or invest in complementary technologies, solutions, products, services, businesses or other assets, although we have no present commitments or agreements to enter into any acquisitions or investments. The amount and timing of our actual expenditures will depend on numerous factors, including the cash used in or generated by our operations, the pace of our expansion plans, and our investments and acquisitions.

              We cannot specify with certainty all of the particular uses of the net proceeds that we will receive from this offering. Accordingly, we will have broad discretion in using these proceeds. Pending these uses, we intend to invest the net proceeds that we receive from this offering in short-term and intermediate-term, investment-grade interest-bearing securities and obligations, such as money market accounts, certificates of deposit, commercial paper and guaranteed obligations of the U.S. government. We cannot predict whether the invested proceeds will yield a favorable return.


    MARKET PRICE OF COMMON STOCK

              Our common stock has been listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "TRUE" since May 16, 2014. Our initial public offering was priced at $9.00 per share on May 15, 2014. Prior to that date, there was no public trading market for our common stock. The following table sets forth for the periods indicated the high and low sale prices per share of our common stock as reported on The NASDAQ Global Select Market:

     
     
    High
     
    Low
     

    Year Ended December 31, 2014:

           

    Second Quarter (from May 16, 2014)

     $15.85 $9.05 

    Third Quarter

     $25.00 $11.93 

    Fourth Quarter (through November 4, 2014)

     $23.88 $15.71 

              On November 4, 2014, the last reported sale price of our common stock on The NASDAQ Global Select Market was $17.19 per share. As of June 30, 2014, we had 345 holders of record of our common stock. The actual number of stockholders is greater than this number of record holders and includes stockholders who are beneficial owners but whose shares are held in street name by brokers and other nominees. This number of holders of record also does not include stockholders whose shares may be held in trust by other entities.


    DIVIDEND POLICY

              We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our common stock. We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings for use in the operation of our business and do not anticipate paying any dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. Any future determination to declare dividends will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on our financial condition, operating results, capital requirements, general business conditions, any restrictions on paying dividends, including ourthe current restriction on our ability to pay dividends under our credit facility, and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant.


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    CAPITALIZATION

              The following table sets forth our consolidated cash and cash equivalents and capitalization at March 31,June 30, 2014 on:

      an actual basis;

      on a pro forma basis to reflect (i) the automatic conversion of all outstanding shares of our Series A Preferred Stock into 2,857,143 shares of our common stock immediately prior to the closing of this offering and (ii) the filing of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation in Delaware, which will occur in connection with the completion of this offering; and

      on a pro forma as adjusted basis, giving effect to the pro forma adjustments set forth abovesale and to reflect our receiptissuance by us of the net proceeds from our sale of 7,775,0001,000,000 shares of common stock in this offering, at an assumed initial public offering price of $13.00$17.19 per share, which is the midpointlast reported sale price of the estimated offering price range set forthour common stock on the front cover of this prospectus,The NASDAQ Global Select Market on November 4, 2014, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses.expenses payable by us.

              The information below is illustrative only and our capitalization following the completion of this offering will be adjusted based on the actual initial public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing. You should read this table together with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and our financial statements and the related notes appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.

     
     At March 31, 2014 
     
     
    Actual
     
    Pro Forma
     
    Pro Forma As
    Adjusted(1)
     
     
     (In thousands)
     

    Cash and cash equivalents

     $42,575 $42,575 $132,677 
            
            

    Total indebtedness

     $4,893 $4,893 $4,893 

    Convertible preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 4,500,000 shares authorized, 2,857,143 shares issued and outstanding; 4,500,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding pro forma; and 20,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding, pro forma as adjusted

      29,224     

    Stockholders' equity:

              

    Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 150,000,000 shares authorized, 60,406,124 shares issued and outstanding, actual; 150,000,000 shares authorized, 63,263,267 shares issued and outstanding, pro forma; and 1,000,000,000 shares authorized, 71,038,267 shares issued and outstanding, pro forma as adjusted

      6  6  7 

    Additional paid-in capital

      283,196  312,420  401,256 

    Accumulated deficit

      (172,481) (172,481) (172,481)
            

    Total stockholders' equity

      110,721  139,945  228,782 
            

    Total capitalization

     $144,838 $144,838 $233,675 
            
            

    (1)
    Each $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $13.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the estimated offering price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase or decrease each of cash and cash equivalents, additional
     
     At June 30, 2014 
     
     
    Actual
     
    Pro Forma
     
     
     (In thousands)
     

    Cash and cash equivalents

     $111,845 $127,234 
          
          

    Total indebtedness

     $ $ 

    Stockholders' equity:

           

    Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding; 20,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding pro forma

         

    Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 1,000,000,000 shares authorized, 76,814,334 shares issued and outstanding, actual; 1,000,000,000 shares authorized,                  shares issued and outstanding, pro forma

      8  8 

    Additional paid-in capital

      402,229  417,618 

    Accumulated deficit

      (187,515) (187,515)
          

    Total stockholders' equity

      214,722  230,111 
          

    Total capitalization

     $214,722 $230,111 
          
          

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      paid-in capital, total stockholders' equity and total capitalization by approximately $7.2 million, assuming the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions. Similarly, each increase or decrease of one million shares in the number of shares offered by us in this offering would increase or decrease, as applicable, cash and cash equivalents, additional paid-in capital, total stockholders' equity and total capitalization by approximately $12.1 million, assuming an initial public offering price of $13.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the estimated offering price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions.

      The number of shares of our common stock set forth in the table above excludes:

        20,735,64326,664,790 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options outstanding at March 31,June 30, 2014, with a weighted average exercise price of $5.57 per share, of which 1,229,830 shares of common stock have been issued pursuant to stock option exercises from April 1, 2014 to May 15, 2014 for an aggregate exercise price of approximately $1.0 million, which includes 1,102,040 shares of common stock issued to Scott Painter, our Founder and Chief Executive Officer, for an aggregate exercise price of approximately $823,000 ;

        1,333,332 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options granted to the Company's CEO in April 2014, with a weighted average exercise price of $45.00$9.40 per share;

        5,781,811 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options granted from April 1, 2014 to May 15, 2014, with a weighted average exercise price of $12.81 per share;

        720,146713,539 shares of common stock subject to RSUs granted from April 1, 2014 to May 15,outstanding at June 30, 2014;

        1,297,2791,273,640 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our stock-based compensation plans, consisting of shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our Amended and Restated 2005 Stock Plan (the "2005 Stock Plan") at March 31, 2014 (after giving effect to an increase of 4,000,000 shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under our 2005 Stock Plan after March 31, 2014, the grant of options to purchase 7,115,143 shares of common stock after March 31, 2014, the grant of 720,146 shares of common stock subject to RSUs after March 31, 2014, and forfeitures returned to the 2005 Stock Plan of 20,321 shares), which shares will be added to the shares to be reserved under our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan to the extent not granted prior to the completion of this offering;Plan;

        any shares of common stock that become available subsequent to this offering under our 2014 Plan as a result of the expiration, termination without exercise or forfeiture or repurchase of awards granted under theour 2005 Stock Plan or our 2008 Stock Plan, (the "2008 Stock Plan"), as more fully described in "Executive Compensation — Employee Benefits and Stock Plans";

        any shares that become available under our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, pursuant to provisions thereof that automatically increase the share reserves under the plan each year, as more fully described in "Executive Compensation — Employee Benefits and Stock Plans"; and

        5,967,4233,981,198 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants outstanding at March 31,June 30, 2014, with a weighted average exercise price of $5.50 per share, of which 3,265,168 shares of common stock were issued to our largest stockholder, United Services Automobile Association, pursuant to an exercise on May 12, 2014 for an aggregate exercise price of approximately $9.5 million; and

        1,797,312 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants issued from April 1, 2014 to May 15, 2014, with a weighted average exercise price of $13.05$10.73 per share.

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    DILUTION

              If you invest in our common stock in this offering, your ownership interest will be diluted to the extent of the difference between the initial public offering price per share of our common stock and the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after this offering. Net tangible book value dilution per share to new investors represents the difference between the amount per share paid by purchasers of shares of common stock in this offering and the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share of common stock immediately after completion of this offering.

              Our historical net tangible book value per share is determined by dividing our total tangible assets less our total liabilities by the number of shares of common stock outstanding. Our historical net tangible book value at March 31,June 30, 2014 was $55.6$131.4 million, or $0.92$1.71 per share. Our pro forma net tangible book value per share is determined by dividing our total tangible assets less our total liabilities by the number of shares of common stock outstanding, assuming the automatic conversion of all outstanding shares of our Series A Preferred Stock into 2,857,143 shares of our common stock immediately prior to the closing of this offering.

              After giving effect to the sale of 1,000,000 shares of common stock by us of 7,775,000 shares of our common stock in this offering at the assumed initial public offering price of $13.00$17.19 per share, which is the midpointlast reported sale price of the estimated offering price range set forthour common stock on the cover page of this prospectus,The NASDAQ Global Select Market on November 4, 2014, and after deducting estimated underwriting discountsdiscount and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, our pro forma net tangible book value at March 31,June 30, 2014 would have been approximately $144.4$146.8 million, or $2.03$1.89 per share. This representswould represent an immediate increase in pro formathe net tangible book value of $1.15$0.18 per share to our existing stockholders and an immediate dilution of $10.97$15.30 per share to investors purchasing shares of common stock in this offering at the assumed initial public offering price.offering.

              The following table illustrates this dilution:

    Assumed initial public offering price per share

       $13.00 

    Pro forma net tangible book value per share at March 31, 2014

     $0.88   

    Assumed public offering price per share

       $17.19 

    Historical net tangible book value per share at June 30, 2014

     $1.71   

    Increase in pro forma net tangible book value per share attributable to new investors in this offering

     1.15    0.18   
         

    Pro forma net tangible book value per share immediately after this offering

       $2.03    $1.89 
              

    Dilution in pro forma net tangible book value per share to new investors in this offering

       $10.97    $15.30 
              
              

              Each $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $13.00$17.19 per share, which is the midpointlast reported sale price of the estimated offering price range set forthour common stock on the cover page of this prospectus,The NASDAQ Global Select Market on November 4, 2014, would increase or decrease, as applicable, our pro forma net tangible book value per share to new investors by $0.10,$0.01, and would increase or decrease, as applicable, dilution per share to new investors in this offering by $0.90,$0.99, assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting estimated underwritingunderwriters' discounts and commissions. In addition, to the extent any outstanding options to purchase common stock are exercised, new investors will experience further dilution.

    commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. If the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares from us in full, the pro forma net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after this offering would be $2.20$2.06 per share, and the dilution in pro forma net tangible book value per share to new investors in this offering would be $10.80$15.13 per share.

              The following table summarizes, on a pro forma basis at March 31, 2014, the total number of shares of common stock purchased from us, the total consideration paid to us, and the average price per share paid to us by existing stockholders and by new investors purchasing shares in this offering at the initial public offering price of $13.00 per share, the midpoint of the price range set


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    forth on the front cover of this prospectus, before deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses:

     
     Shares
    Purchased
     Total
    Consideration
      
     
     
     
    Average
    Price
    Per Share
     
     
     
    Number
     
    Percent
     
    Amount
     
    Percent
     
     
     (in thousands except shares and
    per share data and percentages)

     

    Existing stockholders

      63,263,267  89.1%$253,863  71.5%$4.01 

    New investors

      7,775,000  10.9  101,075  28.5% 13.00 
                 

    Total

      71,038,267  100.0%$354,938  100.0%$5.00 
                 
                 

              Each $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $13.00 per share would increase or decrease the total consideration paid by new investors and total consideration paid by all stockholders by approximately $7.2 million, assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions. In addition, to the extent any outstanding options to purchase common stock are exercised, new investors will experience further dilution.

              If the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares from us in full, our existing stockholders would own 87.6% and our new investors would own 12.4% of the total number of shares of our common stock outstanding upon the completion of this offering.

              The foregoing discussion and tables exclude:

      20,735,64326,664,790 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options outstanding at March 31, 2013, with a weighted average exercise price of $5.57 per share, of which 1,229,830 shares of common stock have been issued pursuant to stock option exercises from April 1, 2014 to May 15, 2014 for an aggregate exercise price of approximately $1.0 million, which includes 1,102,040 shares of common stock issued to Scott Painter, our Founder and Chief Executive Officer, for an aggregate exercise price of approximately $823,000;

      1,333,332 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options granted to the Company's CEO in AprilJune 30, 2014, with a weighted average exercise price of $45.00$9.40 per share;

      5,781,811 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of options granted from April 1, 2014 to May 15, 2014, with a weighted average exercise price of $12.81 per share;

      720,146713,539 shares of common stock subject to RSUs granted from April 1, 2014 to May 15,outstanding at June 30, 2014;

      1,297,2791,273,640 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our stock-based compensation plans, consisting of shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our Amended and Restated 2005 Stock Plan (the "2005 Stock Plan") at March 31, 2014 (after giving effect to an increase of 4,000,000 shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under our 2005 Stock Plan after March 31, 2014, the grant of options to purchase 7,115,143 shares of common stock after March 31, 2014, the grant of 720,146 shares of common stock subject to RSUs after March 31, 2014, and forfeitures returned to the 2005 Stock Plan of 20,321 shares), which shares will be added to the shares to be reserved under our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan to the extent not granted prior to the completion of this offering;Plan;

      any shares of common stock that become available subsequent to this offering under our 2014 Plan as a result of the expiration, termination without exercise or forfeiture or repurchase of awards granted under theour 2005 Stock Plan or our 2008 Stock Plan, (the "2008

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        Stock Plan"), as more fully described in "Executive Compensation — Employee Benefits and Stock Plans";


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      any shares that become available under our 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, pursuant to provisions thereof that automatically increase the share reserves under the plan each year, as more fully described in "Executive Compensation — Employee Benefits and Stock Plans"; and

      5,967,4233,981,198 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants outstanding at March 31,June 30, 2014, with a weighted average exercise price of $5.50 per share, of which 3,265,168 shares of common stock were issued to our largest stockholder, United Services Automobile Association, pursuant to an exercise on May 12, 2014 for an aggregate exercise price of approximately $9.5 million; and

      1,797,312 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants issued from April 1, 2014 to May 15, 2014, with a weighted average exercise price of $13.05$10.73 per share.

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      SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL AND OTHER DATA

                We have derived the following selected consolidated statement of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2012 and 2013 and the selected consolidated balance sheet data at December 31, 2012 and 2013 from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. We have derived the selected unaudited consolidated statement of operations data for the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2013 and 2014 and our unaudited consolidated balance sheet data at March 31,June 30, 2014 from our unaudited interim consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in the prospectus. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements were prepared on a basis consistent with our annual financial statements and include, in the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for the fair statement of the financial information contained in those statements. We have derived the selected consolidated balance sheet data at December 31, 2011 from our audited consolidated financial statements which are not included in this prospectus. We have derived the selected consolidated statement of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2010 and the selected consolidated balance sheet data at December 31, 2009 and 2010 from our unaudited consolidated financial statements which are not included in this prospectus. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected in the future, and our interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year or any other period.

                You should read the following selected consolidated financial and other data together with the section titled "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and our consolidated financial statements, related notes and other financial information included elsewhere in this prospectus. The selected consolidated financial data in this section is not intended to replace the consolidated financial statements and are qualified in their entirety by the consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.


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       Year Ended December 31, Three Months
      Ended
      March 31,
        Year Ended December 31, Six Months
      Ended
      June 30,
       

       
      2009
       
      2010(1)
       
      2011(2)(3)
       
      2012
       
      2013
       
      2013
       
      2014
        
      2011(1)(2)
       
      2012
       
      2013
       
      2013
       
      2014
       

       (in thousands, except per share amounts)
        (in thousands, except per share amounts)
       

      Consolidated Statements of Operations Data:

                                

      Revenues

       $15,831 $38,149 $76,330 $79,889 $133,958 $25,043 $43,930  $76,330 $79,889 $133,958 $56,266 $94,427 

      Cost and operating expenses:

       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
        
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       

      Cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization presented separately below)(4)

       1,360 3,315 7,660 13,559 15,295 3,762 3,720 

      Sales and marketing(4)

       8,866 18,751 41,992 70,327 75,180 13,783 27,767 

      Cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization presented separately below)(3):

       7,660 13,559 15,295 7,435 7,858 

      Sales and marketing(3)

       41,992 70,327 75,180 29,409 61,059 

      Technology and development(4)(3)

       6,597 7,407 18,457 21,960 23,685 5,804 7,330  18,457 21,960 23,685 11,422 15,843 

      General and administrative(4)(3)

       5,180 11,480 21,912 34,228 30,857 6,313 11,517  21,912 34,228 30,857 12,942 27,955 

      Depreciation and amortization

       625 1,086 4,148 11,768 11,569 3,066 3,114  4,148 11,768 11,569 5.934 6,086 
                                

      Total costs and operating expenses

       22,628 42,039 94,169 151,842 156,586 32,728 53,448  94,169 151,842 156,586 67,142 118,801 
                                

      Loss from operations

       (6,797) (3,890) (17,839) (71,953) (22,628) (7,685) (9,518) (17,839) (71,953) (22,628) (10,876) (24,374)

      Interest income

       94 109 199 229 121 32 17  199 229 121 61 27 

      Interest expense

       (123) (73) (66) (3,359) (1,988) (1,241) (170) (66) (3,359) (1,988) (1,751) (301)

      Other income (expense)

       (45) 4 (20) (18) 18 8   (20) (18) 18 14 10 

      Change in fair value of preferred stock warrant liability

       51 (524) (1,882)      (1,882)     
                                

      Loss before (provision) benefit for income taxes

       (6,820) (4,374) (19,608) (75,101) (24,477) (8,886) (9,671) (19,608) (75,101) (24,477) (12,552) (24,638)

      (Provision) benefit for income taxes

       
       
      (73

      )
       
      10,690
       
      606
       
      (579

      )
       
      (137

      )
       
      (250

      )

      Benefit (provision) for income taxes

       
      10,690
       
      606
       
      (579

      )
       
      (273

      )
       
      (317

      )
                                

      Net loss

       $(6,820)$(4,447)$(8,918)$(74,495)$(25,056)$(9,023)$(9,921) $(8,918)$(74,495)$(25,056)$(12,825)$(24,955)
                                
                                

      Cumulative dividends on Series B, Series C and Series D Preferred Stock

       (2,511) (3,180) (2,370)     

      Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest

       1,099 877      

      Cumulative dividends on Series B, Series C, and Series D preferred stock

       (2,370)     
                                

      Net loss attributable to common stockholders of TrueCar, Inc.

       $(8,232)$(6,750)$(11,288)$(74,495)$(25,056)$(9,023)$(9,921) $(11,288)$(74,495)$(25,056)$(12,825)$(24,955)
                                
                                

      Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders of TrueCar, Inc.:

                     

      Basic and diluted(5)(6)

       $(3.43)$(1.43)$(0.49)$(1.33)$(0.43)$(0.16)$(0.17)

      Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders:

                 

      Basic and diluted(4)(5)

       $(0.49)$(1.33)$(0.43)$(0.22)$(0.39)
                                
                               ��

      Weighted average shares of common shares outstanding used in computing net loss per share attributable to common stockholders:

                                

      Basic and diluted(5)(6)

       2,400 4,714 22,823 55,828 58,540 56,137 60,102 
                     
                     

      Pro forma net loss per share:

                     

      Basic and diluted (unaudited)(5)(6)

               $(0.43)   $(0.16)
                     
                     

      Pro forma weighted average common shares outstanding

                     

      Basic and diluted (unaudited)(5)(6)

               58,853   62,959 

      Basic and diluted(4)(5)

       22,823 55,828 58,540 57,231 63,962 
                                
                                

      Other Financial Information:

                                

      Adjusted EBITDA(7)

       $(5,191)$1,712 $(3,538)$(46,523)$2,140 $(2,632)$878 

      Adjusted EBITDA(6)

       $(3,538)$(46,523)$2,140 $(2)$2,771 
                                
                                

      Non-GAAP net (loss) income(7)

       $3,137 $(60,815)$(11,875)$(7,899)$(3,906)
                 
                 

      (1)
      On June 1, 2010, we acquired the remaining non-controlling interest in TrueCar.com, Inc.

      (2)
      During the preparation of the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2011, we identified adjustments relating to timing of revenue recognition, accrued sales taxes and expenses on related party loans affecting 2010 and prior periods. The aggregate amount of these adjustments would

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        have reduced net loss by $360,000 for 2009 and $420,000 for 2010. We concluded these adjustments were not material individually or in the aggregate to any prior reporting period. We also concluded that recording the cumulative effect of these adjustments of $780,000 during the year ended December 31, 2011 was not material to the 2011 financial statements and accordingly, we recorded these adjustments during the year ended December 31, 2011.



      (3)(2)
      In 2011, we completed the acquisitions of Carperks, Honk, and ALG. See Note 3 to our consolidated financial statements for information regarding the purchase accounting associated with these acquisitions.


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      (4)(3)
      The following table presents stock-based compensation expense included in each respective expense category:


       Year Ended December 31, Three Months
      Ended
      March 31,
        Year Ended December 31, Six Months
      Ended
      June 30,
       

       
      2009
       
      2010
       
      2011
       
      2012
       
      2013
       
      2013
       
      2014
        
      2011
       
      2012
       
      2013
       
      2013
       
      2014
       

       (in thousands)
        (in thousands)
       

      Cost of revenue

       $ $29 $47 $122 $141 $25 $54  $47 $122 $141 $53 $163 

      Sales and marketing

       223 272 1,076 1,571 2,561 524 1,036  1,076 1,571 2,561 1,104 2,344 

      Technology and development

       214 41 1,096 1,428 1,762 341 706  1,096 1,428 1,762 783 1,865 

      General and administrative

       170 1,214 3,989 7,199 4,882 683 2,348  3,989 7,199 4,882 1,676 7,168 
                                

      Total stock-based compensation expense

       $607 $1,556 $6,208 $10,320 $9,346 $1,573 $4,144  $6,208 $10,320 $9,346 $3,616 $11,540 
                                
                                
      (5)(4)
      See Note 2 to our audited consolidated financial statements for an explanation of the calculations of our basic and diluted net loss per share of common stock, and pro forma basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders.

      (6)(5)
      All share, per-share and related information havehas been retroactively adjusted, where applicable, to reflect the impact of a 2-for-3 reverse stock split, which was effected on May 2, 2014.

      (7)(6)
      Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of our financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income, operating income or any other measures derived in accordance with GAAP. For a definition of Adjusted EBITDA and a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net loss, see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures." Adjusted EBITDA for the six months ended June 30, 2014 excludes amounts related to legal costs incurred in connection with a claim we filed against Sonic Automotive Holdings, Inc. for trademark infringement and related matters. We have not historically excluded these costs from Adjusted EBITDA; however, as we have incurred increasing costs to advance our claim, we believe that their exclusion is appropriate to facilitate period-to-period operating performance comparisons.

      (7)
      Non-GAAP net (loss) income is not a measure of our financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net (loss) income, operating (loss) income or any other measures derived in accordance with GAAP. For a definition of Non-GAAP net (loss) income and a reconciliation of Non-GAAP net (loss) income, see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures."


       At December 31, 
      At
      March 31,
      2014
        At December 31, 
      At
      June 30,
      2014
       

       
      2009
       
      2010
       
      2011
       
      2012
       
      2013
        
      2011
       
      2012
       
      2013
       

       (in thousands)
        (in thousands)
       

      Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Data

                            

      Cash and cash equivalents and short term investments

       $6,155 $15,791 $42,881 $22,062 $43,819 $42,575  $42,881 $22,062 $43,819 $111,845 

      Working capital (deficit), excluding restricted cash

       8,178 14,930 39,118 (9,290) 36,637 36,220  39,118 (9,290) 36,637 114,450 

      Property and equipment, net

       1,475 3,354 13,720 12,842 15,238 15,926  13,720 12,842 15,238 17,104 

      Total assets

       17,659 28,338 180,165 145,244 174,750 173,925  180,165 145,244 174,750 247,593 

      Total indebtedness

       1,500   23,696 4,764 4,893   23,696 4,764  

      Convertible preferred stock

       48,659 59,575   29,224 29,224    29,224  

      Contingently redeemable common stock(1)

          1,000     1,000   

      Total stockholders' (deficit) equity

       (36,570) (38,444) 158,769 98,196 112,180 110,721 

      Total stockholders' equity

       158,769 98,196 112,180 214,722 

      (1)
      See Note 9 of our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for more information about contingently redeemable common stock.

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      Non-GAAP Financial Measures

                Adjusted EBITDA is aand Non-GAAP net (loss) income are financial measuremeasures that isare not calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or GAAP. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net loss adjusted to exclude interest income, interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, change in the fair value of preferred stock warrant liability, stock-based compensation, non-cash warrant expense, transaction costs from acquisitions, change in fair value of contingent consideration, stock-based compensation, IPO-related expenses, ticker symbol acquisition costs, certain litigation costs, and income taxes. We define Non-GAAP net (loss) as net loss adjusted to exclude stock-based compensation, change in fair value of preferred stock warrant liability, non-cash warrant expense, transaction costs from acquisitions, change in the fair value of contingent consideration, ticker symbol acquisition costs, IPO-related expenses, and transaction costs from acquisitions.certain litigation costs. We have provided below a reconciliation of each of Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP net (loss) income to net loss, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. Neither Adjusted EBITDA nor Non-GAAP net (loss) income should not be considered as an alternative to net loss or any other measure of financial performance calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. In addition, our Adjusted EBITDA measureand Non-GAAP net (loss) income measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other organizations as they may not calculate Adjusted EBITDA or Non-GAAP net (loss) income in the same manner as we calculate the measure.these measures.

                We have included Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP net (loss) income in this prospectus as it is anthey are important measuremeasures used by our management and board of directors to assess our operating performance. We believe that using Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP net (loss) income facilitates operating performance comparisons on a period-to-period basis because this measure excludesthese measures exclude variations primarily caused by changes in our capital structure, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, changes in fair values of preferred stock warrant liability and contingent consideration, ticker symbol acquisition costs, transaction costs from acquisitions, and stock-based compensation expense.the excluded items noted above. In addition, we believe that Adjusted EBITDA, Non-GAAP net (loss) income and similar measures are widely used by investors, securities analysts, rating agencies and other parties in evaluating companies as a measure of financial performance and debt service capabilities.

                Our use of each of Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP net (loss) income has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider itthem in isolation or as a substitute offor analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are:

        Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the payment or receipt of interest or the payment of income taxes;

        neither Adjusted EBITDA does not reflectnor Non-GAAP net (loss) income reflects changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;

        although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized may have to be replaced in the future, and Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect cash capital expenditure requirements for such replacements or for new capital expenditures or any other contractual commitments;

        neither Adjusted EBITDA does notnor Non-GAAP net (loss) income reflects the cash costs to advance our claims in respect of our litigation against Sonic Automotive Holdings, Inc.;

        neither Adjusted EBITDA nor Non-GAAP net (loss) income consider the potentially dilutive impact of shares issued or to be issued in connection with share-based compensation or warrant issuances; and

        other companies, including companies in our own industry, may calculate Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP net (loss) income differently thanfrom how we do, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure.

                Because of these limitations, you should consider Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP net (loss) income alongside other financial performance measures, including various cash flow metrics, net loss and our other GAAP results. In addition, in evaluating Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP net (loss) income you should be aware that in the future we will incur expenses such as those that are the subject of adjustments in deriving Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP net (loss) income, and you should not infer from our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP net (loss) income that our future results will not be affected by these expenses or any unusual or non-recurring items.


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                The following table presents a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net loss for each of the periods presented:

       
       Year Ended December 31, Six Months
      Ended
      June 30,
       
       
       
      2011
       
      2012
       
      2013
       
      2013
       
      2014
       
       
       (in thousands)
       

      Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Loss:

                      

      Net loss

       
      $

      (8,918

      )

      $

      (74,495

      )

      $

      (25,056

      )

      $

      (12,825

      )

      $

      (24,955

      )

      Non-GAAP adjustments:

                      

      Interest income

        (199) (229) (121) (61) (27)

      Interest expense

        66  3,359  1,988  1,751  301 

      Depreciation and amortization

        4,148  11,768  11,569  5,934  6,086 

      Change in fair value of preferred stock warrant liability

        1,882         

      Warrant expense

        2,112  1,990  3,740  1,262  4,615 

      Transaction costs from acquisitions

        1,853         

      Change in fair value of contingent consideration

          1,370  95  48   

      Stock-based compensation

        6,208  10,320  9,346  3,616  11,540 

      IPO-related expenses

                 3,717 

      Ticker symbol acquisition costs

                803 

      Certain litigation costs(1)

                374 

      Provision (benefit) for income taxes

        (10,690) (606) 579  273  317 
                  

      Adjusted EBITDA

       $(3,538)$(46,523)$2,140 $(2)$2,771 
                  
                  

       
       Year Ended December 31, Three Months Ended March 31, 
       
       
      2009
       
      2010
       
      2011
       
      2012
       
      2013
       
      2013
       
      2014
       
       
       (in thousands)
        
        
       

      Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Loss:

                            

      Net loss

       
      $

      (6,820

      )

      $

      (4,447

      )

      $

      (8,918

      )

      $

      (74,495

      )

      $

      (25,056

      )

      $

      (9,023

      )

      $

      (9,921

      )

      Non-GAAP adjustments:

                            

      Interest income

        (94) (109) (199) (229) (121) (32) (17)

      Interest expense

        123  73  66  3,359  1,988  1,241  170 

      Depreciation and amortization

        625  1,086  4,148  11,768  11,569  3,066  3,114 

      Change in fair value of preferred stock warrant liability

        (51) 524  1,882         

      Warrant expense

        419  2,956  2,112  1,990  3,740  382  2,335 

      Transaction costs from acquisitions

            1,853         

      Change in fair value of contingent consideration

              1,370  95  24   

      Stock-based compensation

        607  1,556  6,208  10,320  9,346  1,573  4,144 

      Ticker symbol acquisition costs

                    803 

      Provision (benefit) for income taxes

          73  (10,690) (606) 579  137  250 
                      

      Adjusted EBITDA

       $(5,191)$1,712 $(3,538)$(46,523)$2,140 $(2,632)$878 
                      
                      
      (1)
      The excluded amounts relate to legal costs incurred in connection with a claim we filed against Sonic Automotive Holdings, Inc. for trademark infringement and related matters. We have not historically excluded these costs from Adjusted EBITDA; however, as we have incurred increasing costs to advance our claim, we believe that their exclusion is appropriate to facilitate period-to-period operating performance comparisons.

                The following table presents a reconciliation of Non-GAAP net (loss) income to net loss for each of the periods presented:


       Year Ended
      December 31,
       
       Six Months
      Ended
      June 30,
       
       

        
      2011
        
      2012
        
      2013
       2013  2014  

        (in thousands) 

      Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Net (Loss) Income to Net Loss:

                      

      Net loss

       $(8,918)$(74,495)$(25,056)$(12,825)$(24,955)

      Non-GAAP adjustments:

                      

      Stock-based compensation

        6,208  10,320  9,346  3,616  11,540 

      Change in fair value of preferred stock warrant liability

        1,882         

      Warrant expense

        2,112  1,990  3,740  1,262  4,615 

      Transaction costs from acquisitions

        1,853         

      Change in fair value of contingent consideration

          1,370  95  48   

      Ticker symbol acquisition costs

                803 

      IPO-related expenses

                3,717 

      Certain litigation costs(1)

                374 
                  

      Non-GAAP net (loss) income          

       $3,137 $(60,815)$(11,875)$(7,899)$(3,906)
                  
                  

      (1)
      The excluded amounts relate to legal costs incurred in connection with a claim we filed against Sonic Automotive Holdings, Inc. for trademark infringement and related matters.

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      MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
      FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

                The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read together with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes to those statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. In addition to historical financial information, the following discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Our actual results and timing of selected events may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including those discussed under "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in this prospectus. See "Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements."

      Overview

                Our mission is to transform the car-buying experience for consumers and the way that dealers attract customers and sell cars. We have established an intelligent, data-driven online platform operating on a common technology infrastructure, powered by proprietary data and analytics. We operate our company-branded platform via our TrueCar.com website.website and TrueCar mobile experience. In addition, we customize and operate our platform for affinity group marketing partners, such as USAA, and Consumer Reports, financial institutions, and large enterprises such as Boeing and Verizon. We enable users to obtain market-based pricing data on new and used cars, and to connect with our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers.

                We benefit consumers by providing information related to what others have paid for a make and model of car in their area and, where available, estimated prices for that make and model of car, which we refer to as upfront pricing information, from our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers. This upfront pricing information generally includes guaranteed savings off MSRP which the consumer may then take to the dealer in the form of a Guaranteed Savings Certificate and apply toward the purchase of the specified make and model of car. We benefit our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers by enabling them to attract these informed, in-market consumers in a cost-effective, accountable manner, which we believe helps them to sell more cars.

                Our subsidiary, ALG, Inc., provides data and consulting services regarding determination of the residual value of an automobile at given points in time in the future. These residual values are used to underwrite automotive loans and leases to determine payments by consumers. In addition, financial institutions use this information to measure exposure and risk across loan, lease and fleet portfolios.

      During the year ended December 31, 2013, we generated revenues of $134.0 million and recorded a net loss of $25.1 million. Of the $134.0 million in revenues, 89% consisted of transaction revenues with the remaining 11% derived primarily from the sale of data and consulting services to the automotive and financial services industries. Revenues from the sale of data and consulting services are derived primarily from the operations of our ALG subsidiary. During the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2014, we generated revenues of $43.9$94.4 million and recorded a net loss of $9.9$25.0 million. Of the $43.9$94.4 million in revenues, 91% consisted of transaction revenues with the remaining 9% derived primarily from the sale of data and consulting services to the automotive and financial services industries. Transaction revenues primarily consist of fees paid to us by our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers under our pay-for-performance business model where we generally earn a fee only when a TrueCar user purchases a car from them.

                From inception in February 2005 through 2010, we developed our car-buying platform under our then corporate name Zag.com Inc. In 2006, we launched a car-buying program for affinity group marketing partners; our affinity group marketing partners have subsequently grown to include USAA (2007), Consumer Reports (2010) and Pentagon Federal Credit Union (2010). We also


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      devoted substantial resources during this period to the build-out of our national dealer network and the cultivation of additional affinity group relationships.

                Late in 2008, we began to invest in a direct-to-consumer channel under the branded website TrueCar.com. We launched TrueCar.com with the continuing goal of establishing the premier destination for consumers seeking vehicle pricing information and historical context about what others paid for the same car in their local areas. Subsequently, we integrated the users of


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      TrueCar.com into our car-buying platform, allowing them to connect to the same national dealer network that had been built for our affinity group marketing partners. During the period from 2010 to the present, we have devoted significant resources to building awareness of the TrueCar brand through consumer marketing, including television, radio, digital and other media.

                During 2011, we substantially increased our sales and marketing expenditures in order to accelerate the growth of our user base and transaction revenue derived from TrueCar.com. We also invested significantly in technology and development activities to improve the consumer experience on our platform. As part of these efforts to grow our business, in the fourth quarter of 2011 we launched a $7.8 million national television advertising campaign promoting TrueCar.com. As a result, our transaction revenue on TrueCar.com grew dramatically in the fourth quarter of 2011 as compared to the prior quarters of 2011. Despite this revenue growth, the significant investments in advertising and technology resulted in higher net losses in the fourth quarter of 2011 as compared to prior periods.

                In October 2011, we acquired ALG, which provides data analytics and consulting services to the automotive and financial services industries related to residual value forecasting.

                In October 2011, we entered into an Automotive Website Program Partnership Agreement with Yahoo! Inc. or Yahoo!. Under the agreement, we agreed to host Yahoo!'s Auto Buying Program and pay a minimum of $50.0 million annually beginning January 1, 2012 for a period of three years in exchange for a guarantee by Yahoo! of the delivery of specified quantities of unique visitors and users to the Auto Buying Program. In the course of hosting Yahoo!'s Auto Buying Program, we found that the unique visitors from Yahoo! that used our platform were less likely to purchase a car from one of our TrueCar Certified Dealers than users from other marketing channels. We therefore referred many of these users to other car buying websites, in separately negotiated transactions, and we generated lead referral fees from these separate transactions. As this business model was not considered strategic to our long-term growth plans, we modified our agreement with Yahoo! in June 2012, significantly reducing our obligations under the agreement, and also reducing the number of unique visitors provided by Yahoo! to our platform. The modification eliminated the annual minimum guarantee of $50.0 million and provided that we pay Yahoo! a marketing fee based on future vehicle sales generated through the automotive site. The Yahoo! agreement and modification are described more fully in Note 8 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.

                Our television advertising campaign increased awareness of our products and services among consumers, dealers, dealer trade associations and automotive retail consultants. This publicity led to increased focus on the effects of our business model on dealers and our regulatory compliance, resulting in inquiries from state regulators concerning our business practices. Consequently, some dealers became concerned about the potential effect of such regulatory inquiries on their own businesses. Other industry sources publicly expressed concern that our services would reduce profits for all automobile dealers. As a result, many dealers cancelled their agreements with us, reducing our franchise dealer count from 5,571 at November 30, 2011 to 3,599 at February 28, 2012. The significant reduction in the number of TrueCar Certified Dealers resulted in decreases in our revenues and, together with the cost structure we had built to support our anticipated growth, increased net losses during the first half of 2012.


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                In response to these dealer and regulatory concerns, we invested heavily in regulatory compliance activities and proactively entered into discussions with our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers and other industry participants. We moved to subscription-based billing arrangements in a number of states. In certain states, we redesigned our products and services and changed our advertising approach to address these concerns. We also hired a former dealer trade association executive and established a dealer council to help manage our dealer relations efforts and increase


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      our presence in the industry. By the second quarter of 2012, we began to add more TrueCar Certified Dealers to our network each quarter, with our TrueCar Certified Dealer count rising to 5,306 at December 31, 2012.

                In light of the decline in franchise dealer count and the decline in associated revenues, we suspended television advertising and instituted a plan in early 2012 to reduce non-essential and non-productive operating expenses. By the third quarter of 2012, we had made significant progress in reducing expenses in each of our major operating expense categories. Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2012, with a growing network of TrueCar Certified Dealers, we resumed our investments in both television advertising campaigns and digital acquisition channels designed to grow our business. As a result, we achieved sequential revenue growth in each quarter from the second quarter of 2012 through the firstsecond quarter of 2014 and achieved positive Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2013 and the first quartertwo quarters of 2014. We believe that these continued investments in advertising improve our ability to grow our business and revenues over time, although in any given period increases in revenue resulting from these investments may trail the increase in our expenses and therefore our losses may increase in any quarter.

                We intend to grow traffic to TrueCar.com trafficand our TrueCar branded mobile applications by building our brand through marketing campaigns that emphasize the value of trust and transparency in the car-buying process and the benefits of transacting with TrueCar Certified Dealers. We will seek to increase the number of transactions on our platform by enhancing the user experience while expanding and improving the geographic coverage of our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers. Over time, we intend to increase monetization opportunities by introducing additional products and services to improve the car-buying and car-ownership experience.

                In May 2014, we completed our initial public offering in which we sold an aggregate of 8,941,250 shares of our common stock, including 1,166,250 shares sold pursuant to the exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase such shares, at the public offering price of $9.00 per share. We received net proceeds of $69.2 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by us, from sales of our shares in the initial public offering. Immediately prior to the completion of the initial public offering, all shares of the then-outstanding Series A convertible preferred stock automatically converted into 2,857,143 shares of common stock.

      Presentation of Financial Statements

                Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of our wholly owned subsidiaries in accordance with ASC 810 —Consolidation. Business acquisitions are included in our consolidated financial statements from the date of the acquisition. Our purchase accounting resulted in all assets and liabilities of acquired businesses being recorded at their estimated fair values on the acquisition dates. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

                We report our financial results as one operating segment, with two distinct service offerings: transactions, and data and other. Our operating results are regularly reviewed by our chief operating decision maker on a consolidated basis, principally to make decisions about how we allocate our resources and to measure our consolidated operating performance. Our chief operating


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      decision maker regularly reviews revenue for each of our transaction and data and other offerings in order to gain more depth and understanding of the factors driving our business.


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      Key Metrics

                We regularly review a number of key metrics to evaluate our business, measure our performance, identify trends affecting our business, formulate financial projections and make operating and strategic decisions.

       Year Ended December 31,  Three Months Ended
      March 31,
       
        Year Ended December 31,  Six Months Ended
      June 30,
       
       

       
      2011
       
      2012
       
      2013
       2013  2014   
      2011
       
      2012
       
      2013
       2013  2014  

      Average Monthly Unique Visitors

       1,322,815 1,659,435 2,780,849 2,184,657 3,935,770  1,322,815 1,659,435 2,780,849 2,313,075 4,062,848 

      Units(1)

       239,470 222,683 399,919 72,871 125,980  239,470 222,683 399,919 169,485 275,507 

      Monetization

       $297 $291 $297 $295 $317  $297 $291 $297 $289 $313 

      Franchise Dealer Count

       4,916 5,306 6,651 5,881 7,210  4,916 5,306 6,651 6,176 7,682 

      Transaction Revenue Per Franchise Dealer

       $15,398 $12,660 $19,857 $8,528 $12,017 

      (1)
      We issued full credits of the amount originally invoiced with respect to 13,583, 20,365, 17,664, 4,5668,584 and 2,1455,196 units during the years ended 2011, 2012 and 2013 and the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2013 and March 31,June 30, 2014, respectively. The number of units has not been adjusted downwards related to units credited as discussed in the description of the unit metric below.

      Average Monthly Unique Visitors

                We define a monthly unique visitor as an individual who has visited our website, our landing page on our affinity group marketing partner sites, or our mobile applications within a calendar month. We identify unique visitors through cookies for browser-based visits on either a desktop computer or mobile device and through device IDs for mobile application visits. In addition, if a TrueCar.com user logs-in, we supplement their identification with their log-in credentials to attempt to avoid double counting on TrueCar.com across devices, browsers and mobile applications. If an individual accesses our service using different devices or different browsers on the same device within a given month, the first access through each such device or browser is counted as a separate monthly unique visitor, except where adjusted based upon TrueCar.com log-in information. We calculate average monthly unique visitors as the sum of the monthly unique visitors in a given period, divided by the number of months in that period. We view our average monthly unique visitors as a key indicator of the growth in our business and audience reach, the strength of our brand, and the visibility of car buying services to the member base of our affinity group marketing partners.

                The number of average monthly unique visitors increased 67.6% to approximately 2.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2013 from approximately 1.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2012. The number of average monthly unique visitors increased 80.2%75.6% to approximately 3.94.1 million in the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2014 from approximately 2.22.3 million in the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2013. We attribute the growth in our average monthly unique visitors principally to increased television and digital marketing advertising campaigns that have led to increased brand awareness, as well as increased traffic from our affinity group marketing partners.


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      Units

                We define units as the number of automobiles purchased by our users from TrueCar Certified Dealers through TrueCar.com, our TrueCar branded mobile applications or the car buying sites we maintain for our affinity group marketing partners. A unit is counted following such time as we have matched the sale to a TrueCar user with one of TrueCar Certified Dealers. We view units as a key indicator of the growth of our business,


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      the effectiveness of our product and the size and geographic coverage of our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers.

                On occasion we issue credits to our TrueCar Certified Dealers with respect to units sold. However, we do not adjust our unit metric for these credits as we believe that in substantially all cases a vehicle has in fact been purchased through our platform given the high degree of accuracy of our sales matching process. Credits are most frequently issued to a dealer that claims that it had a pre-existing relationship with a purchaser of a vehicle, and we determine whether we will issue a credit based on a number of factors, including the facts and circumstances related to the dealer claim and the level of claim activity at the dealership. In most cases, we issue credits in order to maintain strong business relations with the dealer and not because we have made an erroneous sales match or billing error.

                The number of units increased 79.6% to 399,919 in the year ended December 31, 2013 from 222,683 in the year ended December 31, 2012. The number of units increased 72.9%62.6% to 125,980275,507 in the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2014 from 72,871169,485 in the three months ended March 31, 2013.same period of the prior year. We attribute this growth in units to the effectiveness of our increased marketing activities, product enhancements, the growing number and geographic coverage of TrueCar Certified Dealers in our network, and the overall growth in new car sales in the automotive industry.

      Monetization

                We define monetization as the average transaction revenue per unit, which we calculate by dividing all of our transaction revenue in a given period by the number of units in that period. OurFor the year ended December 31, 2013, our monetization increased 7.5%2.2% to $317 during the three months ended March 31, 2014$297 from $295 for the same period in 2013$291 primarily as a result of increases in our pricing structure with our TrueCar Certified Dealers and lower sales credits duringcredits. For the threesix months ended March 31, 2014.June 30, 2014, our monetization increased 8.2% to $313 from $289 in the same period of the prior year primarily as a result of increases in our pricing structure and lower sales credits. We expect our monetization to be affected in the future by changes in our pricing structure, the unit mix between new and used cars, with used cars providing higher monetization, and by the introduction of new products and services.

      Franchise Dealer Count

                We define franchise dealer count as the number of franchise dealers in the network of TrueCar Certified Dealers at the end of a given period. This number is calculated by counting the number of brands of new cars sold by dealers in the TrueCar Certified Dealer network at their locations, and includes both single-location proprietorships as well as large consolidated dealer groups. We view our ability to increase our franchise dealer count as an indicator of our market penetration and the likelihood of converting users of our platform into unit sales. Our TrueCar Certified Dealer network includes non-franchised dealers that primarily sell used cars and are not included in franchise dealer count. Our franchise dealer count increased to 7,2107,682 at March 31,June 30, 2014 from 6,651 at December 31, 2013 and 5,306 at December 31, 2012. We attribute this growth in our franchise dealer count to the continued effectiveness of our dealer sales team, increased brand awareness, and product enhancements.


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      Transaction Revenue Per Franchise Dealer

                We define transaction revenue per franchise dealer as the aggregate transaction revenue we receive in a given period divided by the average franchise dealer count in that period. We calculate average franchise dealer count in a given period as the average of the franchise dealer count at the beginning of the period and the franchise dealer count at the end of the period. Our transaction revenue per franchise dealer increased 56.9% to $19,857 during the year ended December 31, 2013 from $12,660 for the year ended December 31, 2012. For the six months ended June 30, 2014, our transaction revenue per franchise dealer increased to $12,017 from $8,528 in the same period of the prior year, an increase of 40.9%. These increases primarily reflect an increase in units which was attributable to an increase in marketing spend and an increase in the geographic coverage of our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers, platform and product enhancements, and the overall growth in sales of the automotive industry.

      Components of Operating Results

      Revenues

                Our revenues are comprised of transaction revenues, and data and other revenue.

                Transaction Revenue.    Revenue consists of fees paid by dealers participating in our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers. Dealers pay us these fees either on a per vehicle basis for sales to our users or in the form of a subscription arrangement. Subscription arrangements fall into three


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      types: flat rate subscriptions, subscriptions subject to downward adjustment based on a minimum number of vehicle sales ("guaranteed sales") and subscriptions subject to downward adjustment based on a minimum number of introductions ("guaranteed introductions"). Under flat rate subscription arrangements, fees are charged at a monthly flat rate regardless of the number of sales made to users of our platform by the dealer. For flat rate subscription arrangements we recognize the fees as revenue over the subscription period on a straight line basis which corresponds to the period that we are providing the dealer with access to our platform. Under guaranteed sales subscription arrangements, fees are charged based on the number of guaranteed sales multiplied by a fixed amount per vehicle. To the extent that the actual number of vehicles sold by the dealers to users of our platform is less than the number of guaranteed sales, we provide a credit to the dealer. To the extent that the actual number of vehicles sold exceeds the number of guaranteed sales, we are not entitled to any additional fees. Under guaranteed introductions subscription arrangements, fees are charged based on the number of guaranteed introductions multiplied by a fixed amount per introduction. To the extent that the number of actual introductions is less than the number of guaranteed introductions, we provide a credit to the dealer. To the extent that the actual number of introductions provided exceeds the number guaranteed, we are not entitled to any additional fees. For guaranteed sales and guaranteed introductions subscription arrangements, we recognize revenue based on the lesser of (i) the actual number of sales generated or introductions delivered through our platform during the subscription period multiplied by the contracted price per sale/introduction or (ii) the straight-line of the subscription fee over the period over which the services are delivered.

                In addition, we enter into arrangements with automobile manufacturers to promote the sale of their vehicles through the offering of additional consumer incentives to members of our affinity group marketing partners. These manufacturers pay us a per-vehicle fee for promotion of the incentive and we recognize the per-vehicle incentive fee when the vehicle sale has occurred between the member of our affinity group marketing partner and the dealer.

                Data and Other Revenue.    We derive this type of revenue primarily from providingthe provision of data and consulting services to the automotive and financial services industries through our ALG subsidiary. The data and consulting services that isALG provides typically relatedrelate to determiningthe determination


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      of the residual value of an automobile at given points in time in the future. These residual values are used to underwrite automotive loans and leases to determine payments by consumers. In addition, financial institutions use this information to measure exposure and risk across loan, lease and fleet portfolios. Our customers generally pay us for these services as information is delivered to them.

                For a description of our revenue accounting policies, see "Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates" below.

      Costs and Operating Expenses

                Cost of Revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization).    Cost of revenue includes expenses related to the fulfillment of our services, consisting primarily of data costs and licensing fees paid to third party service providers and expenses related to operating our website and mobile applications, including those associated with our data centers, hosting fees, data processing costs required to deliver introductions to our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers, employee costs related to dealer operations, sales matching, and employee and consulting costs related to delivering data and consulting services to our customers. Cost of revenue excludes depreciation and amortization of software development costs and other hosting and data infrastructure equipment used to operate our platforms, which are included in the depreciation and amortization line item on our statement of comprehensive loss.


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                Sales and Marketing.    Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of: television and radio advertising; affinity group partner marketing fees; loan subvention costs where we pay certain affinity group marketing partners a portion of consumers' borrowing costs for car loan products offered by these affinity group marketing partners; marketing sponsorship programs; and digital customer acquisition. In addition, sales and marketing expenses include employee related expenses including salaries, bonuses, benefits and stock-based compensation expenses for sales, customer support, marketing and public relations employees, third-party contractor fees, and allocated overhead. Sales and marketing expenses also include costs related to common stock warrants issued to our affinity group marketing partner, USAA, a third-party marketing firm and a service provider, as part of our commercial arrangements with it.them. See "Certain Relationships, Related Party And Other Transactions — Strategic Partnerships — United Services Automobile Association" for a description of such arrangements.our arrangements with USAA. Marketing and advertising costs promote our services and are expensed as incurred, except for media production costs which are expensed the first time the advertisement is aired.

                Technology and Development.    Technology and development expenses consist primarily of employee related expenses including salaries, bonuses, benefits and stock-based compensation expenses, third-party contractor fees, and allocated overhead primarily associated with development of our platform, as well as our product development, product management, research and analytics and internal IT functions.

                General and Administrative.    General and administrative expenses consist primarily of employee related expenses including salaries, bonuses, benefits and stock-based compensation expenses for executive, finance, accounting, legal, human resources, and business intelligence personnel. General and administrative expenses also include legal, accounting, and other third-party professional service fees, bad debt, and allocated overhead.

                Depreciation and Amortization.    Depreciation consists primarily of depreciation expense recorded on property and equipment. Amortization expense consists primarily of amortization recorded on intangible assets, capitalized software development costs and leasehold improvements.


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                Interest Income.    Interest income consists of interest earned on our cash and cash equivalents and short-term investment balances.

                Interest Expense.    Interest expense consists of interest on our outstanding short-term debt obligations, and for the period from May 2012 to May 2013, accretion of debt discount resulting from a beneficial conversion feature on our convertible debt, which converted to equity in May 2013. In addition, beginning in August 2013, interest expense includes interest on our credit facility and the amortization of the discount on our line of credit. See Notes 6 and 7 of our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for more information about our debt obligations.

                Change in Fair Value of Preferred Stock Warrant Liability.    Change in the fair value of the preferred stock warrant liability includes charges from the re-measurement of our warrant liability to fair value at each period end. While these warrants were initially to purchase preferred stock, they were converted into warrants to purchase common stock in August 2011 in connection with the conversion of all our then outstanding shares of convertible preferred stock into shares of common stock. Following that conversion, the liability associated with the preferred stock warrants was reclassified as additional paid-in capital and, as such, we have not incurred, and do not expect in the future to incur, additional charges associated with the change in fair value of the preferred stock warrant liability.


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                Benefit (Provision) for Income Taxes.    We are subject to federal and state income taxes in the United States. We provided a full valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets at March 31,June 30, 2014, and December 31, 2013 and 2012 as it is more likely than not that some or all of our deferred tax assets will not be realized. As a result of the valuation allowance, our income tax benefit (or expense) is significantly less than the federal statutory rate of 34%. Our benefit for income taxes in 2011 reflected a partial release of the valuation allowance as a result of deferred tax liabilities recognized from the acquisition of ALG being an available source of income to realize a portion of our deferred tax assets. Our benefit from income taxes in 2012 reflected a tax benefit associated with a beneficial conversion feature on our convertible notes which was partially offset by tax expense related to the amortization of tax deductible goodwill. Our provision for income taxes in 2013 and the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2014 reflected a tax expense associated with the amortization of tax deductible goodwill that is not an available source of income to realize deferred tax assets.

                We have accumulated federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $122.7 million and state net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $106.3 million at December 31, 2013.

                See Note 11 of our audited financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for more information about our provision for income taxes.


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      Results of Operations

                The following table sets forth our selected consolidated statements of operations data for each of the periods indicated.

       Year Ended
      December 31,
       
       Three Months
      Ended March 31,
       
        Year Ended
      December 31,
       
       Six Months
      Ended June 30,
       
       

       
      2011
       
      2012
       
      2013
       2013  2014   
      2011
       
      2012
       
      2013
       2013  2014  

       (in thousands)  (in thousands) 

      Consolidated Statements of Operations Data:

                            

      Revenues

       $76,330 $79,889 $133,958 $25,043 $43,930  $76,330 $79,889 $133,958 $56,266 $94,427 

      Costs and operating expenses:

                            

      Cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization presented separately below)

       7,660 13,559 15,295 3,762 3,720  7,660 13,559 15,295 7,435 7,858 

      Sales and marketing

       41,992 70,327 75,180 13,783 27,767  41,992 70,327 75,180 29,409 61,059 

      Technology and development

       18,457 21,960 23,685 5,804 7,330  18,457 21,960 23,685 11,422 15,843 

      General and administrative

       21,912 34,228 30,857 6,313 11,517  21,912 34,228 30,857 12,942 27,955 

      Depreciation and amortization

       4,148 11,768 11,569 3,066 3,114  4,148 11,768 11,569 5,934 6,086 
                            

      Total costs and operating expenses

       94,169 151,842 156,586 32,728 53,448  94,169 151,842 156,586 67,142 118,801 
                            

      Loss from operations

       (17,839) (71,953) (22,628) (7,685) (9,518) (17,839) (71,953) (22,628) (10,876) (24,374)

      Interest income

       199 229 121 32 17  199 229 121 61 27 

      Interest expense

       (66) (3,359) (1,988) (1,241) (170) (66) (3,359) (1,988) (1,751) (301)

      Other income (expense), net

       (20) (18) 18 8   (20) (18) 18 14 10 

      Change in fair value of preferred stock warrant liability

       (1,882)      (1,882)     
                            

      Loss before benefit (provision) for income taxes

       (19,608) (75,101) (24,477) (8,886) (9,671) (19,608) (75,101) (24,477) (12,552) (24,638)

      Benefit (provision) for income taxes

       10,690 606 (579) (137) (250) 10,690 606 (579) (273) (317)
                            

      Net loss

       $(8,918)$(74,495)$(25,056)$(9,023)$(9,921) $(8,918)$(74,495)$(25,056)$(12,825)$(24,955)
                            
                            

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                The following table sets forth our selected consolidated statements of operations data as a percentage of revenues for each of the periods indicated.

       Year Ended
      December 31,
       
       Three Months
      Ended
      March 31,
       
        Year Ended
      December 31,
       
       Six Months
      Ended
      June 30,
       
       

       
      2011
       
      2012
       
      2013
       2013  2014   
      2011
       
      2012
       
      2013
       2013  2014  

      Revenues

       100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%

      Costs and operating expenses:

                            

      Cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization presented separately below)

       10 17 11 15 8  10 17 11 13 8 

      Sales and marketing

       55 88 56 55 63  55 88 56 52 65 

      Technology and development

       24 27 18 23 17  24 27 18 20 17 

      General and administrative

       29 43 23 25 26  29 43 23 23 30 

      Depreciation and amortization

       5 15 9 12 7  5 15 9 11 6 
                            

      Loss from operations

       (23) (90) (17) (31) (22) (23) (90) (17) (19) (26)
                            

      Interest income

       * * * * *  * * * * * 

      Interest expense

       * (4) (1) (5) *  * (4) (1) (3) * 

      Other income (expense), net

       * * * * *  * * * * * 

      Change in fair value of preferred stock warranty liability

       (2) * * * *  (2) * * * * 
                            

      Loss before benefit (provision) for income taxes

       (26) (94) (18) (35) (22) (26) (94) (18) (22) (26)

      Benefit (provision) for income taxes

       14 1 * (1) (1) 14 1 * * * 
                            

      Net loss

       (12)% (93)% (19)% (36)% (23)% (12)% (93)% (19)% (23)% (26)%
                            
                            

      *
      Less than 0.5% of revenues

      ThreeSix Months Ended March 31,June 30, 2014 Compared to the ThreeSix Months Ended March 31,June 30, 2013

        Revenues


       Three Months
      Ended March 31,
       Change  Six Months
      Ended June 30,
       Change 

       2013 2014 $ %  2013 2014 $ % 

       (dollars in thousands)
        (dollars in thousands)
       

      Transaction revenue

       $21,523 $39,992 $18,469 85.8% $48,959 $86,119 $37,160 75.9%

      Data and other revenue

       3,520 3,938 418 11.9% 7,307 8,308 1,001 13.7%
                        

      Revenues

       $25,043 $43,930 $18,887 75.4% $56,266 $94,427 $38,161 67.8%
                        
                        

                The increase in our revenues of $38.2 million or 67.8% for the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2014 as compared to the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2013 primarily reflected the substantial increase in our transaction revenue. Transaction revenue and data and other revenue comprised 91.0%91.2% and 9.0%8.8%, respectively, of revenues for the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2014 as compared to 85.9%87.0% and 14.1%13.0%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31,same period in 2013. The increase in transaction revenue for the first quarter ofsix months ended June 30, 2014 primarily reflected a 72.9%62.6% increase in units due to an increase in marketing spend and an increase in the number of TrueCar Certified Dealers, platform and product enhancements, and the overall growth in sales of the automotive industry. Our average monthly unique visitors grew 80.2%75.6% from 2.22.3 million duringfor the first quarter ofsix months ended June 30, 2013 to 3.94.1 million duringfor the first quarter ofsame period in 2014, reflecting our increased advertising expenses which improved brand awareness and the visibility of our car buying services to our users. Our franchise dealer count grew 22.6% from 5,881 at March 31, 2013 to 7,210 at March 31, 2014, reflecting the ongoingmonetization


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      adoption of our service among dealers. Our monetization increased 7.5%8.2% to $317$313 during the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2014 from $295$289 for the same period in 2013, and primarily reflected improved pricing with our TrueCar Certified Dealers and lower sales credits charged against revenue resulting from improved collection efforts during the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2014. Monetization may fluctuate from period to period as a result of changes in our estimated sales allowance, pricing and the unit mix between new and used cars. Our franchise dealer count grew 24.4% from 6,176 at June 30, 2013 to 7,682 at June 30, 2014, reflecting the ongoing adoption of our service among dealers. The 11.9%13.7% increase in data and other revenue for the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2014 as compared to the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2013 primarily reflected improved pricing of our renewal data, and consulting service contracts.contracts and lead referral fees.

      Costs and Operating Expenses

        Cost of Revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)


       Three Months
      Ended March 31,
       Change  Six Months
      Ended June 30,
       Change 

       2013 2014 $ %  2013 2014 $ % 

       (dollars in thousands)
        (dollars in thousands)
       

      Cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)

       $3,762 $3,720 $(42) (1.1)% $7,435 $7,858 $423 5.7%
                        
                        

      Cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) as a percentage of revenues

       15.0% 8.5%      13.2% 8.3%     

                CostThe increase in cost of revenue of $0.4 million or 5.7% for the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2014 was consistent with the three months ended March 31, 2013.primarily due to a $0.4 million increase in employee related costs primarily due to increases in headcount. The declinedecrease in cost of revenues as a percentage of revenues during the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2014 from the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2013 reflected operating leverage due to our increased level of transaction revenues during the first quarter ofsix months ended June 30, 2014 as compared to the prior year period.

                Although we expect our cost of revenue to increase in dollar amount as we add additional data sources, we believe that the nature of our cost structure will enable us to continue to realize operating leverage in our business over time.

        Sales and Marketing Expenses


       Three Months
      Ended March 31,
       Change  Six Months
      Ended June 30,
       Change 

       2013 2014 $ %  2013 2014 $ % 

       (dollars in thousands)
        (dollars in thousands)
       

      Sales and marketing expenses

       $13,783 $27,767 $13,984 101.5% $29,409 $61,059 $31,650 107.6%
                        
                        

      Sales and marketing expenses as a percentage of revenues

       55.0% 63.2%      52.3% 64.7%     

                The increase in sales and marketing expenses of $31.6 million or 107.6% for the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2014 as compared to the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2013 reflected a $8.0$20.6 million increase in advertising and promotional activities primarily due to increased television, radio and online marketing spend to grow the TrueCar.com brand, and a $3.0$6.8 million increase in affinity partner marketing fees as a result of our increased level of unit sales and increased promotional activities, such as loan subvention, where we pay certain affinity group marketing partners a portion of customers' borrowing costs for car loan products offered by these affinity group marketing partners to incentivize their customers to use our platform. The increase in sales and marketing expenses for the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2014 also reflected a $1.7$1.8 million increase in


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      employee related expenses primarily due to increased salaries and related expenses tieddue to our increased headcount, and an increase in stock-based compensation due to additional stock-based awards, an increase of $1.6$2.0 million in warrant expense associated with our media and marketing services agreement, with a


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      direct marketing firm, and$1.2 million in stock-based compensation due to additional stock-based awards, a $0.8 million increase associated with the purchase of our ticker symbol "TRUE"., and an increase of $0.6 million associated with a liquidity bonus paid to an executive in connection with our initial public offering. These increases in sales and marketing expenses were partially offset by a decrease of $1.3$2.6 million in our corporate sponsorship expense as a result of terminating certain sponsorship agreements that we determined to be ineffective.

                We expect sales and marketing expenses to continue to increase in dollar amount and, in the near term, as a percentage of revenue, due to increased television and radio advertising, digital customer acquisition costs, affinity group marketing partner fees, warrant expense and marketing programs as we grow our business.

        Technology and Development Expenses


       Three Months
      Ended March 31,
       Change  Six Months
      Ended June 30,
       Change 

       2013 2014 $ %  2013 2014 $ % 

       (dollars in thousands)
        (dollars in thousands)
       

      Technology and development expenses

       $5,804 $7,330 $1,526 26.3% $11,422 $15,843 $4,421 38.7%
                        
                        

      Technology and development expenses as a percentage of revenues

       23.2% 16.7%      20.3% 16.8%     
                        
                        

      Capitalized software costs

       $1,567 $1,989 $422 26.9% $3,360 $4,550 $1,190 35.4%

                The increase in technology and development expenses of $4.4 million or 38.7% for the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2014 as compared to the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2013 reflected an increase of $1.6$2.9 million in employee related costs primarily due to increased salaries and related expenses tieddue to our increased headcount, and an increase in stock-based compensation due to additional stock-based awards.awards of $1.5 million and a $0.6 million increase in software license expense. These increases were partially offset by a $0.4$0.8 million increase in the amount of capitalized internally developed software costs which reduced technology and development expenses during the period.

                We expect our technology and development expenses to increase in dollar amount as we continue to increase our engineering headcount to expand the functionality of our platform and provide new product offerings. We also expect technology and development expenses to continue to be affected by variations in the amount of capitalized internally developed software.

        General and Administrative Expenses


       Three Months
      Ended March 31,
       Change  Six Months
      Ended June 30,
       Change 

       2013 2014 $ %  2013 2014 $ % 

       (dollars in thousands)
        (dollars in thousands)
       

      General and administrative expenses

       $6,313 $11,517 $5,204 82.4% $12,942 $27,955 $15,013 116.0%
                        
                        

      General and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenues

       25.2% 26.2%      23.0% 29.6%     

                The increase in general and administrative expenses of $15.0 million or 116.0% for the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2014 as compared to the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2013 reflected a $2.6$9.5 million increase in employee related costs primarily due to an increase in stock-based compensation of $5.5 million as a result of additional stock-based awards, a liquidity bonus paid to an executive of $2.0 million in connection with our initial public offering and related expenses tied to


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      our increased headcount. Additionally, there was a $3.5 million increase in professional fees primarily related to increased accounting, legal and consulting fees associated with the preparation to become a public company, and a $2.0$0.7 million increase in employee relatedfacilities costs, primarily due to anand a $0.4 million increase in stock-based compensation of $1.7 million as a result of additional stock-based awards and increased salaries and relatedtravel expenses tied to our increased headcount.for the six months ended June 30, 2014.

                We expect our general and administrative expenses to increase in dollar amount as we increase the headcount in our financial, accounting, and legal organizations and add resources to support both the anticipated growth of our business and our public company reporting


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      requirements. In addition, we expect to pay and recognize bonuses to certain executives totaling $2.9 million in the quarter in which our initial public offering occurs.

        Depreciation and Amortization Expenses


       Three Months
      Ended March 31,
       Change  Six Months
      Ended June 30,
       Change 

       2013 2014 $ %  2013 2014 $ % 

       (dollars in thousands)
        (dollars in thousands)
       

      Depreciation and amortization expenses

       $3,066 $3,114 $48 1.6% $5,934 $6,086 $152 2.6%
                        
                        

                DepreciationThe increase in depreciation and amortization expenses of $0.2 million or 2.6% for the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2014 were consistent withas compared to the threesix months ended March 31, 2013.June 30, 2013, reflected a growth in capitalized internally developed software costs.

                We expect our depreciation and amortization expenses to continue to be affected by the amount of our investment in capitalized internally developed software costs, property and equipment and the timing of placing projects in service.

        Interest Expense


       Three Months
      Ended
      March 31,
       Change  Six Months
      Ended June 30,
       Change 

       2013 2014 $ %  2013 2014 $ % 

       (dollars in thousands)
        (dollars in thousands)
       

      Interest expense

       $1,241 $170 $(1,071) (86.3)% $1,751 $301 $(1,450) (82.8)%
                        
                        

                The decrease in interest expense of $1.5 million or 82.8% for the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2014 as compared to the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2013 primarily reflected a decrease in the accretion of debt discount resulting from a beneficial conversion feature on our convertible debt, which converted to equity in May 2013, and a decrease in the average outstanding balance of our short-term borrowings.

        Provision for Income Taxes


       Three Months
      Ended
      March 31,
       Change  Six Months
      Ended June 30,
       Change 

       2013 2014 $ %  2013 2014 $ % 

       (dollars in thousands)
        (dollars in thousands)
       

      Provision for income taxes

       $(137)$(250)$(113) (82.5)% $273 $317 $44 16.1%
                        
                        

                Our provision for income taxes for the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2013 and 2014 reflected tax expense due to amortization of tax deductible goodwill that is not an available source of income to realize our deferred tax assets.


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      Year Ended December 31, 2013 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2012

        Revenues

       
       Year Ended
      December 31,
       Change 
       
       
      2012
       
      2013
       
      $
       
      %
       
       
       (dollars in thousands)
       

      Transaction revenue

       $64,703 $118,713 $54,010  83.5%

      Data and other revenue

        15,186  15,245  59  0.4%
                 

      Revenues

       $79,889 $133,958 $54,069  67.7%
                 
                 

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                The increase in our revenues for 2013 as compared to 2012 reflected the substantial increase in our transaction revenue. Transaction revenue and data and other revenue comprised 88.6% and 11.4%, respectively, of revenues for 2013 as compared to 81.0% and 19.0%, respectively, for 2012. The increase in transaction revenue for 2013 primarily reflected the 79.6% increase in units due to the level of marketing spend and the increase in the number of Certified TrueCar Dealers, product enhancements, and the overall growth in sales of the automotive industry. Our average monthly unique visitors grew 67.6% from 1.7 million during 2012 to 2.8 million during 2013, reflecting our increased advertising expenses which improved brand awareness and the visibility of our car buying services to the member base of our affinity group marketing partners. Our franchise dealer count grew 25.3% from 5,306 at December 31, 2012 to 6,651 at December 31, 2013, reflecting the ongoing adoption of our service among dealers. Our monetization was relatively stable between these periods as our pricing and the mix between new and used car units was relatively consistent. Data and other revenue was consistent for 2013 as compared to 2012 and reflected a $2.1 million decrease in lead referral fees arising from the modification of our marketing arrangement with Yahoo! in June 2012 pursuant to which we had generated revenue by referring Yahoo! traffic to other commercial websites. This decrease was more than offset by a $2.2 million increase in revenue due to improved pricing of our renewal data and consulting service contracts.

      Costs and Operating Expenses

        Cost of Revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)

       
       Year Ended
      December 31,
       Change 
       
       
      2012
       
      2013
       
      $
       
      %
       
       
       (dollars in thousands)
       

      Cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)

       $13,559 $15,295 $1,736  12.8%
                
                

      Cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) as a percentage of revenues

        17.0% 11.4%      

                The increase in cost of revenue for 2013 as compared to 2012 primarily reflected a $1.0 million increase in data costs and licensing fees to support the growth of our business, and a $0.5 million increase in employee related costs primarily due to increases in headcount. The decline in cost of revenues as a percentage of revenues in 2013 from 2012 reflected operating leverage due to the increased proportion of transaction revenues in 2013.


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        Sales and Marketing Expenses

       
       Year Ended
      December 31,
       Change 
       
       
      2012
       
      2013
       
      $
       
      %
       
       
       (dollars in thousands)
       

      Sales and marketing expenses

       $70,327 $75,180 $4,853  6.9%
                
                

      Sales and marketing expenses as a percentage of revenues

        88.0% 56.1%      

                The increase in sales and marketing expenses for 2013 as compared to 2012 reflected a $14.4 million increase in advertising and promotional activities primarily due to increased television and online marketing spend to grow the TrueCar.com brand, a $10.1 million increase in affinity partner marketing fees as a result of the increased level of unit sales and increased promotional activities, such as loan subvention, where we pay certain affinity group marketing partners a portion of customers' borrowing costs for car loan products offered by these affinity group marketing


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      partners to incentivize their customers to purchase a vehicle from a TrueCar Certified Dealer, a $2.8 million increase in employee related expenses primarily due to increased bonus expenses tied to our improved financial results and headcount increases and an increase in stock-based compensation due to additional stock-based awards, and an increase of $0.9 million in warrant expense associated with our media and marketing services agreement with a direct marketing firm. These increases in sales and expenses were partially offset by a decrease of $20.0 million of spend associated with our marketing arrangement with Yahoo! that was modified in June 2012, and a $3.4 million reduction in our corporate sponsorship expense as a result of terminating certain sponsorship agreements that we deemed were ineffective.

        Technology and Development Expenses

       
       Year Ended
      December,
       Change 
       
       
      2012
       
      2013
       
      $
       
      %
       
       
       (dollars in thousands)
       

      Technology and development expenses

       $21,960 $23,685 $1,725  7.9%
                
                

      Technology and development expenses as a percentage of revenues

        27.5% 17.7%      
                  
                  

      Capitalized software costs

       $5,219 $6,692 $1,473  28.2%

                The increase in technology and development expenses for 2013 as compared to 2012 reflected an increase of $2.5 million in employee related costs primarily due to increases in bonus expense arising from our improved financial results and to a lesser extent stock-based compensation associated with additional stock-based awards, and a $0.8 million increase in software licensing expenses to support the growth of our business and platform. These increases were partially offset by a $1.5 million increase in the amount of capitalized internally developed software costs which reduced technology and development expenses during the period.


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        General and Administrative Expenses

       
       Year Ended
      December 31,
       Change 
       
       
      2012
       
      2013
       
      $
       
      %
       
       
       (dollars in thousands)
       

      General and administrative expenses

       $34,228 $30,857 $(3,371) (9.8)%
                
                

      General and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenues

        42.8% 23.0%      

                The decrease in general and administrative expenses for 2013 as compared to 2012 reflected a decrease of $2.3 million in stock-based compensation expense primarily due to the absence of a $4.5 million stock-based compensation charge in March 2012 as a result of the modification of an equity award held by a former executive as part of his severance arrangement, partially offset by increased stock-based compensation expense associated with new awards issued in 2013. The decrease in general and administrative expenses for 2013 also reflected lower legal fees and other expenses associated with our regulatory compliance activities in 2012 of $2.1 million and a $1.3 million decrease in expenses associated with changes in fair value of the contingent consideration for our Carperks acquisition as a result of the modification of the agreement in December 2012. These decreases were partially offset by a $1.3 million increase in employee related expenses, primarily due to increased bonus expenses arising from our improved financial


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      results and increases in headcount to support the growth of our business, and a $0.6 million legal settlement associated with a settlement entered into with a marketing sponsorship partner in November 2013.

        Depreciation and Amortization Expenses

       
       Year Ended
      December 31,
       Change 
       
       
      2012
       
      2013
       
      $
       
      %
       
       
       (dollars in thousands)
       

      Depreciation and amortization expenses

       $11,768 $11,569 $(199) (1.7)%
                
                

                Depreciation and amortization expenses for 2013 were consistent with 2012. Depreciation and amortization expenses reflected a $0.9 million decrease in write-offs of capitalized internally developed software in 2013 compared to 2012, that was largely offset by an increase of $0.7 million in amortization of internally developed software in 2013 driven by a full year of depreciation for assets capitalized in 2012 and increased software capitalization during 2013. The 2012 write-offs of internally developed software were due to software that provided functionality that was no longer used on our platform due to changes in our business.

        Interest Expense

       
       Year Ended
      December 31,
       Change 
       
       
      2012
       
      2013
       
      $
       
      %
       
       
       (dollars in thousands)
       

      Interest expense

       $3,359 $1,988 $(1,371) (40.8)%
                
                

                The decrease in interest expense for 2013 as compared to 2012 primarily reflected a decrease in the accretion of debt discount resulting from a beneficial conversion feature on our convertible


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      debt, which converted to equity in May 2013, and a decrease in the average outstanding balance of our short-term borrowings.

        Benefit from (Provision for) Income Taxes

       
       Year Ended
      December 31,
       Change 
       
       
      2012
       
      2013
       
      $
       
      %
       
       
       (dollars in thousands)
       

      Benefit (provision) for income taxes

       $606 $(579)$(1,185) (195.5)%
                
                

                Our provision for income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2013 reflected tax expense due to amortization of tax deductible goodwill that is not an available source of income to realize our deferred tax assets. Our benefit from income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2012 reflected a tax benefit associated with a beneficial conversion feature on our convertible notes of $1.1 million which was partially offset by tax expense related to the amortization of tax deductible goodwill of $0.5 million.


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      Year Ended December 31, 2012 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2011

        Revenues

       
       Year Ended
      December 31,
       Change 
       
       
      2011
       
      2012
       
      $
       
      %
       
       
       (dollars in thousands)
       

      Transaction revenue

       $71,222 $64,703 $(6,519) (9.2)%

      Data and other revenue

        5,108  15,186  10,078  197.3%
                 

      Revenues

       $76,330 $79,889 $3,559  4.7%
                 
                 

                The increase in our revenues for 2012 as compared to 2011 reflected a decrease in our transaction revenue that was more than offset by a substantial increase in our data and other revenue. Transaction revenue and data and other revenue comprised 81.0% and 19.0% of revenues in 2012 as compared to 93.3% and 6.7% of revenues in 2011. The decrease in transaction revenue in 2012 primarily reflected the 7.0% decrease in units, from 239,470 in 2011 to 222,683 in 2012, due primarily to dealer attrition that occurred in the first quarter of 2012. Our franchise dealer count fell from 4,916 at December 31, 2011 to 3,734 at March 31, 2012, and recovered in the second quarter to 4,322 at June 30, 2012 and to 5,306 at December 31, 2012. Our monetization was relatively stable between these years as our mix between new and used units was relatively consistent. The increase in data and other revenue in 2012 reflected the full year of combined operations with ALG following our acquisition of ALG in October 2011; the incremental ALG revenue was $8.4 million. There was also a $2.2 million increase in lead referral fees primarily due to revenues in the first half of 2012 arising from the marketing arrangement with Yahoo! that was modified in June 2012.


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        Cost of Revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)

       
       Year Ended
      December 31,
       Change 
       
       
      2011
       
      2012
       
      $
       
      %
       
       
       (dollars in thousands)
       

      Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)

       $7,660 $13,559 $5,899  77.0%
                
                

      Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) as a percentage of revenues

        10.0% 17.0%      

                The increase in cost of revenues for 2012 from 2011 was primarily the result of a $3.2 million increase in employee related expenses due to a full year of combined operations with ALG and headcount increases in our existing business, a $1.0 million increase in data licensing costs and $0.6 million increase hosting costs related to operating our website and mobile applications, and, to a lesser extent, increases in sales matching costs. The increase in cost of revenues as a percentage of revenues in 2012 as compared to 2011 primarily reflected an increase in employee related expenses and the decrease in transaction revenue, as well as a full year of combined operations with ALG.


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        Sales and Marketing Expenses

       
       Year Ended
      December 31,
       Change 
       
       
      2011
       
      2012
       
      $
       
      %
       
       
       (dollars in thousands)
       

      Sales and marketing expenses

       $41,992 $70,327 $28,335  67.5%
                
                

      Sales and marketing expenses as a percentage of revenues

        55.0% 88.0%      

                The increase in sales and marketing expenses for 2012 from 2011 reflected $20.0 million of spend associated with our marketing arrangement with Yahoo! which was entered into in January 2012 and significantly modified in June 2012, an increase of $9.7 million in corporate sponsorship expenses related to agreements we entered into in 2012 and a $3.1 million increase in consulting and professional fees primarily as a result of entering into an external consulting agreement with our creative agency for a variety of marketing services. The increase in sales and marketing expenses in 2012 also reflected a $3.4 million increase in employee related expenses as a result of a full year of combined operations with ALG and headcount increases in our existing business, a $0.6 million increase in partner marketing fees as a result of increased promotional activities for our affinity group marketing partners as well as a $0.5 million increase in facilities expenses associated with our increased headcount in sales and marketing functions. These increases were partially offset by an $8.9 million decrease in television and online marketing spend due to changes in our marketing strategies in early 2012 arising from our response to regulatory and publicity matters occurring in early 2012.


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        Technology and Development Expenses

       
       Year Ended
      December 31,
       Change 
       
       
      2011
       
      2012
       
      $
       
      %
       
       
       (dollars in thousands)
       

      Technology and development expenses

       $18,457 $21,960 $3,503  19.0%
                
                

      Technology and development expenses as a percentage of revenues

        24.2% 27.5%      
                  
                  

      Capitalized software costs

       $6,372 $5,219 $(1,153) (18.1)%

                The increase in technology and development expenses for 2012 from 2011 primarily reflected a $3.9 million increase in headcount and related benefits due to a full year of combined operations with ALG and headcount increases in our existing operations, a decrease in expenses due to a reduction of $1.2 million in the amount of internally developed software costs that were capitalized, and, to a lesser extent, other increases in expense due to a full year of combined operations with ALG. These increases were offset in part by a $2.2 million decrease in consulting and professional fees due to a combination of our cost cutting initiatives and bringing certain of these functions in-house.


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        General and Administrative Expenses

       
       Year Ended
      December 31,
       Change 
       
       
      2011
       
      2012
       
      $
       
      %
       
       
       (dollars in thousands)
       

      General and administrative expenses

       $21,912 $34,228 $12,316  56.2%
                
                

      General and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenues

        28.7% 42.8%      

                The increase in general and administrative expenses for 2012 from 2011 reflected $5.8 million in increased legal fees and other expenses primarily associated with our regulatory compliance activities, and increases in stock-based compensation expense of $3.2 million primarily due to a $4.5 million stock-based compensation charge in March 2012 as a result of the modification of an equity award held by a former executive as part of his severance arrangements. General and administrative expenses also increased from 2011 to 2012 due to increases of $3.2 million in employee and related expenses arising from the inclusion of a full year of combined operations with ALG as well as headcount increases in our existing business, a $1.3 million increase in the fair value of contingent consideration associated with our acquisition of Carperks in 2011, a $0.6 million increase due to increases in sales taxes driven by increased sales in states where sales tax is applicable, and a $0.5 million increase in bad debt expense associated with the dealer attrition we experienced in the first half of 2012. These increases were offset, in part by, a $1.9 million decrease in transaction costs associated with our acquisition of ALG in 2011.

        Depreciation and Amortization Expenses

       
       Year Ended
      December 31,
       Change 
       
       
      2011
       
      2012
       
      $
       
      %
       
       
       (dollars in thousands)
       

      Depreciation and amortization expenses

       $4,148 $11,768 $7,620  183.7%
                
                

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                The increase in depreciation and amortization expenses for 2012 from 2011 reflected an increase of $3.2 million in amortization of intangible assets primarily due to intangible assets acquired as part of the ALG acquisition in October 2011, an increase of $2.9 million associated with the amortization of capitalized internally developed software costs and depreciation on property, plant and equipment in 2012 as compared to 2011, and a $1.5 million write-off of internally developed software in 2012 as the functionality was no longer used on our platform due to changes in our business, which changes included the termination of two of our marketing arrangements.

        Interest Expense

       
       Year Ended
      December 31,
       Change 
       
       
      2011
       
      2012
       
      $
       
      %
       
       
       (dollars in thousands)
       

      Interest expense

       $66 $3,359 $3,293  4,989.4%
                
                

                The increase in interest expense for 2012 from 2011 reflected interest expense and accretion of the beneficial conversion feature recorded on our convertible notes issued in May 2012.


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        Change in Fair Value of Preferred Stock Warrant Liability

       
       Year Ended
      December 31,
       Change 
       
       
      2011
       
      2012
       
      $
       
      %
       
       
       (dollars in thousands)
       

      Change in fair value of preferred stock warrant liability

       $(1,882)$ $1,882  100.0%
                
                

                Upon conversion of the preferred stock to common stock in August 2011, the preferred stock warrants were automatically converted into warrants to purchase our common stock. Upon this conversion, the preferred stock warrants were reclassified as equity and were no longer remeasured to fair value.

        Benefit (provision) for Income Taxes

       
       Year Ended
      December 31,
       Change 
       
       
      2011
       
      2012
       
      $
       
      %
       
       
       (dollars in thousands)
       

      Benefit (provision) for income taxes

       $10,690 $606 $(10,084) (94.3)%
                
                

                Our income tax benefit in 2012 reflected a tax benefit associated with a beneficial conversion feature on our convertible notes issued in May 2012 of $1.1 million which was partially offset by tax expense related to amortization of tax deductible goodwill of $0.5 million that is not an available source of income to realize our deferred tax assets. Our benefit from income taxes in 2011 reflected a partial release of our valuation allowance as a result of deferred tax liabilities recognized from the acquisition of ALG.


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      Quarterly Key Metrics and Results of Operations

                The following tables set forth selected key metrics and unaudited quarterly consolidated statements of comprehensive loss data for each of the quarters indicated. The consolidated financial statements for each of these quarters have been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements included in this prospectus and, in the opinion of management, include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair statement of the consolidated results of operations for these periods. You should read this information together with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included


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      elsewhere in this prospectus. These quarterly operating results are not necessarily indicative of the results for any future period.


       Three Months Ended  Three Months Ended 

       
      Mar. 31,
      2012
       
      Jun. 30,
      2012
       
      Sept. 30,
      2012
       
      Dec. 31,
      2012
       
      Mar. 31,
      2013
       
      Jun. 30,
      2013
       
      Sept. 30,
      2013
       
      Dec. 31,
      2013
       
      Mar. 31,
      2014
        
      Mar. 31,
      2012
       
      Jun. 30,
      2012
       
      Sept. 30,
      2012
       
      Dec. 31,
      2012
       
      Mar. 31,
      2013
       
      Jun. 30,
      2013
       
      Sept. 30,
      2013
       
      Dec. 31,
      2013
       
      Mar. 31,
      2014
       
      Jun. 30,
      2014
       

      Average Monthly Unique Visitors

       1,904,524 1,464,772 1,541,287 1,727,159 2,184,657 2,441,493 3,201,475 3,295,772 3,935,770  1,904,524 1,464,772 1,541,287 1,727,159 2,184,657 2,441,493 3,201,475 3,295,772 3,935,770 4,189,926 

      Units(1)

       59,455 48,413 54,228 60,587 72,871 96,614 116,503 113,931 125,980  59,455 48,413 54,228 60,587 72,871 96,614 116,503 113,931 125,980 149,527 

      Monetization

       $278 $277 $311 $296 $295 $284 $288 $318 $317  $278 $277 $311 $296 $295 $284 $288 $318 $317 $308 

      Franchise Dealer Count (Ending)

       3,734 4,322 4,735 5,306 5,881 6,176 6,327 6,651 7,210  3,734 4,322 4,735 5,306 5,881 6,176 6,327 6,651 7,210 7,682 

      Transaction Revenue Per Franchise Dealer

       3,820 3,327 3,720 3,572 $3,848 $4,551 $5,365 $5,581 $5,770 $6,195 


       Three Months Ended  Three Months Ended 

       
      Mar. 31,
      2012
       
      Jun. 30,
      2012
       
      Sept. 30,
      2012
       
      Dec. 31,
      2012
       
      Mar. 31,
      2013
       
      Jun. 30,
      2013
       
      Sept. 30,
      2013
       
      Dec. 31,
      2013
       
      Mar. 31,
      2014
        
      Mar. 31,
      2012
       
      Jun. 30,
      2012
       
      Sept. 30,
      2012
       
      Dec. 31,
      2012
       
      Mar. 31,
      2013
       
      Jun. 30,
      2013
       
      Sept. 30,
      2013
       
      Dec. 31,
      2013
       
      Mar. 31,
      2014
       
      Jun. 30,
      2014
       

       (in thousands)
        (in thousands)
       

      Revenues:

                                              

      Transaction revenues

       $16,521 $13,402 $16,848 $17,932 $21,523 $27,436 $33,538 $36,216 $39,992  $16,521 $13,402 $16,848 $17,932 $21,523 $27,436 $33,538 $36,216 $39,992 $46,127 

      Data and other revenues

       3,983 4,203 3,589 3,411 3,520 3,787 4,009 3,929 3,938  3,983 4,203 3,589 3,411 3,520 3,787 4,009 3,929 3,938 4,370 
                                              

      Total revenues

       20,504 17,605 20,437 21,343 25,043 31,223 37,547 40,145 43,930  20,504 17,605 20,437 21,343 25,043 31,223 37,547 40,145 43,930 $50,497 
                                              

      Costs and operating expenses:

                                              

      Cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization presented separately below)

       3,258 3,241 3,482 3,578 3,762 3,673 3,652 4,208 3,720  3,258 3,241 3,482 3,578 3,762 3,673 3,652 4,208 3,720 4,138 

      Sales and marketing

       27,205 16,607 11,290 15,225 13,783 15,626 21,878 23,893 27,767  27,205 16,607 11,290 15,225 13,783 15,626 21,878 23,893 27,767 33,292 

      Technology and development

       5,869 5,432 5,263 5,396 5,804 5,618 5,512 6,751 7,330  5,869 5,432 5,263 5,396 5,804 5,618 5,512 6,751 7,330 8,513 

      General and administrative

       13,359 7,629 6,210 7,030 6,313 6,629 7,716 10,199 11,517  13,359 7,629 6,210 7,030 6,313 6,629 7,716 10,199 11,517 16,438 

      Depreciation and amortization

       2,709 2,856 2,795 3,408 3,066 2,868 3,241 2,394 3,114  2,709 2,856 2,795 3,408 3,066 2,868 3,241 2,394 3,114 2,972 
                                              

      Total costs and expenses

       52,400 35,765 29,040 34,637 32,728 34,414 41,999 47,445 53,448  52,400 35,765 29,040 34,637 32,728 34,414 41,999 47,445 53,448 65,353 
                                              

      Loss from operations

       (31,896) (18,160) (8,603) (13,294) (7,685) (3,191) (4,452) (7,300) (9,518) (31,896) (18,160) (8,603) (13,294) (7,685) (3,191) (4,452) (7,300) (9,518) (14,856)

      Interest income

       
      121
       
      38
       
      34
       
      36
       
      32
       
      29
       
      30
       
      30
       
      17
        
      121
       
      38
       
      34
       
      36
       
      32
       
      29
       
      30
       
      30
       
      17
       
      10
       

      Interest expense

       (73) (746) (1,270) (1,270) (1,241) (510) (58) (179) (170) (73) (746) (1,270) (1,270) (1,241) (510) (58) (179) (170) (131)

      Other income(expense)

       (35)  11 6 8 6 5 (1)   (35)  11 6 8 6 5 (1)  10 
                                              

      Loss before (provision) benefit for income taxes

       (31,883) (18,868) (9,828) (14,522) (8,886) (3,666) (4,475) (7,450) (9,671) (31,883) (18,868) (9,828) (14,522) (8,886) (3,666) (4,475) (7,450) (9,671) (14,967)

      (Provision) benefit for income taxes

       (138) 961 (137) (80) (137) (136) (136) (170) (250)

      Benefit (provision) for income taxes

       (138) 961 (137) (80) (137) (136) (136) (170) (250) (67)
                                              

      Net loss

       $(32,021)$(17,907)$(9,965)$(14,602)$(9,023)$(3,802)$(4,611)$(7,620)$(9,921) $(32,021)$(17,907)$(9,965)$(14,602)$(9,023)$(3,802)$(4,611)$(7,620)$(9,921)$(15,034)
                                              
                                              

      Adjusted EBITDA(2)(3)

       $(21,522)$(15,500)$(4,239)$(5,262)$(2,632)$2,630 $2,411 $(269)$878  $(21,522)$(15,500)$(4,239)$(5,262)$(2,632)$2,630 $2,411 $(269)$998 $1,773 
                                              
                                              

      (1)
      We issued full credits of the amount originally invoiced with respect to 6,433, 4,398, 4,453, 5,081, 4,566, 4,018, 6,278, 2,802, 2,145 and 2,1453,053 units during the three months ended March 31, 2012, June 30, 2012, September 30, 2012, December 31,

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        2012, March 31, 2013, June 30, 2013, September 30, 2013, December 31, 2013, March 30, 2014 and March 31,June 30, 2014, respectively. The number of units has not been adjusted downwards related to units credited.

      (2)
      Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of our financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income, operating income or any other measures derived in accordance with GAAP. For a definition of Adjusted EBITDA and a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net loss, see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures."

      (3)
      Adjusted EBITDA for each of the three months ended March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2014 excludes amounts related to legal costs incurred in connection with a claim we filed against Sonic Automotive Holdings, Inc. for trademark infringement and related matters. We have not historically excluded these costs from Adjusted EBITDA; however, as we have incurred increasing costs to advance our claim, we believe that their exclusion is appropriate to facilitate period-to-period operating performance comparisons.

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                The following table sets forth selected consolidated statements of operations data as a percentage of revenues for each of the periods indicated.


       Three Months Ended  Three Months Ended 

       
      Mar. 31,
      2012
       
      Jun. 30,
      2012
       
      Sept. 30,
      2012
       
      Dec. 31,
      2012
       
      Mar. 31,
      2013
       
      Jun. 30,
      2013
       
      Sept. 30,
      2013
       
      Dec. 31,
      2013
       
      Mar. 31, 2014
        
      Mar. 31,
      2012
       
      Jun. 30,
      2012
       
      Sept. 30,
      2012
       
      Dec. 31,
      2012
       
      Mar. 31,
      2013
       
      Jun. 30,
      2013
       
      Sept. 30,
      2013
       
      Dec. 31,
      2013
       
      Mar. 31, 2014
       
      Jun. 30,
      2014
       

      Revenues:

                                              

      Transaction revenue

       80.6% 76.1% 82.4% 84.0% 85.9% 87.9% 89.3% 89.1% 91.0% 80.6% 76.1% 82.4% 84.0% 85.9% 87.9% 89.3% 90.2% 91.0% 91.3%

      Data and other revenue

       19.4 23.9 17.6 16.0 14.1 12.1 10.7 10.9 9.0  19.4 23.9 17.6 16.0 14.1 12.1 10.7 9.8 9.0 8.7%

      Total revenues

       100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0  100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

      Costs and operating expenses:

                                              

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

       15.9 18.4 17.0 16.8 15.0 11.8 9.7 10.5 8.5  15.9 18.4 17.0 16.8 15.0 11.8 9.7 10.5 8.5 8.2 

      Sales and marketing

       132.7 94.3 55.2 71.3 55.0 50.0 58.3 59.5 63.2  132.7 94.3 55.2 71.3 55.0 50.0 58.3 59.5 63.2 65.9 

      Technology and development

       28.6 30.9 25.8 25.3 23.2 18.0 14.7 16.8 16.7  28.6 30.9 25.8 25.3 23.2 18.0 14.7 16.8 16.7 16.9 

      General and administrative

       65.2 43.3 30.4 32.9 25.2 21.2 20.6 25.4 26.2  65.2 43.3 30.4 32.9 25.2 21.2 20.6 25.4 26.2 32.6 

      Depreciation and amortization

       13.2 16.2 13.7 16.0 12.2 9.2 8.6 6.0 7.1  13.2 16.2 13.7 16.0 12.2 9.2 8.6 6.0 7.1 5.9 
                                              

      Loss from operations

       (155.6) (103.2) (42.1) (62.3) (30.7) (10.2) (11.9) (18.2) (21.7) (155.6) (103.2) (42.1) (62.3) (30.7) (10.2) (11.9) (18.2) (21.7) (29.4)

      Interest income

       0.6 * * * * * * * *  0.6 * * * * * * * * * 

      Interest expense

       * (4.2) (6.2) (6.0) (5.0) (1.6) * * *  * (4.2) (6.2) (6.0) (5.0) (1.6) * * * * 

      Other income/(expenses)

       
      *
       
      *
       
      *
       
      *
       
      *
       
      *
       
      *
       
      *
       
      *
        
      *
       
      *
       
      *
       
      *
       
      *
       
      *
       
      *
       
      *
       
      *
       
      *
       
                                              

      Loss before (provision) benefit for income taxes

       (155.5) (107.2) (48.1) (68.0) (35.5) (11.7) (11.9) (18.6) (22.0) (155.5) (107.2) (48.1) (68.0) (35.5) (11.7) (11.9) (18.6) (22.0) (29.6)

      (Provision) benefit for income taxes

       (0.7) 5.5 (0.7) * (0.5) * * * (0.6) (0.7) 5.5 (0.7) * (0.5) * * * (0.6) * 
                                              

      Net loss

       (156.2)% (101.7)% (48.8)% (68.4)% (36.0)% (12.2)% (12.3)% (19.0)% (22.6)% (156.2)% (101.7)% (48.8)% (68.4)% (36.0)% (12.2)% (12.3)% (19.0)% (22.6)% (29.8)%
                                              
                                              

      *
      Percentage of revenues is less than 0.5%

                Our revenues in the first half of 2012 were significantly affected by dealer attrition described above under "Overview," with our franchise dealer count falling from 4,916 at December 31, 2011 to 3,734 at March 31, 2012. By the second quarter of 2012, we again began to add more TrueCar Certified Dealers to our network, with our franchise dealer count rising to 5,306, 6,651 and 7,2107,682 at December 31, 2012 and 2013 and March 31,June 30, 2014, respectively. We believe that the changes we made to our business and regulatory compliance practices since that time have significantly enhanced the growth and growth prospects of our business.

                Our revenue trends are a reflection of consumers' car buying patterns. Across the automotive industry, consumers tend to purchase a higher volume of cars in the second and third quarters of


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      each year, due in part to the introduction of new vehicle models from manufacturers. In the past, these seasonal trends have not been pronounced due the overall growth of our business, but we expect that in the future our revenues may be affected by these seasonal trends. Our business will also be impacted by cyclical trends affecting the overall economy, specifically the retail automobile industry, as well as by actual or threatened severe weather events.

                The relatively high level of sales and marketing expenses in the first half of 2012 reflected charges totaling $20.0 million associated with the modification of a marketing arrangement with Yahoo! in June 2012 and an additional $5.0 million in advertising sponsorships in the period designed to increase awareness of our brand. The increase in sales and marketing expenses in the fourth quarter of 2012 from the third quarter of 2012 primarily reflected $1.5 million of expense incurred in connection with the launch of a new television advertising campaign. The increase in sales and marketing expenses in the third quarter of 2013 from the second quarter of 2013 primarily reflected $4.1 million of increased spending on television and online advertising. These increased levels of spend on television and online advertising continued into the fourth quarter of 2013 which also included an additional $1.2 million of spend on loan subvention costs we pay to affinity


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      marketing partners to incentivize their members to purchase vehicles from TrueCar Certified Dealers. The remaining increase in sales and marketing expenses in the fourth quarter of 2013 from the third quarter of 2013 was primarily due to employee related expenses of $0.6 million associated with increased headcount and higher bonuses arising from our improved financial results. The increase in sales and marketing expenses in the first quarter of 2014 from the fourth quarter of 2013 reflected an increase of $1.4 million associated with the vesting of warrants issued to a third party direct marketing firm, an increase in employee related expenses of $1.1 million associated with salary increases, increased headcount and higher stock-based compensation expense due to an increase in the number of awards granted in the first quarter of 2014, $1.0 million of increased spending on television and online advertising, and $0.8 million of costs associated with the acquisition of our "TRUE" ticker symbol. The increase of $5.5 million in sales and marketing expenses in the second quarter of 2014 from the first quarter of 2014 is primarily due to an increase in advertising and promotional activities due to increased television, radio and online marketing spend to grow the TrueCar brand. There was also an increase in affinity partner marketing fees as a result of our increased level of unit sales and increases in other promotional activities.

                The relatively high level of general and administrative expenses in the first quarter of 2012 primarily reflected a $4.5 million stock-based compensation charge as a result of the modification of the exercise period and vesting terms for an equity award held by a former executive as part of his severance arrangements and $3.0 million of legal fees and other expenses associated with our regulatory compliance activities. The increase in general and administrative expenses in the fourth quarter of 2013 from the third quarter of 2013 is primarily due to increased stock-based compensation expense associated with new grants issued in the fourth quarter of 2013 and a $0.6 million increase in legal settlement costs associated with a settlement agreement entered into with a marketing sponsorship partner in November 2013. The increase in general and administrative expenses in the first quarter of 2014 from the fourth quarter of 2013 primarily reflected increased accounting, legal, and professional fees in preparation for this offering and the completion of our 2013 audit during the three months ended March 31, 2014. The increase in general and administrative expenses in the second quarter of 2014 from the first quarter of 2014 is primarily due to a $7.6 million increase in employee related costs primarily due to an increase in stock-based compensation as a result of additional stock-based awards and a liquidity bonus paid to an executive of $2.0 million in connection with our initial public offering.

                The increase in technology and development expenses in the fourth quarter of 2013 from the third quarter of 2013 is primarily due to higher bonus expenses arising from our improved financial results, increase in headcount and an increase in stock-based compensation expense due to


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      additional stock-based awards granted in the fourth quarter of 2013. The increases in technology and development expenses in the first and second quarters of 2014 were primarily due to increase in employee related costs.

                The following table presents a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net loss for each of the periods presented:


       Three Months Ended  Three Months Ended 

       
      Mar. 31,
      2012
       
      Jun. 30,
      2012
       
      Sept. 30,
      2012
       
      Dec. 31,
      2012
       
      Mar. 31,
      2013
       
      Jun. 30,
      2013
       
      Sept. 30,
      2013
       
      Dec. 31,
      2013
       
      Mar. 31,
      2014
        
      Mar. 31,
      2012
       
      Jun. 30,
      2012
       
      Sept. 30,
      2012
       
      Dec. 31,
      2012
       
      Mar. 31,
      2013
       
      Jun. 30,
      2013
       
      Sept. 30,
      2013
       
      Dec. 31,
      2013
       
      Mar. 31,
      2014
       
      Jun. 30,
      2014
       

       (in thousands)
        (in thousands)
       

      Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Loss

                                              

      Net loss

       $(32,021)$(17,907)$(9,965)$(14,602)$(9,023)$(3,802)$(4,611)$(7,620)$(9,921) $(32,021)$(17,907)$(9,965)$(14,602)$(9,023)$(3,802)$(4,611)$(7,620)$(9,921)$(15,034)

      Non-GAAP Adjustments:

                                              

      Interest income

       (121) (38) (34) (36) (32) (29) (30) (30) (17) (121) (38) (34) (36) (32) (29) (30) (30) (17) (10)

      Interest expense

       73 746 1,270 1,270 1,241 510 58 179 170  73 746 1,270 1,270 1,241 510 58 179 170 131 

      Depreciation and amortization

       2,709 2,856 2,795 3,408 3,066 2,868 3,241 2,394 3,114  2,709 2,856 2,795 3,408 3,066 2,868 3,241 2,394 3,114 2,972 

      Stock-based compensation

       5,655 1,340 1,558 1,767 1,573 2,043 1,968 3,762 4,144  5,655 1,340 1,558 1,767 1,573 2,043 1,968 3,762 4,144 7,396 

      IPO-related expenses

                3,717 

      Warrant expense

       2,045 (1,536)  1,481 382 880 1,626 852 2,335  2,045 (1,536)  1,481 382 880 1,626 852 2,335 2,280 

      Change in fair value of contingent consideration

          1,370 24 24 23 24      1,370 24 24 23 24   

      Ticker symbol acquisition costs

               803          803  

      Certain litigation costs(1)

               120 254 

      Provision (benefit) for income taxes

       138 (961) 137 80 137 136 136 170 250  138 (961) 137 80 137 136 136 170 250 67 
                                              

      Adjusted EBITDA(1)

       $(21,522)$(15,500)$(4,239)$(5,262)$(2,632)$2,630 $2,411 $(269)$878 

      Adjusted EBITDA(2)

       $(21,522)$(15,500)$(4,239)$(5,262)$(2,632)$2,630 $2,411 $(269)$998 $1,773 
                                              
                                              

      (1)
      The excluded amounts relate to legal costs incurred in connection with a claim we filed against Sonic Automotive Holdings, Inc. in connection with trademark infringement and related matters. We have not historically excluded these costs from Adjusted EBITDA; however, as we have incurred increasing costs to advance our claim, we believe that their exclusion is appropriate to facilitate period-to-period operating performance comparisons.

      (2)
      Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of our financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income, operating income or any other measures derived in accordance with GAAP. For a definition of Adjusted EBITDA and a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net loss, see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures."

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      Liquidity and Capital Resources

                At March 31,June 30, 2014, our principal sources of liquidity were cash and cash equivalents totaling $42.6 million and $7.0 million of unused borrowing capacity under our $12.0 million revolving credit facility.$111.8 million. Since inception, our operations have been financed primarily by net proceeds from the sales of shares of our capital stock and proceeds from the issuance of indebtedness. At March 31, 2014, we had $5.0 million principal amount of outstanding debt under our revolving line of credit.

                We have incurred cumulative losses of $172.5$187.5 million from our operations through March 31,June 30, 2014, and expect to incur additional losses in the future. We believe that our existing sources of liquidity will be sufficient to fund our operations for at least the next 12 months. However, our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including our rate of revenue growth, the expansion of our sales and marketing activities, and the timing and extent of our spending to support our technology and development efforts. To the extent that existing cash and cash equivalents, and cash from operations are insufficient to fund our future activities, we may need to raise additional funds through public or private equity or debt financing. Additional funds may not be available on terms favorable to us or at all.


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      Credit Facility

                On June 13, 2013, weWe previously entered into an amended and restated loan and security agreementa credit facility (the "Credit Facility") with a financial institution (the "Second Amended Credit Facility"). The Second Amended Credit Facility providesthat provided for advances under a formula-based revolving line of credit which maturesthat expired on June 13, 2014. The

                In August 2014, we amended our Credit Facility, effective as of June 13, 2014, and that facility provides for advances of up to $25.0 million under a formula-based revolving line of credit that expires on June 13, 2016. The Credit Facility provides advances equal to 80% of eligible accounts receivable (the "Borrowing Base") and is subject to sub-limits, as defined, for letters of credit, foreign exchange, and cash management services provided by the financial institution. The maximum amount available under the line of credit is $12.0 million, $7.0 million of which was available under the Credit Facility at March 31, 2014.

                The revolving lineCredit Facility bears interest at a floating per annum rate equal toeither (i) the bank's prime rateLondon Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") plus an applicable margin based on our liquidity, which is2.25% if net cash, as defined, as unrestricted cash plus amounts available under the Amended Credit Facility. If our liquidity is (i) less than $10 million, the applicable margin is 1.75%, (ii) if our liquidity is equal to or greater than $10 million but less than $20 million, the applicable margin is 0.5% and (iii) if our liquidity is greater than or equal to $20 million,$1.00, (ii) LIBOR plus 3.75% if net cash, as defined, is less than $1.00, (iii) the applicable marginbank's prime rate if net cash is 0.0%. The linegreater than or equal to $1.00, or (iv) the bank's prime rate plus 1.5% if net cash is less than $1.00. We can select whether our borrowings will fall under a LIBOR or prime rate interest rate, and we also pay an annual commitment fee of credit agreement requires us$50,000 to make monthly interest payments on the outstanding principal. All unpaid principal is due at maturity.financial institution.

                The Second Amended Credit Facility requires us to maintain an adjusted quick ratio of at least 1.50:1.001.5:1 on the last day of each month. We weremonth, during periods when we have drawn down at least 75% of the lesser of the Borrowing Base or $25 million. The Credit Facility restricts our ability to pay dividends. In the event we are in compliancedefault of the Credit Facility or other indebtedness with other third parties, or have judgments or liens that may have a material adverse effect on our business, the financial institution reserves the right to accelerate the maturity of all outstanding debt associated with the financial covenants at March 31, 2014.

                At March 31, 2014, $5.0 million in principal amount was outstanding under the Second Amended Credit Facility. We expect to either negotiate the extension of the Second Amended Credit Facility prior to its maturity in June 2014 or enter into an alternative credit facility.


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      Cash Flows

                The following table summarizes our cash flows:


        
        
        
       Six Months Ended June 30, 
       Year Ended December 31, 

       Year Ended December 31, Three Months Ended March, 31  2013  
       

       
      2011
       
      2012
       
      2013
       
      2013
       
      2014
        
      2011
       
      2012
       
      2013
       
      2014
       

       (in thousands)
        
        
        (in thousands)
        
        
       

      Consolidated Cash Flow Data:

                            

      Net cash used in operating activities

       
      $

      (11,473

      )

      $

      (32,718

      )

      $

      (3,911

      )

      $

      (8,202

      )

      $

      (2,283

      )
       
      $

      (11,473

      )

      $

      (32,718

      )

      $

      (3,911

      )

      $

      (6,123

      )

      $

      (6,430

      )

      Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

       (37,197) 20,374 (5,483) 779 1,196  (37,197) 20,374 (5,483) (820) (1,439)

      Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

       44,734 22,551 31,151 152 (157) 44,734 22,551 31,151 (1,815) 75,895 
                            

      Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

       $(3,936)$10,207 $21,757 $(7,271)$(1,244) $(3,936)$10,207 $21,757 $(8,758)$68,026 
                            
                            

        Operating Activities

                Our net loss and cash flows used in operating activities are significantly influenced by our investments in headcount and infrastructure to support our growth, and marketing, advertising and sponsorship expenses. Our net loss has been significantly greater than our use of cash for operating activities due to the inclusion of non-cash expenses and charges.

                Cash used in operating activities for the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2014 was $2.3$6.4 million, primarily as a result of our net loss of $9.9$25.0 million and a $2.4$4.4 million use of cash as a result of changes in operating assets and liabilities, which was largely offset by $10.1$22.9 million of non-cash operating expenses. Specifically, we recognized non-cash charges aggregatingThis $4.4 million use of $3.1cash reflected a $6.2 million for depreciation and amortization of intangible assets, capitalized software development costs and property and equipment, including $0.2 million due to the write-off of capitalized software development costs reflected as loss on disposal of fixed assets, $4.1 million for stock-based compensation, and a $2.4 million non-cash charge primarily associated with the vesting of warrants issued to a third party direct marketing firm and an affinity group marketing partner. During the period, we used $2.4 millionincrease in cashaccounts receivable as a result of changesour increased revenues, a $3.3 million increase in operating assetsprepaid expenses primarily associated with our increased media advertising spend, and liabilities. This $2.4 million reflected a $4.9$0.4 million decrease in accrued employee expenses due to the payment of 2013 bonuses during the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2014, a $2.2 million increase in accounts receivable as a result of our increased revenues, a $0.8 million decrease in accounts payable primarily due to the timing of expenses and the related payments, partially offset by an increase of $4.6$4.7 million in other accrued expenses primarily


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      associated with our increased marketing spend and increased legal, accounting and other professional fees in preparation for this offering and the completion of our 2013 audit during the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2014, $0.5 million increase in accounts payable primarily related to affinity partner marketing fees due to increased sales volume, and a $0.6$0.5 million decrease in prepaid expenses primarily associated with the amortizationother current assets relating to payments of our prepaid media advertising spend.current deposits.

                Cash used in operating activities for the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2013 was $8.2$6.1 million, primarily as a result of our net loss of $9.0$12.8 million and a $5.7$6.3 million use of cash as a result of changes in operating assets and liabilities, which was partially offset by $6.5$13.0 million of non-cash operating expenses. Specifically, we recognized non-cash charges aggregating to $3.1This $6.3 million for depreciation and amortizationuse of intangible assets, capitalized software development costs and property and equipment, including $0.3 million due to the write-off of capitalized software development costs reflected as loss on disposal of fixed assets, $1.6 million for stock-based compensation, and a $0.4 million non-cash charge associated with the vesting of warrants issued to a third party direct marketing firm and an affinity group marketing partner. We also incurred an aggregate of $1.2 million in non-cash charges associated with interest on our convertible notes payable prior to their conversion into shares of our common stock and the accretion of the beneficial conversion feature on the convertible notes payable. During the period, we used


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      $5.7 million in cash as a result of changes in operating assets and liabilities. This $5.7 million reflected a $1.9 million increase in prepaid expenses primarily associated with our increased media advertising spend, a $1.6 million decrease in accounts payable primarily associated with the timing of payments, and a $1.5$4.3 million increase in accounts receivable as a result of our increased revenues.revenues, a $3.0 million increase in prepaid expenses primarily associated with our increased sponsorships and media advertising spend, and a $1.0 million decrease in accounts payable primarily associated with timing of payments, partially offset by a $2.5 million increase in accrued employee expenses as a result of accruals for employee bonus payments.

                Cash used in operating activities in 2013 was $3.9 million, primarily as a result of our net loss of $25.1 million and a $6.7 million use of cash as a result of changes in operating assets and liabilities, which was largely offset by $27.9 million of non-cash operating expenses. Specifically, we recognized non-cash charges aggregating of $11.6 million for depreciation and amortization of intangible assets, capitalized software development costs and property and equipment, including $0.7 million due to the write-off of capitalized software development costs reflected as loss on disposal of fixed assets, $9.3 million for stock-based compensation, and a $3.7 million non-cash charge associated with the vesting of warrants issued to a third party direct marketing firm and an affinity group marketing partner. We also incurred an aggregate of $1.9 million in non-cash charges associated with accruing interest related to interest on our convertible notes payable prior to their conversion into shares of our common stock, the accretion of the beneficial conversion feature on the convertible notes payable and the accretion of debt discount on our line of credit, and a $0.6 million increase in deferred income taxes reflecting the amortization of tax deductible goodwill that is not an available source of income to realize deferred tax assets. During the period, we usedThe $6.7 million inuse of cash as a result of changes in operating assets and liabilities. This $6.7 millionliabilities reflected aan $8.2 million increase in accounts receivable as a result of our increased revenues, a $2.0 million increase in prepaid expenses primarily associated with our increased media advertising spend, a decrease of $2.1$1.2 million in accrued expenses primarily associated with the modification of the marketing arrangement with Yahoo! in 2012, partially offset by a $4.0 million increase in accrued employee expenses due to an increase in accrued bonuses driven by our improved financial results, and a $2.3$1.4 million increase in accounts payable associated with the growth in our business.

                Cash used in operating activities in 2012 was $32.7 million, primarily as a result of our net loss of $74.5 million, which was partially offset by $29.1 million of non-cash operating expenses and $12.7 million of net cash flows provided through changes in our operating assets and liabilities. Specifically, we recognized non-cash chargesThe $12.7 million use of $10.3 million for stock-based compensation, including a $4.5 million stock-based compensation charge in March 2012cash as a result of the modification of an equity award held by a former executive as part of his severance arrangements and $11.8 million for depreciation and amortization of intangible assets, capitalized software development costs and property and equipment, including $1.5 million related to losses on the write-off of capitalized software development costs. We also had a non-cash charge of $3.3 million due to interest expense on the convertible notes payable and accretion of the beneficial conversion feature on the convertible notes payable, a $2.0 million non-cash charge associated with the vesting of warrants issued to an affinity group marketing partner and a marketing partner, $1.4 million related to the increase in the fair value of our contingent consideration liability associated with our acquisition of Carperks, and $0.7 million of bad debt expense associated with the dealer attrition we experienced in the first half of 2012 offset in part by a $0.6 million deferred tax benefit primarily associated with the conversion feature in our convertible note issued in May 2012. During the period, we recognized changes in operating assets and liabilities which provided $12.7 million of cash from operating activities. Of this $12.7 million,reflected $10.0 million was associated with the release of a deposit with Yahoo! upon the modification of our marketing arrangement. Changes in our operating assets and liabilities were also affected by a $4.1$2.7 million increase in accrued expenses primarily due to increases in accrued marketing expenses associated with our increased television and online marketing spend, a $2.5 million decrease in accounts receivable reflecting the dealer attrition we experienced in the first half of 2012, which was partially offset by a $3.5$2.1 million decrease in accounts payable due to our cost cutting initiatives.


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                Cash used in operating activities in 2011 was $11.5 million, primarily as a result of our net loss of $8.9 million and $6.0 million of cash used in changes in certain of our operating assets and liabilities, partially offset by an aggregate of $3.5 million in non-cash operating expenses. Specifically, we recognized non-cash charges of $6.2 million for stock-based compensation, $4.1 million for depreciation and amortization of intangible assets, capitalized software development costs and property and equipment, $2.1 million associated with the vesting of warrants issued to an affinity group marketing partner and a marketing partner, and $1.9 million related to the increase in fair value of the preferred stock warrant liability. These non-cash operating expenses were partially offset by a $10.7 million non-cash income tax benefit as a result of our partial release of our valuation allowance related to our deferred tax assets in connection with the acquisition of ALG and $0.6 million of premiums incurred for investments. During the period, we also usedThe $6.0 million inuse of cash as a result of changes in operating assets and liabilities. Of this $6.0 million,liabilities reflected a $10.2 million reflected a deposit in connection with the establishment of a marketing arrangement with Yahoo!, an $8.2 million increase in accounts receivable reflecting our substantially increased revenue in 2011 as compared to 2010, and an increase in prepaid expenses of $0.7 million primarily associated with our media advertising, which were partially offset by an increase of $7.9$8.0 million in accounts payable, an increase of $2.7 million in accrued employee expenses, and an increase of $2.6$2.5 million in accrued expenses, all associated with the growth in our business, increases in headcount and the acquisition of ALG.

        Investing Activities

                Our investing activities consist primarily of capital expenditures for capitalized software development costs and property and equipment, purchase of marketable securities, the acquisition


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      of other business entities and assets, and changes in restricted cash requirements associated with our marketing arrangement with Yahoo! which was modified in 2012.

                Cash provided byused in investing activities of $1.2$1.4 million for the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2014 primarily resulted from $3.8 million of repayments on notes receivable from related parties, which were partially offset by investments in capitalized software development and property and equipment of $2.2 million.$4.8 million and a purchase of $0.4 million of intangible assets relating to website purchases, which was partially offset by $3.8 million of repayments on notes receivable from related parties.

                Cash provided byused in investing activities of $0.8 million for the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2013 primarily resulted from the release of $2.2 million of restricted cash under our modified marketing arrangement with Yahoo! which was partially offset by the investment in capitalized software development and property and equipment of $1.4 million.$3.3 million which was partially offset by the release of $2.5 million of restricted cash under our modified marketing arrangement with Yahoo!

                Cash used in investing activities of $5.5 million in 2013 primarily resulted from the investment in capitalized software development and property and equipment of $8.4 million which was partially offset by the release of $2.5 million in restricted cash under our modified marketing arrangement with Yahoo!, and $0.4 million of payments on notes receivable from related parties.

                Cash provided by investing activities of $20.4 million in 2012 resulted from the sale of short-term marketable securities of $31.1 million, which was partially offset by $6.2 million for the investment in capitalized software development and purchase of property and equipment, and an increase in restricted cash requirements of $4.5 million in connection with the modification of a marketing arrangement with Yahoo! in June 2012.

                Cash used in investing activities of $37.2 million in 2011 primarily related to the purchase of short-term marketable securities of $31.5 million and investment in capitalized software development and purchase of property and equipment of $12.8 million. These cash investments were partially offset by $6.1 million in cash acquired in connection with our acquisition of ALG and $1.0 million in proceeds from the sale of short-term investments.


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        Financing Activities

                Cash used inprovided by financing activities of $0.2$75.9 million for the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2014 reflects $0.7$69.7 million for payments of costs related to thisproceeds from our initial public offering, which were largely offset by$9.5 million of proceeds from the exercise of warrants and $1.8 million of proceeds from the exercise of stock options, which was partially offset by the repayment of $0.6 million.$5.0 million outstanding under our Credit Facility in May 2014.

                Cash provided byused in financing activities of $1.8 million for threesix months ended March 31, 2013 consists entirelyJune 30, 2014 primarily resulted from the repurchase of $2.0 million of vested option awards which was partially offset by $0.2 million in proceeds from the exercise of stock options.

                Cash provided by financing activities of $31.2 million in 2013 reflects net proceeds of $29.9 million from the issuance of 2,857,143 shares of Series A Preferred Stock in a private placement, and $5.0 million from a draw down under our Credit Facility. These increases were partially offset by a $2.0 million repurchase of vested option awards pursuant to a settlement agreement entered into with a former executive, a $1.0 million repurchase of outstanding common stock pursuant to an employment agreement with our Chief Executive Officer, $0.6 million for payments of costs related to this offering, and $0.4 million of payments of contingent consideration related to the Carperks acquisition. The remaining contingent consideration related to the Carperks acquisition of $1.9 million was paid in 2013. Of this total, $0.4 million was part of the estimated purchase price and has been classified as a financing cash out flow. The additional $1.5 million has been classified as an operating cash outflow (Seeoutflow. See Note 2 of the consolidated financial statements).statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.


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                Cash provided by financing activities of $22.6 million in 2012 reflects net proceeds of $23.1 million from the issuance of convertible notes in May 2012, and $1.0 million of cash proceeds associated with the issuance of shares of our common stock upon exercise of common stock warrants and common stock options, which was partially offset by cash used in the repurchase of shares of our common stock in the amount of $1.6 million under the terms of employment agreements with certain of our current and former executives.

                Cash provided by financing activities of $44.7 million in 2011 reflects net proceeds of $54.1 million from the issuance of shares of our common stock beginning in August 2011, proceeds from the sale of common stock of $3.0 million, proceeds from the issuance of notes payable of $2.0 million, and proceeds from the exercise of stock options of $0.5 million, which was partially offset by cash used for the repurchase of shares of our common stock in the amount of $14.9 million pursuant to certain commitments from existing investors to resell shares to us.

      Contractual Obligations and Known Future Cash Requirements

      Contractual Obligations

                Set forth below is information concerning our known contractual obligations at December 31, 2013 that are fixed and determinable.

       
       
      Total
       
      Less Than
      1 Year
       
      1 - 3 Years
       
      3 - 5 Years
       
      More Than
      5 Years
       
       
       (in thousands)
       

      Credit facility(1)

       $5,132 $5,132 $ $ $ 

      Sponsorship marketing agreements(2)

        1,600  800  800     

      Operating Leases(3)

        14,456  2,435  4,899  4,002  3,120 
                  

      Total

       $21,188 $8,367 $5,699 $4,002 $3,120 
                  
                  

      (1)
      Credit facility includes principal amount and expected interest due under our Credit Facility as described in Note 7 of our consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.


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      (2)
      Future commitments associated with our marketing sponsorship agreements.

      (3)
      Operating leases include total future minimum rent payments under non-cancelable operating lease agreements as described in Note 8 of our consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.

                Not includedIn May 2014, we entered into a new facility lease in San Francisco that will increase our total future minimum lease commitments over the next 10 years, beginning August 1, 2014 by $7.0 million. In conjunction with this Lease, the Company was required to obtain an irrevocable standby letter of credit in the table above are cash bonus payments totaling $2.9amount of $0.8 million duefor the benefit of the landlord. Beginning August 1, 2017 through August 1, 2020, the letter of credit is subject to certainan annual reduction to as little as $0.2 million.

                In July 2014, we entered into a new facility lease in Santa Monica that will increase our total future minimum lease commitments over the next fifteen years, beginning in January 2015, by $36.3 million. In connection with this lease, we obtained an irrevocable standby letter of credit in the amount of $3.5 million for the benefit of the landlord. Beginning October 1, 2019 through October 1, 2025, the letter of credit is subject to an annual reduction to as little as $1.2 million. Refer to Note 8 of our executives upon the eventconsolidated financial statements for additional information regarding our lease commitments.


      Table of an IPO pursuant to their employment agreements. See "Executive Compensation — Executive Employment Arrangements" for more information about these arrangements.Contents

      Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

                We do not engage in transactions that generate relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, as part of our ongoing business. Accordingly, our operating results, financial condition and cash flows are not subject to off-balance sheet risks.

      Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

                Market risk represents the risk of loss that may affect our financial position due to adverse changes in financial market prices and rates. We are exposed to market risks related to changes in interest rates.

      Interest Rate Risk

                We had cash and cash equivalents of $42.6$111.8 million at March 31,June 30, 2014, which consists entirely of bank deposits. Such interest-earning instruments carry a degree of interest rate risk. To date, fluctuations in interest income have not been significant. We also had total outstanding debt of $4.9 million at March 31, 2014 which is all due within 12 months. Amounts outstanding under our Credit Facility carry variable interest rates ranging from the prime rate to the prime rate plus 1.75%. At March 31, 2014, the applicable prime rate was 3.25%.

                We do not enter into investments for trading or speculative purposes and have not used any derivative financial instruments to manage our interest rate risk exposure. Although our Credit Facility has a variable interest rate, a hypothetical 10% change in interest rates during any of the periods presented would not have had a material impact on our financial statements.

                We do not enter into investments for trading or speculative purposes.          We believe that we do not have anya material exposure to changes in the fair value as a result of changes in interest rates.

      Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

                Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, expenses and related disclosures. We evaluate our estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis. Our estimates are based on historical experience and various other assumptions on an ongoing basis and that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Our actual results could differ from these estimates.

                We believe that the assumptions and estimates associated with revenue recognition, sales allowances and allowances for doubtful accounts, the fair value of assets and liabilities assumed in business combinations, the recoverability of goodwill and long-lived assets, valuation allowances with respect to deferred tax assets, useful lives associated with property and equipment and


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      intangible assets, the expensing and capitalization of product development costs, contingencies and the valuation and assumptions underlying stock-based compensation and other equity instruments have the greatest potential impact on our consolidated financial statements. Therefore, we consider these to be our critical accounting policies and estimates. For further information on all of our significant accounting policies, see Note 1 of our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.

      Revenue Recognition

                We recognize revenue when all of the following criteria have been met:

        Persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists.

        Delivery has occurred or services have been rendered.

        The fees are fixed or determinable.



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          Collectability is reasonably assured. We assess collectability based primarily on the creditworthiness of the customer as determined by credit checks and analysis, as well as the customer's payment history.

                  Deferred revenue is recognized on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets when payments are received in advance of us meeting all of the revenue recognition criteria described above.

        Transaction Revenue

                  We recognize revenue for fee arrangements based on a per vehicle basis when the vehicle sale has occurred between the automotive buying website program user and dealer. Under the contractual terms and conditions with our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers, the dealer is required to pay us upon the sale of a vehicle to a user that has been provided to the dealer by us. Revenue recognition is not contingent on verification or acceptance of the transaction by the dealer.

                  Upon a user deciding to proceed with the user's vehicle purchase through us, the user provides his or her name, address, e-mail, and phone number during the process of obtaining a Guaranteed Savings Certificate, which gives us the identity and source of a TrueCar lead provided to a specific dealer prior to an actual sale occurring. After a sale occurs, we receive real-time information regarding the sale, including the identity of the purchaser, via the dealer management system used by the dealer that made the sale. To the extent that a sale is not matched via comparison of user information we have to sale information provided by the dealer management system, we also establish matches via one or more of the over 20 different data feeds provided to the Company by third party data aggregators, loan and insurance files provided by our affinity group marketing partners and other publicly available sources. This process often results in overlapping sales matches between a dealer management system and multiple data feeds, resulting in a high degree of certainty with respect to our ability to identify user leads that we provide to the dealers. This data is also used to invoice dealers shortly after the completion of the sales transactions. As a result of the various data sources available to us, it is unusual for us to have difficulty in reconciling leads provided to our network of dealers to actual vehicle sales under our platform.

                  Revenue is recognized net of estimated sales allowances. We establish sales allowances at the time of revenue recognition based on our history of adjustments and credits provided to our TrueCar Certified Dealers. Sales allowances relate primarily to credits issued where a dealer claims that an introduction was previously identified by the dealer from a source other than us. While the dealer is contractually obligated to pay the invoice, we may issue a credit against the invoice to


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        maintain overall dealer relations. In assessing the adequacy of the sales allowance, we evaluate our history of adjustments and credits made through the date of the issuance of the financial statements. While estimated sales adjustments and credits and ultimate losses may vary from actual results, and could be material to the financial statements, actual sales allowances have been materially consistent with our estimates.

                  We also recognize revenue from dealers under subscription arrangements. Subscription fee arrangements are short-term in nature with terms ranging from one to three months and are cancellable by the dealer or us at any time. Subscription arrangements fall into three types: flat rate subscriptions, subscriptions subject to downward adjustment based on a minimum number of vehicle sales ("guaranteed sales") and subscriptions subject to downward adjustment based on a minimum number of introductions ("guaranteed introductions"). Under flat rate subscription arrangements, fees are charged at a monthly flat rate regardless of the number of sales made to users of our platform by the dealer. For flat rate subscription arrangements, we recognize the fees as revenue over the subscription period on a straight line basis which corresponds to the period


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        that we are providing the dealer with access to our platform. Under guaranteed sales subscription arrangements fees are charged based on the number of guaranteed sales multiplied by a fixed amount per vehicle. To the extent that the actual number of vehicles sold by the dealers to users of our platform is less than the number of guaranteed sales, we provide a credit to the dealer. To the extent that the actual number of vehicles sold exceeds the number of guaranteed sales, we are not entitled to any additional fees. Under guaranteed introductions subscription arrangements, fees are charged based on the number of guaranteed introductions multiplied by a fixed amount per introduction. To the extent that the number of actual introductions is less than the number of guaranteed introductions, we provide a credit to the dealer. To the extent that the actual number of introductions provided exceeds the number guaranteed, we are not entitled to any additional fees. For guaranteed sales and guaranteed introductions subscription arrangements, we recognize revenue based on the lesser of (i) the actual number of sales generated or introductions delivered through our platform during the subscription period multiplied by the contracted price per sale/introduction or (ii) the straight-line of the subscription fee over the period over which the services are delivered.

                  In addition, some automobile manufacturers promote the sale of their vehicles through the offering of additional consumer incentives to members of our affinity group marketing partners. These manufacturers pay a per-vehicle fee to us for promotion of the incentive and we recognize as revenue the per-vehicle incentive fee at the time the sale of the vehicle has occurred between the Automotive Website Program user and the dealer.

        Data and Other Revenue

                  We also derive revenue from providing data and consulting services to the automotive and financial services industries. Additional revenue sources include lead referral fees, advertising fees earned from display advertisements on the TrueCar.com website, and data licensing fees earned for licensing certain proprietary data to third parties. We generally recognize revenue upon delivery of such services.

                  Sales of data and consulting services may include multiple deliverables including sale of lease residual data, guidebooks and consulting services. We therefore recognize revenues for these arrangements in accordance with ASC 605-25,Revenue Recognition — Multiple-Element Arrangements ("ASC 605-25"). ASC 605-25 was updated by Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2009-13,Revenue Recognition (Topic 605) — Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements — a Consensus of the Emerging Issues Task Force ("ASU 2009-13").


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                  For multiple deliverable revenue arrangements, we first assess whether each deliverable has value to the customer on a standalone basis and performance is considered probable and substantially in our control. Data and consulting services are sold both on a standalone basis and as part of multiple deliverable arrangements. Accordingly, the services have standalone value to the customer. Based on that standalone value of the deliverables, we allocate our revenues among the separate deliverables in the arrangement using the relative selling price method hierarchy established in ASU 2009-13. This hierarchy requires the selling price of each deliverable in a multiple deliverable revenue arrangement to be based on, in descending order: (i) vendor-specific objective evidence, or VSOE, (ii) third-party evidence of selling price, or TPE, or (iii) management's best estimated selling price, or BESP.

                  We have not established VSOE or TPE for our data and consulting services because the deliverables are not sold separately within a sufficiently narrow price range or third party pricing for comparable services is not available; therefore, we apply judgment to determine BESP. The objective of BESP is to determine the price at which we would transact a sale if the service were sold on a stand-alone basis. The determination of BESP requires us to make significant estimates


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        and judgments and we consider numerous factors in this determination, including the nature of the deliverables, market conditions and our competitive landscape, internal costs, and our pricing and discounting practices associated with actual transactions. We update our estimates of BESP on a periodic basis as events and as circumstances may require.

                  Revenue from the sale of lease residual value data and guidebooks is recognized in the period that the data or report is delivered. Revenue in connection with consulting services is recognized in the period the report is completed and delivered to the customer.

        Allowances for Doubtful Accounts

                  We determine our allowance for doubtful accounts based on our historical write-off experience and when specific circumstances make it likely that recovery will not occur. We review the allowance for doubtful accounts periodically and assesses the aging of account balances, with an emphasis on those that are past due over ninety days. Account balances are charged off against the allowance when we determine that it is probable the receivable will not be recovered.

        Business Combinations

                  The results of businesses acquired in a business combination are included in our consolidated financial statements from the date of the acquisition. Purchase accounting results in assets and liabilities of an acquired business being recorded at their estimated fair values on the acquisition date. Any excess consideration over the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed is recognized as goodwill.

                  We perform valuations of assets acquired and liabilities assumed for an acquisition and allocate the purchase price to the respective net tangible and intangible assets. Determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed requires management to use significant judgment and estimates including the selection of valuation methodologies, estimates of future revenues and cash flows and discount rates. We engage the assistance of valuation specialists in arriving at fair value measurements in connection with fair values of assets and liabilities assumed in a business combination.

                  Transaction costs associated with business combinations are expensed as incurred, and are included in general and administrative expenses in our consolidated statement of comprehensive loss.


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        Goodwill

                  Goodwill represents the excess of the aggregate purchase price paid over the fair value of the net tangible assets acquired in our business combinations. Goodwill is not amortized and is tested for impairment at least annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Events or changes in circumstances which could trigger an impairment review include a significant adverse change in business climate, an adverse action or assessment by a regulator, unanticipated competition, a loss of key personnel, significant changes in the manner of our use of the acquired assets or the strategy for our overall business, significant negative industry or economic trends, or significant underperformance relative to expected historical or projected future results of operations.

                  We have the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If, after assessing the totality of events or circumstances, we determine it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then additional impairment testing is not required. However, if we


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        conclude otherwise, then we are required to perform the first of a two-step impairment test. Alternatively, we may elect to proceed directly to the first of a two-step impairment test and bypass the qualitative assessment.

                  The first step involves comparing the estimated fair value of a reporting unit with its respective book value, including goodwill. If the estimated fair value exceeds book value, goodwill is considered not to be impaired and no additional steps are necessary. If, however, the fair value of the reporting unit is less than book value, then the carrying amount of the goodwill is compared with its implied fair value. The estimate of implied fair value of goodwill may require valuations of certain internally generated and unrecognized intangible assets. If the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of that goodwill, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to the excess. We test for goodwill impairment annually at December 31. During the years ended December 31, 2011, 2012 and 2013, there were no impairment charges recorded on our goodwill. We performed a qualitative goodwill assessment at December 31, 2013 and concluded there was no impairment based on a number of factors considered, including the improvement in key operating metrics over the prior year, valuation analysis performed in the determination of the fair value of our common stock in connection with the granting of stock-based compensation awards during 2013, our valuation as implied by the issuance of the Series A Preferred Stock in November 2013, overall improvement in the strength of the automotive industry and general economy, and continued execution against our overall strategic objectives. The fair value of reporting units which include goodwill exceeded their carrying value by a significant margin during each reporting period.

        Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

                  We assess the impairment of long-lived assets, consisting primarily of property and equipment and intangible assets resulting from business combinations, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured first by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to the future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the assets. If such assets are considered to be impaired, an impairment loss equal to the excess of the asset's carrying value over its fair value is recorded. When measuring the recoverability of these assets, we make assumptions regarding our estimated future cash flows expected to be generated by the assets. If our estimates or related assumptions change in the future, we may be required to impair these assets. We have not recognized any impairment of long-lived assets to date.


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        Software and Website Development Costs

                  Costs incurred in the preliminary project and post-implementation stages of development and maintenance of our platform are expensed as incurred. Certain costs incurred in the application development stage of a new product or projects to provide significant additional functionality to existing products are capitalized if certain criteria are met. Maintenance and enhancement costs are typically expensed as incurred. Such costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, which was estimated to be three years. Amortization expense is included in depreciation and amortization in the statements of comprehensive loss.

        Stock-Based Compensation

                  We recognize stock-based compensation expense for stock-based compensation awards granted to our employees, consultants and other service providers that can be settled in shares of our common stock. For a further description of our benefit plans and compensatory arrangements with our named executive officers, see the section titled "Executive Compensation — Benefit Plans."


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                  Compensation expense for stock-based compensation awards granted is based on the grant date fair value estimate for each award as determined by our board of directors or the compensation committee of our board of directors. We recognize these compensation costs on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award, which is generally four years. As stock-based compensation expense recognized is based on awards ultimately expected to vest, such expense is reduced for estimated forfeitures. Stock-based compensation expense for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2012 and 2013 was $6.2 million, $10.3 million and $9.3 million, respectively. Stock-based compensation expense for the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2013 and 2014 was $1.6$3.6 million and $4.1$11.5 million, respectively.

                  At March 31,June 30, 2014 there was approximately $35.9$73.3 million of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to non-vested stock-based compensation awards that we expect to be recognized over a weighted average vesting period of 3.1 years.

                  We estimate the fair value of stock-based compensation awards at the date of grant applying the Black-Scholes option pricing model, which was developed for use in estimating the value of traded options that have no vesting restrictions and are freely transferable. The fair values generated by the model may not be indicative of the actual fair values of our awards as it does not consider other factors important to those share-based payment awards, such as continued employment, periodic vesting requirements and limited transferability. The fair value of awards granted during the years ended December 31, 2011, 2012 and 2013 and the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2013 and 2014 was calculated using the following weighted average assumptions:


          
          
          
         Three Months Ended March 31,   
          
          
         Six Months Ended June 30, 

         Year Ended
        December 31,
          Year Ended
        December 31,
         

         2013 2014  2013 2014 

         
        2011
         
        2012
         
        2013
          
        2011
         
        2012
         
        2013
         

        Risk-free interest rate

         2.04% 0.96% 1.41% 1.11% 1.81% 2.04% 0.96% 1.41% 1.10% 1.95%

        Expected term (years)

         6.01 6.00 6.06 6.08% 5.96% 6.01 6.00 6.06 6.07 6.26 

        Expected volatility

         48% 60% 61% 64% 59% 48% 60% 61% 63% 58%

        Dividend yield

                    

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                  The Black-Scholes option-pricing model requires the use of highly subjective assumptions, including the expected term and the price volatility of the underlying stock, which are key inputs in the determination of the fair value of stock-based awards. These assumptions include:

          Risk-free interest rate.  The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for zero coupon U.S. Treasury notes with maturities approximately equal to the expected term of the options;

          Expected term.  The expected term represents the period that the stock-based compensation awards are expected to be outstanding. We estimate the expected term of the options based historical data on our employee exercises and post-vesting employment termination behavior taking into account the contractual life of the options;

          Expected volatility.  The expected volatility is derived from the historical stock volatilities of several comparable publicly listed peers over a period approximately equal to the expected term of the options. We use this method because we have limited information on the volatility of our common stock since we have no trading history. When making the selections of our comparable industry peers to be used in the volatility calculation, we considered the size, operational and economic similarities to our principal business operations; and

          Dividend yield.  The expected dividend yield is assumed to be zero as we have never paid dividends and have no current plans to pay any dividends on our common stock.

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                  In addition to the assumptions used in the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, we must also estimate a forfeiture rate to calculate the stock-based compensation for our awards. Our forfeiture rate is based upon an analysis of our actual forfeitures. We will continue to evaluate the appropriateness of the forfeiture rate based on actual forfeiture experience, analysis of employee turnover, and other factors. Quarterly changes in the estimated forfeiture rate can have a significant impact on our stock-based compensation expense as the cumulative effect of adjusting the rate is recognized in the period the forfeiture estimate changed. If a revised forfeiture rate is higher than the previously estimated forfeiture rate, an adjustment is made that will result in a decrease to the stock-based compensation expense recognized in our financial statements. If a revised forfeiture rate is lower than the previously estimated forfeiture rate, an adjustment is made that will result in an increase to the stock-based compensation expense recognized in our financial statements.

                  We will continue to use judgment in evaluating the expected volatility, expected terms, and forfeiture rates utilized for our stock-based compensation calculations on a prospective basis. As we continue to accumulate additional data related to our common stock, we may have refinements to the estimates of our expected volatility, expected term, and forfeiture rate assumptions, which could materially impact our future stock-based compensation expense.

                  We are also required          Prior to estimate the fair value of thedate our common stock underlying our stock-based awards when performingbegan trading on The NASDAQ Global Select Market, the fair value calculations under the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The fair value of the common stock underlying our stock-based awards was determined on each grant date by our board of directors, with input from management. Our board of directors is comprised of employee and non-employee directors with significant experience investing in and operating companies in the automobile, insurance and technology industries. As such, we believe that our board of directors has the relevant experience and expertise to determine the fair market value of our common stock had been approved by the board of directors at each grant date based on each respective grant date. Given the absencea variety of a public trading market forfactors, including periodic valuations of our common stock, our financial position, historical financial performance, projected financial performance, valuations of publicly traded peer companies arm's-length sales of our common stock, and in accordance with the American Instituteilliquid nature of Certified Public Accountants Practice Guide,Valuation of Privately-Held-Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation,common stock. Since our board of directors exercised reasonable judgment and considered numerous objective and subjective factors toinitial public offering, we determine the fair value of our common stock including:

          valuations performed by unrelated third party specialists;

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          actual operating and financial performance;

          present value of forecasted future cash flows;

          more recently, the likelihood of achieving a liquidity event, such as an initial public offering or a sale of our company given prevailing market conditions and the nature and history of our business;

          illiquidity of stock-based awards involving securities in a private company such as ours;

          experience of our management team;

          market multiples of comparable companies in our industry;

          our stage of development;

          industry information such as market size and growth and our competitive position in the market;

          sales and purchases of our preferred stock and common stock; and

          macroeconomic conditions.

                  The independent valuations performed by unrelated third-party specialists were just one factor used by our board of directors to assist with the valuation of the common stock and our management and board of directors have assumed full responsibility for the estimates. Our board of directors generally utilized the fair values of the common stock derived in the third-party valuations in determining the exercise price for options granted.

                  In valuing our common stock, our board of directors considered two valuation approaches to determine the equity value of our business for valuations prior to August 2013, an income approach and a market approach. In valuing our common stock at August 31, 2013 and subsequently, a probability weighted expected return model, or PWERM, was utilized. Each of these valuation approaches is described more fully below.

                  The income approach estimates the fair value of a company based on the present value of our forecast cash flows and our residual value beyond the forecast period. These future values are discounted to their present values to reflect the risks inherent in our achieving these estimated cash flows.closing price as quoted on The discount rates used in our valuation were based primarily on benchmark venture capital studies of discount rates for other companies in our stage of development, considered along with industry based weighted average cost of capital rates. Other significant inputs of the income approach (in addition to our estimated future cash flows themselves) include but are not limited to assumed working capital requirements, the long-term growth rate assumed in the residual value and normalized long-term operating margin.

                  The market approach estimates the fair value of a company by applying market multiples of comparable publicly traded companies in the same industry or similar lines of business. More specifically, we selected our comparable publicly traded companies by analyzing various factors, including, but not limited to, industry similarity, financial risk, company size, geographic diversification, profitability, the availability of adequate financial data, and whether or not they had an actively traded stock price. We deemed multiples of revenue to be the most relevant in our industry as we are still in a relatively high growth phase, and thus have not reached normalized profitability or generated positive historical profit thus making the application of profit based multiples not possible or less reliable.

                  The PWERM approach estimates the fair value of a company based upon an analysis of future values for the enterprise assuming various possible outcomes. The estimated fair value of our common stock value is based on the probability weighted present value of expected future returns


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        considering likely future scenarios available to the enterprise. Applying a PWERM approach results in a fair valueNASDAQ Global Select Market of our common stock on a fully marketable basis. A marketability discount based upon empirical evidence from sources incorporating studies of companies similar to ours is then applied, yielding a fair value of common stock on a non-marketable basis.

                  The following table summarizes information for all stock andthe stock option awards since July 1, 2012:

        Grant Date
         
        Shares
        Underlying
        Options
         
        Exercise
        Price Per
        Share
         
        Fair Value
        per Share
        of Common
        Stock at
        Grant Date
         

        August 31, 2012

          1,091,980 $8.00 $8.00 

        November 28, 2012

          182,327 $8.00 $8.00 

        February 22, 2013

          1,210,240 $7.92 $7.92 

        May 2, 2013

          682,969 $7.92 $7.92 

        June 6, 2013

          308,912 $7.92 $7.92 

        June 26, 2013

          180,876 $7.92 $7.92 

        October 16, 2013

          633,478 $8.88 $8.88 

        October 22, 2013

          1,800,114 $8.88 $8.88 

        November 21, 2013

          377,441 $8.90 $8.90 

        January 28, 2014

          112,422 $8.90 $8.90 

        February 7, 2014

          1,390,811 $9.26 $9.26 

        February 28, 2014

          1,590,162 $9.26 $9.26 

        April 17, 2014

          444,444 $30.00 $12.81 

        April 17, 2014

          444,444 $45.00 $12.81 

        April 17, 2014

          444,444 $60.00 $12.81 

        May 1, 2014

          802,353 $12.81 $12.81 

        May 2, 2014

          3,578,652 $12.81 $12.81 

        May 15, 2014

          1,400,806 $12.81 $12.81 

                  In addition to the stock options presented in the table above, on May 15, 2014 we granted 720,146 shares of common stock subject to RSUs at a grant date fair value of $12.81 per share.

                  No single event caused the valuation of our common stock to increase through December 2013. Instead, a combination of the following factors led to the changes in the fair value of the underlying common stock as determined by our board of directors. The increase was primarily attributable to business developments during this intervening period. Specifically, the number of approved sales, monthly unique visitors, TrueCar Certified Dealers in our network, affinity group marketing partners, and revenue were increasing during this period and we achieved positive Adjusted EBITDA for each of the second and third quarters of 2013. In addition to the increase as a result of business developments, the increase was a result of our progress towards an initial public offering, including discussions with prospective underwriters and an organizational meeting in October 2013. In addition, the global economies as well as the stock markets, including the market for initial public offerings, improved through the second half of 2013. We also took into consideration the sale of Series A Preferred Stock and common stock warrants to new investors in November 2013 at a price per share of $10.50.

                  To assist our board of directors with the determinations of the exercise price for our stock options and the fair value of the common stock underlying the options, we obtained third-party valuations of our common stock at June 30, 2012, December 31, 2012, August 31, 2013, November 15, 2013 and January 31, 2014. An analysis of our valuations and determinations of the


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        exercise price and the fair value of the underlying common stock for our stock-based awards granted on or between the respective valuation dates are discussed further below.

                  August and November 2012 Grants.    We obtained an independent third-party valuation of our common stock at June 30, 2012. This valuation applied both an income approach and a market approach and weighted each of these valuation approaches at 50% of the overall valuation. The income approach utilized a five-year cash flow forecast as the primary method for determining our enterprise value and applied a discount rate of 55.0%. This discount rate was based upon benchmark venture capital studies of required rates of return for investment in companies at similar stages of development as well as an analysis of weighted average costs of capital of comparable companies using a capital asset pricing model. The market approach was developed by applying revenue market multiples of comparable companies to our forecast revenue for each of 2012 with a 25% weighting, 2013 with a 50% weighting, and 2014 with a 25% weighting.

                  After a consideration of this valuation, our board of directors determined the fair value of our common stock to be $8.00 per share at each of August 31, 2012 and November 28, 2012 and granted stock options with an exercise price of $8.00 per share at each of these dates. In connection with each such determination, our board of directors determined that there were no material changes in our business since June 30, 2012, or in the assumptions upon which the valuation was based, that affected the fair value of our common stock.

                  February, May and June 2013 Grants.    We obtained an independent third-party valuation of our common stock at December 31, 2012. This valuation applied both an income approach and a market approach and weighted each of these valuation approaches at 50% of the overall valuation. The income approach utilized a five-year cash flow forecasted as the primary method for determining our enterprise value and applied a discount rate of 35.0%. The discount rate was reduced from the prior valuation to reflect the adjusted risk associated with our revised lower cash flow forecast, which considered the full year loss incurred during 2012 and a revision of our outlook for future periods. The market approach was developed by applying revenue market multiples of comparable companies to our forecast revenue for each of 2013 with a 25% weighting, 2014 with a 50% weighting, and 2015 with a 25% weighting.

                  After a consideration of this valuation, our board of directors determined the fair value of our common stock to be $7.92 per share at each of February 22, 2013, May 2, 2013 and June 6, 2013 and granted stock options with an exercise price of $7.92 per share at each of these dates. In connection with each such determination, our board of directors determined that there were no material changes in our business since December 31, 2012, or in the assumptions upon which the valuation was based, that affected the fair value of our common stock.

                  October 2013 Grants.    We obtained an independent third-party valuation of our common stock at August 31, 2013. Given our continued growth and improving operational metrics, the probability weighted expected return method, or PWERM, was utilized as the most appropriate method for valuing our common stock at that time. In applying the PWERM, a 40% probability was placed on the likelihood of an initial public offering within year 1, a 15% probability was placed on the likelihood of an initial public offering in year 2, a 10% probability was placed on the likelihood of a sale, a 5% probability was placed on the likelihood of a dissolution, and a 30% probability was placed on the likelihood of our continuing as a private company. The fair value was then discounted for lack of marketability by 20%. The increase in the value from the December 31, 2012 valuation principally reflected our business outlook for the balance of 2013 and for 2014. In addition, the increase was a result of our progress towards an initial public offering, including discussions with prospective underwriters and an organizational meeting in October 2013.


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                  After a consideration of this valuation, our board of directors determined the fair value of our common stock to be $8.88 per share at October 16, 2013 and granted stock options with an exercise price of $8.88 per share at this date. In connection with such determination, our board of directors determined that there were no material changes in our business since August 31, 2013, or in the assumptions upon which the valuation was based, that affected the fair value of our common stock.

                  November 2013 and January 2014 Grants.    We obtained an independent third-party valuation of our common stock at November 15, 2013. Given our continued growth and improving operational metrics, the PWERM was utilized as the most appropriate method for valuing our common stock at that time. In applying the PWERM, a 50% probability was placed on the likelihood of an initial public offering within year 1, a 15% probability was placed on the likelihood of an initial public offering in year 2, a 5% probability was placed on the likelihood of a sale, a 2.5% probability was placed on the likelihood of a dissolution, and a 27.5% probability was placed on the likelihood of our continuing as a private company. The fair value was then discounted for lack of marketability by 20%. The small increase in the value from the prior valuation was primarily due to a 10% increase of the likelihood of an initial public offering in year 1, driven by continued progress towards an initial public offering based on activities with our underwriters. This increase in value was primarily offset by expected dilution of our common stock due to our sale of an aggregate of 2,857,143 shares of Series A Preferred Stock in a private placement at a price of $10.50 per share on November 22, 2013. The Series A Preferred Stock price of $10.50 per share received from new investors was also utilized as an objective data point in assessing the reasonableness of the fair value of our common stock in November 2013, including consideration of preferred stock preferences not available to holders of our common stock and common stock warrant coverage received by purchasers of the Series A Preferred Stock. See Note 9 of the financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for further information related to the private placement.

                  After a consideration of this valuation, our board of directors determined the fair value of our common stock to be $8.90 per share at November 21, 2013 and January 28, 2014 and granted stock options with an exercise price of $8.90 per share. In connection with such determination, our board of directors considered our continued operational performance, the increased likelihood of an initial public offering and the change in our capital structure.

                  February 2014 Grants.    We obtained an independent third-party valuation of our common stock at January 31, 2014. Given our continued growth and improving operational metrics, the PWERM was utilized as the most appropriate method for valuing our common stock at that time. In applying the PWERM, a 60% probability was placed on the likelihood of an initial public offering within year 1, a 15% probability was placed on the likelihood of an initial public offering in year 2, a 5% probability was placed on the likelihood of a sale, a 2.5% probability was placed on the likelihood of a dissolution, and a 17.5% probability was placed on the likelihood of our continuing as a private company. The fair value was then discounted for lack of marketability by 17.5%. The increase in the value from the prior valuation principally reflected our business outlook for 2014 and our progress towards an initial public offering.

                  After a consideration of this valuation, our board of directors determined the fair value of our common stock to be $9.26 per share at February 7, 2014 and February 28, 2014 and granted stock options with an exercise price of $9.26 per share on these dates. In connection with such determination, our board of directors considered our continued operational performance, the increased likelihood of an initial public offering and the change in our capital structure.

                  Offering Price.    In May 2014, in consultation with the underwriters, our board of directors, our pricing committee, members of senior management, and potential investors, we determined our anticipated offering price range to be $12.00 to $14.00 per share.


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                  May 2014 Grants.    We obtained an independent third-party valuation of our common stock at April 20, 2014. We utilized the PWERM method for valuing our common stock, and in applying the PWERM, a 90% probability was placed on the likelihood of an initial public offering within two months, a 5% probability was placed on the likelihood of an initial public offering within one year, a 2.5% probability was placed on the likelihood of a sale and a 2.5% probability was placed on the likelihood of continuing as a private company. The fair value was then discounted for lack of marketability by 7%. The increase in value from the prior valuation principally reflected the strong performance we had achieved in March 2014, with operating results significantly exceeding our internal operating plan and our estimated market share increasing significantly during the first quarter of 2014. Additionally, we had made significant progress in proceeding with our initial public offering.

                  After a consideration of this valuation, as well as our proposed offering price of $12.00 to $14.00 per share, our board of directors determined the fair value of our common stock to be $12.81 per share at May 1, 2014, May 2, 2014 and May 15, 2014 and granted stock options with an exercise price of $12.81 on these dates. In connection with such determination, our board of directors considered our strong operating performance in March 2014, the momentum we had achieved in increasing our estimated market share and our progress toward our initial public offering.

        Income Taxes

                  We use the liability method of accounting for income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when such assets and liabilities are recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the year that includes the enactment date. We determine deferred tax assets including net operating losses and liabilities, based on temporary differences between the book and tax bases of assets and liabilities. A valuation allowance is established to reduce net deferred tax assets to amounts that are more likely than not to be realized. We consider all available evidence, both positive and negative, in assessing the need for a valuation allowance. We have a full valuation allowance, and have concluded, based on the weight of all available evidence, that it is more likely than not that our net deferred tax assets will not be realized, primarily due to our historical net operating losses.

                  We utilize a two-step approach for evaluating uncertain tax positions. Step one, recognition, requires us to determine if the weight of available evidence indicates that a tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. If a tax position is not considered "more likely than not" to be sustained, no benefits of the position are recognized. If we determine that a position is "more likely than not" to be sustained, then we proceed to step two, measurement, which is based on the largest amount of benefit which is more likely than not to be realized on effective settlement. This process involves estimating our actual current tax exposure, including assessing the risks associated with tax audits, together with assessing temporary differences resulting from the different treatment of items for tax


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        and financial reporting purposes. If actual results differ from our estimates, our net operating loss and credit carryforwards could be materially impacted.

        Recent Accounting Pronouncements

                  Under the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, or the JOBS Act, we meet the definition of an "emerging growth company." We have irrevocably elected to opt out of the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards pursuant to Section 107(b) of the


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        JOBS Act. As a result, we will comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies.

                  In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued an accounting standards update clarifying that an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, should be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward, except in certain circumstances. The standards update is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. The adoption of this guidance did not have any impact on our consolidated financial statements.

                  In April 2014, the FASB issued an accounting standards update clarifying the threshold for a disposal to qualify as a discontinued operation and requires new disclosures of both discontinued operations and certain other disposals that do not meet the definition of a discontinued operation. This standards update is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2014. Early adoption is permitted but only for disposals that have not been reported in financial statements previously issued. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have any impact on our consolidated financial statements.

                  In May 2014, the FASB issued guidance related to revenue from contracts with customers. Under this guidance, revenue is recognized when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that is expected to be received for those goods or services. The updated standard will replace all existing revenue recognition guidance under GAAP when it becomes effective and permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. Early adoption is not permitted. The guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. We are evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

                  In June 2014, the FASB issued new guidance related to stock compensation. The new standard requires that a performance target that affects vesting, and that could be achieved after the requisite service period, be treated as a performance condition. As such, the performance target should not be reflected in estimating the grant date fair value of the award. This new standard further clarifies that compensation cost should be recognized in the period in which it becomes probable that the performance target will be achieved and should represent the compensation cost attributable to the periods for which the requisite service has already been rendered. The new standard is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015 and can be applied either prospectively or retrospectively to all awards outstanding as of the beginning of the earliest annual period presented as an adjustment to opening retained earnings. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have an impact on our consolidated financial statements.

                  In August 2014, the FASB issued new guidance requiring management to assess an entity's ability to continue as a going concern. Specifically, the new guidance provides a definition of the term "substantial doubt," requires an evaluation every reporting period including interim periods, provides principles for considering the mitigating effect of management's plans, requires certain disclosures when substantial doubt is alleviated as a result of consideration of management's plans,


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        requires an express statement and other disclosures when substantial doubt is not alleviated, and requires an assessment for a period of one year after the date that the financial statements are issued (or available to be issued). The new guidance is effective for the annual period ending after December 15, 2016, and for annual periods and interim periods thereafter. Early application is permitted. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have an impact on our consolidated financial statements.


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        BUSINESS

        Overview

                  Our mission is to transform the car-buying experience for consumers and the way that dealers attract customers and sell cars. We have established an intelligent, data-driven online platform operating on a common technology infrastructure, powered by proprietary data and analytics. We operate our company-branded platform on our TrueCar.com website.TrueCar website and our branded mobile experience. In addition, we customize and operate our platform for affinity group marketing partners, such as USAA and Consumer Reports, financial institutions, and other large enterprises such as Boeing and Verizon. We enable users to obtain market-based pricing data on new and used cars, and to connect with our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers.

                  We benefit consumers by providing information related to what others have paid for a make and model of car in their area and, where available, estimated prices for that make and model of car, which we refer to as upfront pricing information, from our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers. This upfront pricing information generally includes guaranteed savings off MSRP which the consumer may then take to the dealer in the form of a Guaranteed Savings Certificate and apply toward the purchase of the specified make and model of car. We benefit our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers by enabling them to attract these informed, in-market consumers in a cost-effective, accountable manner, which we believe helps them to sell more cars.

                  We are currently focused primarily on new car transactions. In the future, we intend to introduce additional products and services designed to improve the car-buying and car-ownership experience through TrueCar Labs, an incubator focused on developing innovative solutions for the automobile ecosystem. TrueCar Labs deploys new products and solutions in their earliest phase in order to seek feedback from consumers and dealers, enabling them to shape a better product experience. For example, we are developing TrueTrade to provide users with an estimated daily market value for their existing cars and a guaranteed trade-in price.price which we plan to launch in 2015. In addition, we are developing TrueLoan and TrueLease to provide users with a more convenient way to finance their cars at TrueCar Certified Dealers. We are also in the process of launching a number of new services for our dealers designed to enable them to make better informed inventory management and pricing decisions and to close transactions more efficiently.

                  Our network of over 7,7009,100 TrueCar Certified Dealers consists primarily of new car franchises, representing all major makes of cars, as well as independent dealers. TrueCar Certified Dealers operate in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. We estimate that users of our platform purchasing cars from TrueCar Certified Dealers accounted for approximately 3.2%3.4% of all new car sales in the United States in the firstsecond quarter of 2014, excluding fleet sales, an increase from 2.4% in 2013 and 1.5% in 2012. Since our founding in 2005, TrueCar users have purchased over 1.21.5 million cars from TrueCar Certified Dealers, including nearly 400,000 during 2013 and 126,000275,507 in the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2014. We obtain automobile purchase data from a variety of sources and use this data to provide consumers and dealers with highly accurate, geographically specific, real-time pricing information.

                  Our subsidiary ALG, Inc. provides data and consulting services regarding determination of the residual value of an automobile at given points in time in the future. These residual values are used to underwrite automotive loans and leases to determine payments by consumers. In addition, financial institutions use this information to measure exposure and risk across loan, lease and fleet portfolios.

                  During 2013, we generated revenues of $134.0 million and recorded a net loss of $25.1 million. Of the $134.0 million in revenues, 89% consisted of transaction revenues with the remaining 11% derived primarily from the sale of data and consulting services to the automotive


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        and financial services industries. Revenues from the sale of data and consulting services are derived primarily from the operations of our ALG subsidiary. During the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2014, we generated revenues of $43.9$94.4 million and recorded a net loss of $9.9$25.0 million. Of the $43.9$94.4 million in revenues, 91% consisted of transaction revenues with the remaining 9% derived primarily from the sale of data and consulting services to the automotive and financial services industries. Transaction revenues primarily consist of fees paid to us by our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers under our pay-for-performance business model where we generally earn a fee only when a TrueCar user purchases a car from them.


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        Industry Overview and Market Opportunity

        Large, fragmented and competitive automobile retail market

                  The automotive sector is one of the largest segments of the U.S. economy. There were 15.5 million new cars sold in the United States in 2013 for a total retail value of nearly $500 billion, based on information published by BEA and NADA. According to Automotive News, at January 1, 2014, there were over 31,000 franchised new car dealerships in the United States, which is defined to be a dealer that has an agreement with a specific car manufacturer to sell that brand's new and certified pre-owned cars. The number of franchise dealers is calculated by counting the number of new car brands sold by dealers at their locations. In 2013, the largest automotive dealer group accounted for only 1.9% of new vehicle sales, and the top ten dealer groups accounted in the aggregate for only 8.2% of new vehicle sales, according to Automotive News.

        Large and evolving automotive marketing spend

                  According to Borrell Associates, total new vehicle related advertising spend in print, broadcast, radio, Internet and other channels was expected to total $26.3 billion in 2013. This forecast consisted of $11.0 billion from automotive manufacturers, $8.2 billion from dealers, $5.8 billion from cooperative advertising between automotive manufacturers and dealers and $1.3 billion from dealer associations.

                  The Internet has become an increasingly influential medium in the consumer's research and shopping process for automobiles. According to a study by R.L. Polk & Co., or Polk, new and used car buyers cited the Internet as the initial source of information in their buying process greater than 15 times more frequently than any other media source. Manufacturers and dealers are responding to this shift in consumer behavior by reallocating marketing budgets from traditional media sources to the Internet. According to NADA, the average percentage of a dealer's marketing budget devoted to Internet advertising exceeded 25% in 2012, a five-fold increase from the reported percentage in 2002.

                  Online car research has been an evolution of offline brochures, reviews and other sales information moved to Internet delivery. Online car shopping has consisted mostly of listings that resemble the print classifieds. Automotive content and listings sites publish automotive content and reviews and also aggregate new and used car inventory listings from dealers and private sellers. Car sellers subscribe in order to list their new and used car inventory and the sites also generate revenue through lead generation. Under this model, the sites aggregate traffic and monetize that traffic both by selling ads to advertisers that want to reach an automotive-focused audience and by providing the names and contact information of visitors of those sites to dealers. These sites generally present information about automobiles available for sale and MSRP but lack comprehensive market pricing data and do not provide upfront pricing information and guaranteed savings off MSRP from dealers. Moreover, they typically do not tie their economics to the successful completion of transactions, which makes it difficult to measure the success of these marketing efforts.


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        Challenges for the consumer

                  Consumers consistently describe their purchase of a car to be a frustrating and stressful experience. These consumers face a number of complex issues when buying a car, including obtaining market pricing information with respect to the car they want to buy and negotiating a transaction. Historically, buyers had to engage in a prolonged negotiating process in order to obtain pricing information, often consisting of multiple trips to a dealer or dealers. Today, while consumers have a number of available information sources that provide pricing data, these alternatives generally do not have information on what others actually paid for a car. As a result, consumers still


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        lack the market data and upfront pricing information that might shorten the negotiation with the dealer and lead to a successful transaction.

        Challenges for the dealer

                  Automobile dealers operate in a highly competitive market in which access to customers and informed vehicle pricing are essential to dealer profitability. According to NADA, from 2003 to 2013 the average gross margin for automobile dealers on new car sales decreased from 5.5% to 3.8%. Overall dealer profitability is closely tied to the volume of new car sales as those sales can lead to higher-margin offerings for the dealer such as trade-ins, financing, maintenance and service, and accessories. In addition, dealers can earn financial incentives and improved vehicle allocation from manufacturers based on their volume of new car sales.

                  Automobile dealers are increasingly shifting from reliance on their physical location and offline media and turning to the Internet to attract customers and broaden their reach. According to J.D. Power and Associates, nearly 80% of new car buyers use the Internet to research their vehicle purchase, and this shift means that automobile dealers must adapt their marketing for these customers. The overall industry average advertising expense per new car across all forms of media was $616 in 2013, according to NADA. In addition to high marketing costs, lack of empirical data on pricing at the local level may cause dealers to lose transactions by overpricing compared to the market or to lose margin in other cases by underpricing. As a result of these challenges, automobile dealers are looking for ways to attract informed, in-market consumers in a cost-effective and accountable manner and effectively price their vehicle inventory to achieve their sales goals.


        Our Solution

                  We are enhancing the car-buying experience for consumers and improving the way that dealers attract customers and sell cars. We have established an intelligent, data-driven online platform operating on a common technology infrastructure, powered by proprietary data and analytics. We operate our company-branded platform via the TrueCar website and our TrueCar.com website.branded mobile experience. In addition, we customize and operate our platform for affinity group marketing partners, such as USAA and Consumer Reports, financial institutions, and other large enterprises such as Boeing and Verizon. We enable users to obtain market-based pricing data on new and used cars, and to connect with our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers. We believe the combination of transparent market data, upfront pricing information and guaranteed savings off MSRP benefits both consumers and dealers, resulting in more transactions by users of our platform.

        Why consumers choose TrueCar

                  We believe consumers choose TrueCar.comthe TrueCar website and our branded mobile applications and our affinity group marketing partner websites to simplify the car-buying process and to achieve confidence in the price they receive for a car. We present relevant market data to consumers, including information about pricing for specific makes and models of cars in their area. We provide


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        access to our platform and its data at no cost to the consumer. By providing transparent market pricing information and access to our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers, we seek to eliminate the hassles of the car-buying experience. Since our founding, TrueCar users have purchased over 1.21.5 million cars from TrueCar Certified Dealers.

                  We believe that consumers choose TrueCar primarily for the following reasons:

                  Upfront pricing information.    We access a broad array of transaction data to provide customers with relevant pricing information on every major make and model of new car sold in the U.S. In most instances, we then present the consumer with the TrueCar Curve, a graphical distribution of what others paid for the same make and model of car. Within this distribution, we include the factory invoice for the car, the MSRP, and the average price paid for that car in the


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        consumer's local market. We also generally provide the consumer with an Estimated TrueCar Dealer Price based on data provided by TrueCar Certified Dealers in their area. We believe the Estimated TrueCar Dealer Price provides the consumer with the ability to determine the amount they are likely to pay for a specific make and model of car in their local area, all before deciding to be contacted by a dealer.

                  Quality of service of our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers.    We strive to provide consumers with a superior car-buying experience through our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers. To become a TrueCar Certified Dealer, dealers must agree to adhere to certain conditions, including providing upfront pricing information and guaranteed savings off MSRP, where available. Further, we provide ongoing training and hold dealers accountable to specific customer service standards. Our network of over 7,7009,100 TrueCar Certified Dealers consists primarily of new car franchises, representing all major makes of cars, as well as independent dealers. TrueCar Certified Dealers operate in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

                  Price confidence.    Our users generally receive up to three Guaranteed Savings Certificates, which provide a guaranteed savings off MSRP on the user's specified make and model of car. Our platform allows the user to compare relevant market data for their specified make and model of car with the guaranteed savings from MSRP identified in these certificates. Our user experience allows consumers to communicate directly with specific TrueCar Certified Dealers based on algorithms that weigh several factors, including proximity of the dealer to the consumer, vehicle selection, price and consumer experience scores. Our platform allows consumers to compare these certificates with the relevant market data for a specific make and model of car.

                  We believe that the combination of upfront pricing information and guaranteed savings off MSRP simplifies the transaction process and leads to a better car-buying experience for consumers who use TrueCar, typically resulting in significant savings. For the yearsix months ended December 31, 2013,June 30, 2014, TrueCar users paid, on average, approximately $3,000nearly $3,200 less than MSRP.

        Why dealers use TrueCar

                  We believe dealers use TrueCar to attract informed, in-market consumers in a cost-effective and accountable manner, efficiently price their inventory and sell more cars.

                  We provide automobile dealers the opportunity to offer upfront pricing information and Guaranteed Savings Certificates to a large and targeted audience of in-market consumers. We believe that transparent pricing information also significantly increases the trust between dealers and car buyers, which helps dealers increase volume and reduce customer acquisition costs. We also provide market data and analysis to dealers, helping them make more informed inventory management and pricing decisions.


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                  Under our pay-for-performance business model, we generally earn a fee only when a consumer purchases a car, providing dealers with an accountable marketing channel. We typically charge TrueCar Certified Dealers $299 upon the sale of a new car to a TrueCar user. In 2013, the overall industry average advertising expense per new car across all forms of media was $616, according to NADA. By helping dealers better target their acquisition efforts to in-market consumers using our platform, we believe that dealers can improve their close rates, which results in other operating cost efficiencies such as savings on selling expenses and inventory carrying costs. We also believe that those dealers may then capture additional higher-margin maintenance and service, financing and other revenue streams while increasing the probability of earning volume-based incentives offered by manufacturers.


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        Why affinity groups partner with TrueCar

                  For many of our affinity group marketing partners, offering a car-buying service is a valuable benefit for their members, but it is not a service that they can easily provide themselves. Building and operating a car-buying service is complex, costly and requires specialized technology expertise and regulatory compliance infrastructure. In addition, efficiently operating this service requires participation by a significant number of dealerships.

                  These affinity group marketing partners typically offer products and services that are a component of buying and owning a car, such as automotive financing and insurance. Our program has particular value to these partners as the purchase of a car by one of their members is frequently accompanied by additional consideration of the partner's core products and services. For example, many USAA members who purchase a car from a TrueCar Certified Dealer finance and insure that car with USAA.

                  As a result, these affinity group marketing partners conduct rigorous selection processes to provide this service to their members. We typically enter into multi-year exclusive agreements with affinity group partners, which includes payment of marketing fees, and offer our platform through their websites to their members.

                  Affinity groups partner with TrueCar to extend our platform to their members under their own brands. We generally provide members of these groups with access to the same benefits of the TrueCar website and our TrueCar.com websitebranded mobile applications with the added recognition of their affinity membership, and other benefits such as improved financing terms and manufacturer incentives. Affinity partners also solicit feedback from their members on an ongoing basis and we use this feedback to improve our services.

                  We also offer car-buying programs as an employee benefit directly to corporate customers, such as Boeing and Verizon, and, indirectly, through employee benefit program administrators, to customers such as Disney and Walmart.

        Why automobile manufacturers use TrueCar

                  Automobile manufacturers, such as Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler, BMW and General Motors, use TrueCar to offer targeted incentives to consumers. This allows manufacturers to focus their customer acquisition efforts through a direct and accountable marketing channel. These incentives provide additional savings for consumers when they purchase the brand of vehicle offering the targeted incentive from any dealer. The ability to offer these incentives enables manufacturers to reach consumers that might otherwise purchase a car from a competing manufacturer. Generally, these manufacturers pay a per-vehicle fee to us for this service.


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        Our value to the broader automotive market

                  We believe the broader automotive market benefits from the availability of transparent data. For example, we forecast data on residual values of cars and provide this information on a subscription and consultative basis. Leasing companies and manufacturers use this data to set lease rates. We believe that our platform will enable us to offer additional products and services in the future that will benefit additional participants in this market, including insurance companies and lenders.

        The future of the TrueCar solution

                  In the future, we intend to introduce additional products and services to improve the car-buying and car-ownership experience. For example, we are developing TrueTrade to provide users with an estimated daily market value for their existing cars and a guaranteed trade-in price. In


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        addition, we are developing TrueLoan and TrueLease to provide users with a more convenient way to finance their cars at TrueCar Certified Dealers. We are also in the process of launching a number of new products and services for our dealers designed to enable them to make better informed inventory management and pricing decisions and to close transactions more efficiently.


        Our Strengths

                  We believe that our platform offers a superior car-buying experience for our users and TrueCar Certified Dealers. Our strengths include:

        Accountable business model operating at scale with powerful network effects

                  We operate a pay-for-performance business model that allows in-market car buyers to interact with our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers. In the year ended December 31, 2013 and the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2014, consumers using our platform purchased nearly 400,000 and 126,000276,000 vehicles, respectively, from our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers. In addition, our platform is adaptable on a state-by-state basis in response to the local regulatory environment. As the number of vehicles purchased by our users from our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers continues to grow, we believe the platform will become increasingly attractive to high-quality automobile dealers. The addition of strategically selected, reputable dealers in turn allows us to improve coverage by brand and market and enhance our offering for the consumer. Similarly, as more in-market consumers utilize our platform, the incremental search, inventory and purchase information generated will increase the utility of our data and analytics platform for all participants.

        Nationwide network of TrueCar Certified Dealers representing all major makes sold in the U.S.

                  We have built our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers to provide broad nationwide coverage to our users. Our network of over 7,7009,100 TrueCar Certified Dealers consists primarily of new car franchises representing all major makes of cars, as well as independent dealers. TrueCar Certified Dealers operate in all 50 states as well as the District of Columbia. At March 31,June 30, 2014, our network included dealers representing 2220 of the top 25 national dealer groups. According to BEA, during the year ended December 31, 2013, 15.5 million new cars were sold in the United States. We estimate that 2.4% of these new car transactions were completed between our users and TrueCar Certified Dealers.


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                  To be a TrueCar Certified Dealer, dealers must agree to adhere to certain standards, including providing upfront pricing information and honoring the Guaranteed Savings Certificate, where available. Further, we hold dealers accountable to specific customer service standards. We also provide ongoing training to our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers designed to increase close rates and ensure a superior car-buying experience.

        Robust data and proprietary analytics platform

                  Our digital platform is powered by data and proprietary analytics. We synthesize historic and real-time data from a multitude of automated feeds from a wide variety of public and private sources. These sources include dealers, data aggregators, manufacturers, insurance companies, banks and auction houses, as well as our own data on consumer behavior obtained from TrueCar managed websites. This data repository contains a wide variety of information, including vehicle-specific information on automotive transactions, vehicle registration records, consumer buying patterns and behavior, demographic information, and macroeconomic data.

                  Our team of statisticians and data scientists has developed complex and proprietary algorithms to transform this data into useable information that power our platform and scale as traffic increases. We present this data through our web and mobile user interfaces in an engaging and easy to understand way for consumers and dealers.


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                  Our platform also enables our pay-for-performance business model by identifying sales for which a dealer generally pays us a fee only when a TrueCar user purchases a car or based on other performance-based metrics, such as a specific number of vehicle sales or consumer introductions expected to be generated over a subscription period. Our platform allows us to identify whether a sale has occurred between a dealer and a TrueCar user by analyzing information provided to us by a variety of data sources, including our affinity group marketing partners, third-party data aggregators and dealers.

        Long-term, strategic relationships with affinity groups

                  We have built long-term relationships with our affinity group marketing partners, including USAA, Consumer Reports, AAA, American Express and PenFed, for which we operate automobile buying programs. We also offer car-buying programs as an employee benefit directly to corporate customers, such as Boeing and Verizon, and, indirectly, through employee benefit program administrators, to customers such as Disney and Walmart. These relationships are generally exclusive to us and are featured prominently on the affinity group partner websites. We enhance affinity group members' car-buying experience by providing additional benefits to them, such as facilitating the distribution and promotion of targeted incentives from automobile manufacturers and special loan and financing offers. We believe that affinity group members represent an attractive audience for our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers because the affinity group or employment relationship creates a deeper level of engagement between the in-market car buyer and the TrueCar Certified Dealer.

                  In May 2014, we entered into an extension of our affinity group marketing agreement with USAA, extending the agreement through February 2020. As part of the agreement we issued USAA a warrant to purchase up to 1,458,979 shares of the Company's common stock, of which 392,313 shares have an exercise price of $7.95 per share and 1,066,666 shares have an exercise price of $15.00 per share. The warrant becomes exercisable based on the achievement of certain updated performance milestones tied to the level of vehicle sales to USAA members through our auto buying platforms. The warrant shall terminate on the earlier of the eighth anniversary of the date of issuance, the first anniversary of the termination of the USAA car-buying program or the date on which we no longer operate the USAA car-buying program. In addition pursuant to the agreement


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        extension, we will provide USAA funding for marketing support, including loan subvention programs with the total funding obligations being tied to the level of vehicle sales to USAA members through our auto buying platforms.

        Operations guided by insights derived from quantitative data analysis

                  We access consumer, dealer and third-party data to power our platform. We view quantitative data analysis as core to our culture, operations and decision-making. We believe our quantitative analytical capabilities enable us to derive insights into consumers and dealers that help inform several of our key areas of focus. These areas include sales matching, dealer network expansion and product roadmap prioritization. Sales matching, or linking the sale of a vehicle to a TrueCar user, is the key to identifying cars bought by TrueCar users at a TrueCar Certified Dealer. We seek to selectively expand our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers to optimize coverage based on analysis of historical consumer search and shopping behavior. New products, such as our targeted incentives program, are a direct result of utilizing the insights gained from our interaction with consumers and dealers. In general, our business intelligence organization is responsible for tracking internal performance metrics, gleaning insights, and helping to improve our operations.


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        Visionary management team with extensive automotive expertise

                  Our Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Scott Painter, is a pioneer in the online automotive industry, having founded CarsDirect, one of the industry's first successful online automotive businesses. A team of experienced senior executives, with management backgrounds at automotive manufacturers and retailers, online automotive marketing firms, state dealer associations, Internet companies and financial institutions, augments his leadership.


        Growth Strategy

                  We are in the early stages of pursuing our mission to transform car-buying for consumers and dealers. Key elements of our growth strategy are:

        Expand the number of visitors to our platform

                  In MarchJune 2014, we had approximately 4.04.2 million unique visitors to our platform. Consumers visit our platform via two major channels: our TrueCar.com(i) the TrueCar website and our branded mobile applications and (ii) our network of affinity group marketing partners whose online car-buying programs we manage. We intend to grow TrueCar.com website traffic by building our brand through marketing campaigns that emphasize the value of trust and transparency in the car-buying process and the benefits of transacting with TrueCar Certified Dealers. We will continue to leverage a variety of media to reach potential consumers including television and radio. We will also utilize digital acquisition strategies and social media to build our brand and drive traffic growth. We intend to grow affinity group marketing partner traffic by promoting creative marketing programs, such as subsidizing interest rates on loans, and providing other incentives from third parties that deliver a tangible economic benefit to transacting members, increasing awareness of the car-buying program among the members of our affinity group partners and adding new affinity group marketing partners that bring additional users to our platform.

        Improve the user experience

                  We seek to increase the number of transactions between users of our platform and TrueCar Certified Dealers through a variety of methods, including, consistently evaluating and improving our products to enhance the user experience, engaging users with relevant content about car pricing, available incentives and other benefits, while also expanding and improving the geographic


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        coverage of our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers. In addition, we continuously seek to enhance our Dealer Certification and Training programs focused on delivering a superior consumer experience. As we continue to improve the user experience on our platform, we believe that our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers will be able to increase the likelihood of a sale to these consumers.

        Expand monetization opportunities

                  Over time, we intend to increase monetization opportunities by introducing additional products and services to improve the car-buying and car-ownership experience.car ownership experience as well as by working more closely with automobile manufacturers. For example, we are developing TrueTrade to provide consumers with an estimated daily market value for their existing cars and a guaranteed trade-in price. In addition, we are developing TrueLoan and TrueLease to provide users with a more convenient way to finance their cars at TrueCar Certified Dealers.


        Products and Services

        Consumer

                  We believe consumers choose TrueCar.comthe TrueCar website and our branded mobile applications and our affinity group marketing partner websites to simplify the car-buying process and to achieve confidence in the pricing information they receive


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        for a car. We present relevant market data to consumers, including information about pricing for specific makes and models of cars in their area. We provide access to our platform and its robust data at no cost to the consumer. Consumers interface with us via the TrueCar website and our TrueCar.combranded mobile applications and affinity group marketing partner websites.

        GRAPHICGRAPHIC

                  The following are key elements of our consumer experience:

                  Market pricing data.    Through our websites and mobile applications, a consumer selects a vehicle, adds desired options and inputs a ZIP code. In most instances, we then present the consumer with the TrueCar Curve, a graphical distribution of what others paid for the same make


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        and model of car. Within this distribution, we include MSRP, factory invoice, and average price paid for that make and model of car in the consumer's local market. We generally provide consumers with our Estimated TrueCar Dealer Price, which is based on current pricing information provided by


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        our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers in the consumer's geographic area. This information enables the consumer to evaluate a potential price in the context of broader market data.

        GRAPHICGRAPHIC


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                  Dealer interface.    If the consumer elects to move forward, she registers with TrueCar. Upon registration, the consumer is generally presented with up to three estimated prices and available guaranteed savings off MSRP from the TrueCar Certified Dealers that are displayed to the consumer, based on algorithms that weigh several factors, including proximity of the dealer to the consumer, vehicle selection, price and consumer experience scores. In addition to the estimated prices and available guaranteed savings, the consumer is provided with information about the dealers, such as distance to each dealership, any additional services offered at each dealer, and in most instances, an estimated monthly payment based on each estimated TrueCar Dealer price. At this stage, the dealers are still anonymous to the consumer and no information has been shared with the dealer about the consumer.

        GRAPHICGRAPHIC


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                  Price certificate.    In most instances, after reviewing the estimated pricing and available guaranteed savings off MSRP provided by dealers, the consumer may elect to receive a Guaranteed Savings Certificate from each of the selected dealers by providing contact information to such dealers. This certificate entitles the consumer to the stated amount of guaranteed savings off MSRP for the consumer's selected make and model. While the certificate presents estimated pricing information for the consumer's configured vehicle, the certificate entitles the consumer to receive a guaranteed minimum savings amount off MSRP on any vehicle of that particular make and model that the dealer has available for sale. Consumers typically present this certificate to the dealer when consummating the purchase.

        GRAPHICGRAPHIC

        Dealer

                  Our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers interfaces with our platform primarily through our Dealer Portal. The Dealer Portal enables them to assess the competitiveness of their vehicle pricing relative to their market, enter vehicle pricing, manage users, create custom detailed offers based on vehicles in stock, update their dealership profile, access online training, review invoices and assess their margin on cars they sell. Our TrueCar Certified Dealers generally must provide us access to their transaction and inventory data located in the software used to run their dealerships, commonly


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        known as their Dealer Management System, or DMS. Our platform updates dealer records on a daily basis, ensuring this information stays current.


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        GRAPHICGRAPHIC

                  Pricing tools.    The Pricing Manager provides dealers with a single interface to assess the competiveness of their vehicle pricing relative to their market and set pricing on all makes and models they offer for sale. The Sales Analyzer helps dealers better understand how their pricing for recently sold vehicles compares to the market, whether or not the customer transaction was with one of our users.

                  Closing tools.    The Offer Tool helps dealers create custom detailed offers based on vehicles in stock. The Dealership Profile enables dealers to identify their selling benefits to customers, including salesperson names and pictures, dealership makes, hours of operation and website and social media links.

                  Training tools.    The TrueCar Dealer Training System combines videos and interactive tests to help dealers better understand and more effectively use our various products.

        Manufacturers

                  We enable manufacturers to target consumers based on membership in an affinity group, demographic data and other criteria. By integrating this process into our platform, manufacturers provide consumers the ability to generate a unique coupon that can be redeemed and validated at any dealership across the country in connection with the purchase of a new car. By tracking these incentives in their own reporting systems, manufacturers can account directly for this method of reaching consumers. These manufacturers pay a per-vehicle fee to us for this service.

        Used car listings

                  For consumers looking to purchase a used car, we provide an aggregated listing of used vehicles in their local marketplace. These listings are consolidated from variety of sources, including our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers. In addition to displaying stated information made available by the seller about the pricing and condition of car, we provide consumers with information related to what other cars of the same make, model, year and stated condition are valued in the market. At our website, the user can contact the seller, identifying herself as a TrueCar user, to initiate communications that may ultimately result in a completed transaction.


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        Automotive Lease Guide

                  We forecast data on residual values of cars and provide this information on a subscription and consultative basis via Automotive Lease Guide, or ALG, our wholly-owned subsidiary. Automotive manufacturers, lenders, lessors, dealers and software providers use information from ALG to determine the residual value of an automobile at given points in time in the future. These residual values are used to underwrite automotive loans and leases to determine payments by consumers. In addition, financial institutions use this information to measure exposure and risk across loan, lease and fleet portfolios.

        Insurance

                  We offer insurers FastTrack, a toolset that allows claims representatives to refer consumers who have experienced a total loss event, when the insurer estimates the repair cost to exceed the replacement value of the vehicle, to our car-buying program. We first introduced this service in 2008.


        Sales and Marketing

        Consumer marketing

                  We reach consumers through the TrueCar website and our TrueCar.com websitebranded mobile applications and websites we maintain for our affinity group marketing partners. Our marketing is focused on building the TrueCar brand. The key tenets of our brand are providing transparent market price information and a hassle-free car-buying experience at a TrueCar Certified Dealer. We divide our marketing spend between traditional media sources, such as television and radio, and digital media. Our consumer brand awareness efforts are aided by the fact that we are quoted in various media outlets from time to time as a recognized industry authority on automotive retail and online data forecasting.

                  We also support initiatives for our affinity group marketing partners, including USAA, Consumer Reports, AAA, American Express and PenFed. These initiatives are designed to promote awareness of the organizations' car-buying programs among their memberships through a variety of media, including email, direct mail, website development, print, online advertising, Internet search engine marketing, Internet search engine optimization and social networking.

        Dealer engagement and industry relations

                  Our dealer sales force is responsible for managing our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers, optimizing our TrueCar Certified Dealer coverage across brands and geographies and for providing onboarding and dealer support. Our sales force helps dealers grow their businesses by regularly providing data-driven insights on inventory management and pricing.

                  Our ability to understand the needs of, actively listen to, and collaborate with our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers is crucial to our success. Many of our dealer sales force employees have worked at dealerships and our dealer sales team has on average over 15 years of automotive retail experience. In response to feedback from our dealer network, in 2012 we formed an advisory panel of influential dealers to regularly meet with our senior management team to provide updates and opinions on how to improve our role in the car selling experience for dealers. In addition, we have a dedicated industry relations team, whose employees have worked at dealerships, automobile manufacturers and state dealer associations.


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        Competition

                  The automotive retail industry is highly competitive and fragmented. Consumers use a variety of online and offline sources to research vehicle information, obtain vehicle pricing information and identify dealers. In addition, dealers use a variety of marketing channels to promote themselves to consumers.

        Competition for consumer awareness

                  We compete to attract consumers directly to our TrueCar.com website and mobile applications primarily on the basis of the quality of the consumer experience; the breadth, depth and accuracy of information; brand awareness and reputation.

                  Our principal competitors for consumer awareness include:

        Competition for car dealer marketing spend

                  We compete for a share of car dealers' overall marketing expenditures within online and offline media marketing channels. We compete primarily on the basis of the transaction-readiness of our users; the efficiency of customer acquisition as compared to alternative methods; the accountability and measurability of our service; product features, analytics and tools; and dealer support; and the size of our prospective car buyer audience. Other businesses also derive a majority of their revenue by offering consumer marketing services to dealers. These companies include listings, information, lead generation and car-buying services, and compete with us for dealer marketing spend.

                  Our principal competitors for car dealer marketing spend include:


        Technology

                  We have designed our technology infrastructure, website and products to provide consumers, dealers and other parties with the information they need to effect a successful car purchase. We deliver this information through a reliable, secure, scalable and locally-adaptable web-based information and communications platform. This platform is accessed by consumers through the TrueCar website and our TrueCar.combranded mobile applications and affinity group marketing partner websites and by dealers through our software tools available on our Dealer Portal. Supporting each of these user interfaces are advanced systems for processing and analyzing automotive data, including features such as vehicle configurators and predictive consumer behavior modeling, as well as our proprietary matching algorithm to compare our transaction-based data sources with our record of online users for processing and billing. We


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        online users for processing and billing. We use a combination of open source and licensed software running on optimized hardware, which allows for cost-effective, flexible development.

                  Our data is housed in two scalable, geographically redundant data center co-location facilities in Los Angeles and Chicago. We have adopted a centralized approach to quality assurance and testing for our platform and all products aimed at enhancing consumer and dealer experiences while seeking to optimize availability, scalability, security and performance.


        Intellectual Property

                  We protect our intellectual property through a combination of patents, copyrights, trademarks, service marks, domain names, trade secret laws, confidentiality procedures and contractual restrictions.

                  At March 31,June 30, 2014, we had 1213 U.S. issued patents, 3138 pending U.S. patent applications, 2 issued foreign patents, and 2916 pending foreign patent applications. The issued and allowed patents begin expiring in September 2029 through October 2031.July 2032. We intend to pursue additional patent protection to the extent we believe it would be beneficial to our competitive position.

                  We have a number of registered and unregistered trademarks. We registered "TrueCar," the TrueCar logo, various TRUE marks and other marks as trademarks in the U.S. and several other jurisdictions. We also have filed trademark applications for ALG and others in the U.S. and other jurisdictions, and will pursue additional trademark registrations to the extent we believe it would be beneficial to our competitive position.

                  In addition to the protection provided by our intellectual property rights, we enter into confidentiality and proprietary rights agreements with our employees, consultants, contractors, and business partners. Our employees and contractors are also subject to invention assignment agreements. We further control the use of our proprietary technology and intellectual property through provisions in both our general and product-specific terms of use on our website.


        Employees

                  At March 31,June 30, 2014, we had 361404 full-time employees at locations in Santa Monica, Santa Barbara, Austin and San Francisco. We also engage a number of temporary employees and consultants to support our operations. None of our employees are either represented by a labor union or subject to a collective bargaining agreement. We have not experienced any work stoppages, and we consider our relations with our employees to be good.


        Regulatory Matters

                  Various aspects of our business are or may be subject to U.S. federal and state regulation. In particular, the advertising and sale of new or used motor vehicles is highly regulated by the states in which we do business. Although we do not sell motor vehicles, the dealers from which we derive a significant portion of our revenues do sell motor vehicles. Moreover, state regulatory authorities or other third parties could take and, on some occasions, have taken the position that some of the regulations applicable to dealers or to the manner in which motor vehicles are advertised and sold generally are directly applicable to our business model. For example, we received an Investigative Demand, dated October 30, 2013, from the Oregon Attorney General (the "Oregon Inquiry") requesting information regarding potential noncompliance with the Oregon Unlawful Trade Practices Act. We are cooperating with the Oregon Department of Justice in an effort to reach consensual resolution of the issues raised by the Oregon Inquiry without making material, unfavorable adjustments to our business practices or user experience in Oregon. More recently, we received a letter dated May 5, 2014 from the Consumer Protection Division of the Mississippi Attorney


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        General's Office (the "Mississippi Inquiry") suggesting that we may be acting unlawfully as an auto broker in Mississippi. We intend to cooperate with the Mississippi Attorney General's office in an effort to reach consensual resolution of the issues raised by the Mississippi Inquiry without making material unfavorable adjustments to our business practices or user experience in Mississippi.

                  In order to operate in this highly regulated environment, we have developed our products and services with a view toward appropriately managing the risk that our regulatory compliance or the regulatory compliance of the dealers in our dealer network could be challenged. If and to the extent that our products and services fail to satisfy relevant regulatory requirements, our business or our TrueCar Certified Dealers could be subject to significant civil and criminal penalties, including fines, or the award of significant damages in class action or other civil litigation, as well as orders interfering with our ability to continue providing our products and services in certain states.

                  Given the regulatory environment in which we and our participating dealers operate, in designing our products and services, we have focused considerable attention on two areas of state regulation: state advertising regulations and state brokering or "bird-dogging" regulations. With respect to advertising, we believe that most of the content displayed on the websites we operate does not constitute advertising for the sale of new motor vehicles. Nevertheless, we endeavor to design the content such that it would comply insofar as practicable with state advertising regulations if and to the extent that the content is considered to be new vehicle sales advertising. With respect to state brokering or "bird-dogging" regulations, we have designed our products and services in manner that aims to avoid the applicability of those regulations.

                  Our efforts to design products and services in a manner that appropriately manages the regulatory compliance risk for our business and our participating dealers are complicated by the fact that the related automotive sales and marketing laws vary from state to state, and even within a given state, are frequently susceptible to multiple interpretations. These laws were generally developed decades before the emergence of the Internet, are subject to significant revision or modification, and the manner in which they should be applied to our business model is frequently open to question. As a practical matter, state automobile dealer associations often have considerable influence over the construction of these laws by the relevant state regulatory authorities. Accordingly, in addition to our dialogues with relevant state agencies, we interface on a regular basis with representatives from automobile dealer associations in order to take their views into account as we continually update our products and services. The specific manner in which we have designed our products and services in an effort to manage state regulatory compliance concerns for us and our network of TrueCar Certified Dealers is the result of extensive analysis, which has required the investment of substantial resources that we believe represents a valuable asset of our business. We cannot assure you, however, that we will be able to successfully comply with current or future regulations to which our business may be subject.


        Legal Proceedings

                  From time to time we may become involved in legal proceedings or be subject to claims arising in the ordinary course of our business. Although the results of litigation and claims cannot be predicted with certainty, we currently believe that the final outcome of these ordinary course matters will not have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, financial condition or cash flows. Regardless of the outcome, litigation can have an adverse impact on us because of defense and settlement costs, diversion of management resources and other factors.


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        MANAGEMENT

        Executive Officers and Directors

                  The following table sets forth the names, ages and positions of our executive officers and directors at March 31,September 30, 2014:

        Name
         
        Age
         
        Position
        Executive Officers     
        Scott Painter  4546 Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
        John Krafcik  5253 President and Director
        Michael Guthrie  4849 Chief Financial Officer
        Bernard Brenner  4647 Executive Vice President, Business Development
        Lawrence Dominique  5152 Executive Vice President, Industry Solutions
        Lucas Donat  5251 Chief Marketing Officer
        Michael Dunn55Chief Technology Officer
        Stewart Easterby  46 Chief Operating Officer
        Troy Foster  44 Chief Legal and Compliance Officer
        James Nguyen  4445 Executive Vice President, Corporate and Partner Development and Secretary
        John Stephenson  55 Chief Risk Management Officer
        Thomas Taira  4344��Chief Product Officer
        Non-Employee Directors     
        Abhishek Agrawal  3536 Director
        Todd Bradley  55 Director
        Robert Buce  6566 Director
        Christopher Claus  53 Director
        Steven Dietz  5051 Director
        Thomas Gibson  7172 Director
        Ion Yadigaroglu  4445 Director

        Executive Officers

                  Scott Painter co-founded our company and has served as our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of our board of directors since February 2005, as well as our President from April 2005 to August 2010 and Secretary from April 2005 to July 2010. Since March 2008, Mr. Painter has served as President of TrueCar.com, Inc., which was acquired by us in June 2010. Mr. Painter's other current ventures include PriceLock Inc., a provider of online energy solutions for energy buyers and sellers, which he co-founded in October 2006, and BrightHouse, Inc., a business incubator, which he co-founded in October 2007, and on which he currently serves as a member of its board of directors. Prior to joining us, Mr. Painter served as founder and chairman of Build-To-Order, Inc., an automotive company focused on modularized outsourced manufacturing of vehicles; co-founder and chairman of Direct Ventures, Inc., an Internet-driven direct sales company for high-value commodity items; founder and chairman of Advertise.com, Inc., an online advertising network and marketing company; founder and Chief Executive Officer of CarsDirect.com, Inc., an online automotive research portal and car buying service; served as an early advisor to automotive businesses, including Tesla Motors, Inc., a designer and manufacturer of electric vehicles; and founded numerous other companies, including SharesPost, Inc., an online private capital marketplace, and AUTOAccess, an electronic database of used cars for sale. Mr. Painter studied Political Science and Systems Engineering at the United States Military Academy at West Point and Economics at the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley). Mr. Painter left UC Berkeley prior to graduation to sell his first auto-related start-up, AUTOAccess.


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                  We believe Mr. Painter is qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors because of his substantial operational and business strategy expertise gained from serving as our Chief Executive Officer and an executive officer and advisor to numerous auto-related start-ups. As one of our founders and longest serving member of our board of directors, we also value his deep understanding of our business as it has evolved over time.

                  John Krafcik has served as our President since April 2014 and as a member of our board of directors since February 2014. Prior to joining us, Mr. Krafcik was with Hyundai Motor America, a South Korean multinational automaker, from March 2004 to December 2013, during which time he served as President and Chief Executive Officer from November 2008 to December 2013. Mr. Krafcik was responsible for the strategic direction and management of Hyundai Motor America's operations in the United States. Prior to joining Hyundai Motor America, Mr. Krafcik was at Ford Motor Company, where he held various product development leadership positions. Mr. Krafcik holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University and an M.S. in Management from Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

                  We believe Mr. Krafcik is qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors because of his substantial corporate development, business strategy and automotive expertise gained as an executive in the automotive industry.

                  Michael Guthrie has served as our Chief Financial Officer since January 2012. Prior to joining us, Mr. Guthrie was Senior Vice President, Business Development at SharesPost, Inc., an online private capital marketplace, from January 2011 to October 2011. From February 2009 to January 2011, Mr. Guthrie served as a principal at Saful Consulting, where he advised public and private technology companies on strategic matters. From January 2007 to January 2009 Mr. Guthrie was managing director at Symphony Technology Group, LLC, a private equity firm and from October 2000 to December 2006 Mr. Guthrie was a principal in private equity firms TPG Ventures and Garnett & Helfrich Capital. Earlier in his career, Mr. Guthrie was an investment banker at Credit Suisse First Boston focused on financing and advising technology companies. Mr. Guthrie is also a Senior Advisor to Rubicon Technology Partners, a technology-focused private equity firm. Mr. Guthrie holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Virginia and an M.B.A. from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

                  Bernard Brenner co-founded our company and has served as our Executive Vice President, Business Development since August 2005. Mr. Brenner also served as Executive Vice President of TrueCar.com, Inc., which was acquired by us in June 2010. Prior to joining us, Mr. Brenner served as Vice President of Business Development at Carfax, Inc., a provider of vehicle history information, where he was responsible for the company's strategic partnerships with automobile manufacturers, dealer systems and online marketing partners. Earlier in his career, Mr. Brenner was Chief Executive Officer at PromiseMark, Inc., an Internet security and privacy company, which was acquired by the credit reporting agency Experian Consumer Direct. He also founded 1-800-CAR-SEARCH, a used vehicle search company for buyers and sellers, where he oversaw marketing and product development. Mr. Brenner holds an A.S. in Computer Science from the State University of New York at Farmingdale and a B.S. in Business Management from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.

                  Lawrence Dominique has served as our Executive Vice President, Industry Solutions since October 2011. Mr. Dominique also serves as President of ALG, a source for automotive residual values, analytical data products, and business consulting services, and one of our wholly-owned subsidiaries, since October 2011. Prior to joining us, Mr. Dominique served as Vice President of Product Planning at Nissan North America, Inc., a vehicle manufacturer, where he oversaw product competitiveness from development through the product's lifecycle, from April 1989 to September 2011. Mr. Dominique holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Lawrence Technology University.


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                  Lucas Donat has served as our Chief Marketing Officer since October 2013. Prior to joining us, Mr. Donat was a founding partner at Tiny Rebellion (formally dw+h), a change agent advertising agency based in Santa Monica, which he founded in June 1990. At Tiny Rebellion, Mr. Donat presided over the launch and branding of such internet companies as eHarmony, LegalZoom, Hotwire, and most recently, TrueCar. Mr. Donat continues to serve as Chief Executive Officer of Tiny Rebellion in a part-time capacity. Pursuant to his employment agreement, Mr. Donat will devote no less than 80% of his working time to our business and affairs. Mr. Donat studied at Ithaca College School of Communications, but left prior to graduation after receiving a grant to make his first film.

                  Michael Dunn has served as our Chief Technology Officer since May 2013. Prior to joining us, Mr. Dunn was an independent technology consultant and served as Chief Technology Officer at Hearst Interactive Media, the venture capital arm of Hearst Corporation, a diversified media and information company, from July 2003 to August 2012. Mr. Dunn currently serves on the board of directors of Ballston Spa National Bank, a community bank in New York State, and on the advisory boards of RAMP, a software-as-a-service platform, and Arkami, Inc., a password management device company. Mr. Dunn attended Ohio State University, where he studied Computer Engineering.

        Stewart Easterby has served as our Chief Operating Officer since May 2014 and as our Executive Vice President, Operations since June 2012. Prior to that, he was our Executive Vice President, Dealer Development from August 2008 to May 2012. Prior to joining us, Mr. Easterby was Vice President, Advertising Sales Operations at Yahoo! Inc., an Internet technology company, from October 2003 to April 2008. Mr. Easterby is a former U.S. Navy SEAL and holds a B.S. in Economics with a concentration in Finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, a B.A.S. with a concentration in Systems Engineering from the School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Pennsylvania, and an M.B.A. from the Anderson School of Management at the University of California, Los Angeles.

                  Troy Foster has served as our Chief Legal and Compliance Officer since April 2014. From September 2000 to April 2014, Mr. Foster was a corporate and securities attorney at the law firm of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, our outside corporate counsel. As a partner in the emerging growth practice, his practice touched on a wide range of corporate and entrepreneurial clients in technology, life sciences and other growth enterprises. Mr. Foster holds a B.A. in English from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a J.D. from Columbia Law School.

                  James Nguyen co-founded our company and has served as our Executive Vice President, Corporate and Partner Development since January 2012 and as our Secretary since November 2010. Mr. Nguyen was our Chief Financial Officer from September 2008 to January 2012. From March 2008 to June 2010, Mr. Nguyen served as Chief Financial Officer of TrueCar.com, Inc., which was acquired by us in June 2010. Mr. Nguyen's automotive background includes multi-functional roles at Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., the U.S. sales, marketing, and distribution subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation, and with venture-backed start-ups Model E Corporation, an Internet build-to-order vehicle and subscription service company, and Build-to-Order, Inc., an automotive company focused on modularized outsourced manufacturing of vehicles. Mr. Nguyen serves on the board of directors for WebCars, an online automotive company in China, and is on the advisory board of Tagnos, Inc., an enterprise software company providing analytics and wireless patient tracking solutions to hospitals. Mr. Nguyen is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of California. Mr. Nguyen holds a B.A. in Economics and Accounting from Claremont McKenna College and an M.B.A. from the Anderson School of Management at the University of California, Los Angeles.

                  John Stephenson has served as our Chief Risk Management Officer since April 2014. From September 1984 to April 2014, Mr. Stephenson was a litigation partner at the law firm of Alston & Bird LLP, our outside regulatory counsel. Mr. Stephenson has substantial experience in corporate governance and complex commercial litigation. Mr. Stephenson holds a B.A. in Political Science and Government and a J.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.


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                  Thomas Taira co-founded our company and has served as our Chief Product Officer since May 2014. Prior to that he was our Executive Vice President, Product since November 2010. Mr. Taira served as President and Secretary of TrueCar.com, Inc., which was acquired by us in June 2010, from February 2008 to March 2009. Prior to rejoining us in November 2010, Mr. Taira served as Chief Executive Officer at Honk LLC, an automotive social media website, which he co-founded in March 2009 and was acquired by us in April 2011. Mr. Taira also served as our Chief Strategy


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        Officer from March 2005 to February 2008. He has also served as Client Partner and Strategy Director at Proxicom, Inc., a technology development firm, where he led product strategy and partner management for its automotive manufacturer clients, Director of Strategy at Build-to-Order, Inc., a next-generation automotive company focused on modularized outsourced manufacturing of vehicles, and eBusiness Strategy Manager at Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., the U.S. sales, marketing, and distribution subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation. Mr. Taira holds a B.A. in Social Sciences from the University of California, Irvine and an M.B.A. from Georgetown University.

                  On October 30, 2014, our board of directors evaluated company management and determined the following individuals to be our officers within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934: Scott Painter, John Krafcik, Mike Guthrie, Troy Foster, John Stephenson, Bernard Brenner and John Pierantoni, our Chief Accounting Officer.

        Board of Directors

                  Abhishek Agrawal has served as a member of our board of directors since November 2013. Since April 2013, Mr. Agrawal has served as Managing Director at Vulcan Capital, an investment management firm, and head of its Palo Alto office. Mr. Agrawal directs Vulcan Capital's growth investments in the Internet and technology sectors globally. Prior to joining Vulcan Capital, from June 2006 to April 2013, Mr. Agrawal was with General Atlantic LLC, a global growth equity firm, where he served as a Principal, driving investments in the Internet and technology space. Prior to General Atlantic LLC, Mr. Agrawal was with Lazard Technology Partners, or Lazard, an Internet and technology focused venture capital firm, and previously served in Lazard's investment banking group. Mr. Agrawal serves on the board of directors of Zuora, Inc., an enterprise software company that designs and sells software-as-a-service applications for companies with a subscription business model, and was previously on the boards of directors of Bazaarvoice, Inc., a software-as-a-service company providing social commerce solutions, and Network Solutions, LLC, a technology company providing web services to small and medium-sized businesses. Mr. Agrawal holds a B.S. in Economics with a concentration in Finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School, where he graduated with highest distinction and was a Baker Scholar.

                  We believe Mr. Agrawal is qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors because of his substantial corporate finance, business strategy and corporate development expertise gained from his significant experience in the venture capital and private equity industries, analyzing, investing in, serving on the boards of, and providing guidance to various technology companies. We also value his perspective as a representative of one of our largest stockholders.

                  Todd Bradley has served as a member of our board of directors since September 2013. Since June 2005,2014, Mr. Bradley has served as President of TIBCO Software, Inc., a global infrastructure and business intelligence software company. Prior to joining TIBCO, from June 2005 to June 2014, Mr. Bradley served as an executive vice president of Hewlett-Packard Company, a public information technology corporation, most recently as Executive Vice President, Strategic Growth Initiatives, responsible for enhancing Hewlett-Packard's business in China and extending Hewlett-Packard's partner relationships. Mr. Bradley also currently serves on the board of the Newseum. Mr. Bradley holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Towson State University.

                  We believe Mr. Bradley is qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors because of his track record of identifying and fostering strategic partnerships in the technology sector and his substantial corporate governance, corporate development, business strategy and financial expertise gained as an executive in the technology and finance industries and from holding various executive positions at a publicly traded technology company.


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                  Robert Buce has served as a member of our board of directors since April 2005. Mr. Buce served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from September 2005 to September 2008. Prior to joining us, Mr. Buce founded and served as Chief Financial Officer and a senior member of the management team of Build-To-Order, Inc., an automotive company focused on modularized outsourced manufacturing of vehicles. Prior to Build-To-Order, Mr. Buce held a variety of senior management positions, including Managing Partner, at KPMG LLP, an accounting and advisory firm, and Managing Director at BearingPoint, Inc., a related consulting firm. Mr. Buce also served on the board of directors of KPMG LLP from March 1991 to November 1995. Since July 2000 Mr. Buce has served as Chairman of PalisadesHoldings, a sole proprietorship providing independent advisory assistance to a variety of technology services and consumer products and services commercial enterprises. Mr. Buce served on the board of Intersection Technologies, Inc., parent company of F&I Express, a provider of software and services to the automotive industry. Mr. Buce is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive) in the State of California and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Buce holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Lehigh University and an M.B.A. from the Anderson School of Management at the University of California, Los Angeles.

                  We believe Mr. Buce is qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors because of his historical expertise gained from serving as our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and his substantial corporate governance, operational and financial expertise gained as Managing Partner at KPMG LLP, Managing Director at BearingPoint and from his experience serving on the boards of directors and boards of advisors of several private companies. As one of our longest serving members of our board of directors, we also value his deep understanding of our business as it has evolved over time.

                  Christopher Claus has served as a member of our board of directors since April 2014. From December 1994 to March 2014, Mr. Claus served in various senior executive roles at USAA, a Fortune 150 diversified financial services company, most recently as Executive Vice President of USAA Enterprise Advice Group and President of USAA Financial Services Group. Previously, he served as the Senior Vice President and then President of USAA Investment Management Company. Mr. Claus also served as the Vice President of Investment Sales and Service. Prior to USAA, Mr. Claus was Vice President of Equity Trading and Retirement Plans at Norwest Investment Services, Inc. Mr. Claus holds a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota — Duluth and an M.B.A. from the University of St. Thomas.

                  We believe Mr. Claus is qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors because of his substantial business strategy and corporate development and governance expertise gained as an executive and counselor at several companies in the finance industry.

                  Steven Dietz has served as a member of our board of directors since February 2006. Mr. Dietz has been a Partner at Upfront Ventures, a venture capital firm, since its founding in 1996. During his career, Mr. Dietz has overseen numerous investments in the automotive industry. Mr. Dietz holds a B.S. in Finance from the University of Colorado.

                  We believe Mr. Dietz is qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors because of his substantial corporate finance, business strategy and corporate development expertise gained from his significant experience in the venture capital industry, analyzing, investing in and serving on the boards of directors of various private technology companies. We also value his perspective as a representative of one of our largest stockholders.

                  Thomas Gibson has served as a member of our board of directors since June 2012. Mr. Gibson was with Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., an automotive retailer, which he founded, from November 1994 to December 2007, during which time he served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer from November 1994 to November 1999 and as Interim Chief Executive Officer


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        from October 2001 to December 2001. Mr. Gibson serves on the boards of directors of Dealer Tire, LLC, a tire, maintenance and light-repair product distributor that partners with automobile manufacturers, since September 2003, Alliance Inspection Management, LLC, a new and pre-owned vehicle inspection partnership, since October 2006, and Leader Auto Resources LAR Inc., a car dealer buying group, since March 2011. He also served on the board of directors of Dealertrack Technologies, Inc., a provider of software solutions and services for the automotive industry, from June 2005 to February 2008. From February 2008 to February 2010, Mr. Gibson served on the board of directors of Guilford Mills, Inc., a manufacturer of performance textiles for automotive and specialty markets, and from February 2008 to July 2009, Mr. Gibson served on the board of directors of Chrysler LLC, an automobile manufacturer. From October 1999 to November 2008, Mr. Gibson served on the board of directors of Ikon Office Solutions, Inc., a provider of document management systems and services. Mr. Gibson has over 30 years of experience in the automotive industry, previously holding senior sales, marketing and management positions with Ford Motor Company and Chrysler LLC before becoming President and Chief Operating Officer of Subaru of America, Inc. from September 1981 to April 1993. Mr. Gibson holds a B.A. in Economics from DePauw University and an M.B.A. from Harvard University.

                  We believe Mr. Gibson is qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors because of his substantial corporate governance, business strategy and financial expertise gained from holding various executive positions in the automotive industry, serving on the boards of directors for several public and private companies, and working on several committees focused on strategy, finance, investment, compensation and auditing.

                  Ion Yadigaroglu has served as a member of our board of directors since August 2007. Since July 2004, Mr. Yadigaroglu has served as a Managing Principal at Capricorn Investment Group LLC, an investment firm. Mr. Yadigaroglu holds a Masters in Physics from Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich in Switzerland and a Ph.D. in Astrophysics from Stanford University.

                  We believe Mr. Yadigaroglu is qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors because of his substantial corporate finance, business strategy and corporate development expertise gained from his holding various executive positions and from his significant experience in the capital industry, analyzing, investing in and serving on the boards of directors of various private technology companies. We also value his perspective as a representative of one of our largest stockholders.

                  There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.


        Board Composition

                  Our business and affairs are managed under the direction of our board of directors. The number of directors will beis fixed by our board of directors, subject to the terms of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws that will becomebecame effective immediately prior to the completion of thisour initial public offering. Our board of directors currently consists of nine directors, seven of whom will qualify as "independent" under the NASDAQ Stock Market listing standards.

                  In accordance with our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws, immediately after the completion of this offering our board of directors will beis divided into three classes with staggered three-year terms. Only one class of directors will beis elected at each annual meeting of our stockholders, with the other classes continuing for the remainder of their respective three-year terms. Our directors will beare divided among the three classes as follows:


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                  The division of our board of directors into three classes with staggered three-year terms may delay or prevent a change of our management or a change of control. Under Delaware law, our directors may be removed for cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of our outstanding voting stock. Directors may not be removed by our stockholders without cause.

                  Any increase or decrease in the number of directors will be distributed among the three classes so that, as nearly as possible, each class will consist of one-third of the directors.


        Director Independence

                  Our board of directors has undertaken a review of the independence of each director. Based on information provided by each director concerning his or her background, employment and affiliations, our board of directors determined that Messrs. Agrawal, Bradley, Buce, Claus, Dietz, Gibson and Yadigaroglu do not have a relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director and that each of these directors is "independent" as that term is defined under the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, and the listing requirements and rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market. In making these determinations, our board of directors considered the current and prior relationships that each non-employee director has with our company and all other facts and circumstances our board of directors deemed relevant in determining their independence, including the beneficial ownership of our capital stock by each non-employee director, and the transactions involving them described in the section titled "Certain Relationships, Related Party and Other Transactions."


        Lead Independent Director

                  Our board of directors has appointed Steven Dietz to serve as our lead independent director. As lead independent director, Mr. Dietz will presidepresides over periodic meetings of our independent directors, serveserves as a liaison between our Chairman and the independent directors and performperforms such additional duties as our board of directors may otherwise determine and delegate.


        Board Committees

                  Upon completion of this offering, ourOur board of directors will havehas an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee. The composition and responsibilities of each of the committees of our board of directors is described below. Members will serve on these committees until their resignation or until otherwise determined by our board of directors.

        Audit Committee

                  Our audit committee is comprised of Messrs. Buce, Claus and Gibson. Mr. Buce serves as our audit committee chairperson. Messrs. Buce, Claus and Gibson meet the requirements for independence of audit committee members under current NASDAQ Stock Market listing standards and SEC rules and regulations. Each member of our audit committee meets the financial literacy requirements of the current NASDAQ Stock Market listing standards. In addition, our board of directors has determined that Mr. Buce is an audit committee financial expert within the meaning of


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        Item 407(d) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. The responsibilities of our audit committee include, among other things:

                  Our audit committee operates under a written charter to be effective prior to the completion of this offering, that satisfies the applicable rules of the SEC and the listing standards of the NASDAQ Stock Market. We intend to comply with future requirements to the extent they become applicable to us.

        Compensation Committee

                  Our compensation committee is comprised of Messrs. Bradley, Dietz and Agrawal. Mr. Bradley serves as our compensation committee chairperson. The composition of our compensation committee meets the requirements for independence under current NASDAQ Stock Market listing standards and SEC rules and regulations. Each member of the compensation committee is also a non-employee director, as defined pursuant to Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, and an outside director, as defined pursuant to Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended (the "Code"). The purpose of our compensation committee is to oversee our compensation policies, plans and benefit programs and to discharge the responsibilities of our board of directors relating to compensation of our executive officers. The responsibilities of our compensation committee include, among other things:


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