CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING Forward-Looking Statements
This Annual Report on Form 10-K, or this Annual Report, contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements reflect the current views of management of Bumble Inc. with respect to, among other things, its operations, its financial performance, its industry and the impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (“COVID-19”) on its business. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts. In some cases, you can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “outlook,” “believe(s),” “expect(s),” “potential,” “continue(s),” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “seek(s),” “predict(s),” “intend(s),” “trends,” “plan(s),” “estimate(s),” “anticipates,” “projection,” “will likely result” and or the negative version of these words or other comparable words of a future or forward-looking nature. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. These factors include but are not limited to those described in Part I, “Item 1A—Risk Factors”. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this Annual Report. Bumble Inc. undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.
ABOUT THIS ANNUAL REPORT
Financial Statement Presentation
This Annual Report includes certain historical consolidated financial and other data for Buzz Holdings L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Bumble Holdings”). Bumble Holdings was formed primarily as a vehicle to finance the acquisition (the “Sponsor Acquisition”) on January 29, 2020 of a majority stake in Worldwide Vision Limited by a group of investment funds managed by The Blackstone Group Inc. (“Blackstone”). As Bumble Holdings did not have any previous operations, Worldwide Vision Limited, a Bermuda exempted limited company, and its subsidiaries (the “Predecessor”) is viewed as the predecessor to Bumble Holdings and its consolidated subsidiaries (the “Successor”).
On January 29, 2020, Worldwide Vision Limited was merged via a solvent transfer of trade and assets into Buzz Merger Sub Limited, a Bermuda limited company and indirect subsidiary of Bumble Holdings, which carried forward and continued to operate the Worldwide Vision Limited trade as of that date. As a result, on January 29, 2020, Worldwide Vision Limited ceased to exist and Buzz Merger Sub Limited was subsequently renamed Worldwide Vision Limited. On September 9, 2020, Worldwide Vision Limited merged with and into Buzz Finco L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company and an indirect subsidiary of Bumble Holdings., with Buzz Finco L.L.C. surviving such merger.
Bumble Inc. was incorporated as a Delaware corporation on October 5, 2020. Prior to the completion of its initial public offering (the “IPO”) on February 16, 2021, Bumble Inc. undertook certain reorganization transactions (the “Reorganization Transactions”) such that Bumble Inc. is now a holding company, and its sole material asset is a controlling equity interest in Bumble Holdings. As the general partner of Bumble Holdings, Bumble Inc. now operates and controls all of the business and affairs of Bumble Holdings, has the obligation to absorb losses and receive benefits from Bumble Holdings and, through Bumble Holdings and its subsidiaries, conduct its business. As a result, the consolidated financial statements of Bumble Inc. will recognize the assets and liabilities received in the Reorganization Transactions at their historical carrying amounts, as reflected in the historical financial statements of Bumble Holdings. Bumble Inc. will consolidate Bumble Holdings on its consolidated financial statements and record a non-controlling interest, related to the Common Units (as defined below) and the Incentive Units (as defined below) held by its pre-IPO owners, on its consolidated balance sheet and statement of operations.
Bumble Inc. had no significant business transactions or activities prior to the Reorganization Transactions, and, as a result, the historical financial information reflects that of Bumble Holdings.
Certain Definitions
As used in this Annual Report, unless otherwise noted or the context requires otherwise:
“Badoo App and Other Average Revenue per Paying User” or “Badoo App and Other ARPPU” is a metric calculated based on Badoo App and Other Revenue in any measurement period, excluding any revenue generated from advertising and partnerships or affiliates, divided by Badoo App and Other Paying Users in such period divided by the number of months in the period.
a “Badoo App and Other Paying User” is a user that has purchased or renewed a subscription plan and/or made an in-app purchase on Badoo app in a given month (or made a purchase on one of our other apps that we owned and operated in a given month, or purchase on other third-party apps that used our technology in the relevant period). We calculate Badoo App and Other Paying Users as a monthly average, by counting the number of Badoo App and Other Paying Users in each month and then dividing by the number of months in the relevant measurement period.
“Badoo App and Other Revenue” is revenue derived from purchases or renewals of a Badoo app subscription plan and/or in-app purchases on Badoo app in the relevant period, purchases on one of our other apps that we owned and operated in the relevant period, purchases on other third party apps that used our technology in the relevant period and advertising, partnerships or affiliates revenue in the relevant period.
“Blocker Companies” refer to certain entities that are taxable as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes in which the Pre-IPO Shareholders held interests.
“Blocker Restructuring” refers to certain restructuring transactions that resulted in the acquisition by Pre-IPO Shareholders of shares of Class A common stock in exchange for their ownership interests in the Blocker Companies and Bumble Inc. acquiring an equal number of outstanding Common Units.
“Bumble,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Bumble Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.
“Bumble App Average Revenue per Paying User” or “Bumble App ARPPU” is a metric calculated based on Bumble App Revenue in any measurement period, divided by Bumble App Paying Users in such period divided by the number of months in the period.
a “Bumble App Paying User” is a user that has purchased or renewed a Bumble app subscription plan and/or made an in-app purchase on Bumble app in a given month. We calculate Bumble App Paying Users as a monthly average, by counting the number of Bumble App Paying Users in each month and then dividing by the number of months in the relevant measurement period.
“Bumble App Revenue” is revenue derived from purchases or renewals of a Bumble app subscription plan and/or in-app purchases on Bumble app in the relevant period.
“Bumble BFF” or “Bumble for Friends” is a mode within Bumble app that enables users to form platonic connections.
“Bumble Bizz” is a mode within Bumble app that enables users to form professional connections.
“Bumble Date” is a mode within Bumble app that enables users to form romantic connections.
“Bumble Holdings” refers to Buzz Holdings L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.
“Blackstone” or “our Sponsor” refer to investment funds associated with Blackstone Inc.
“Co-Investor” or “Accel” refer to an affiliate of Accel Partners LP.
“Class B Units” refers to the interests in Bumble Holdings called “Class B Units”, including the Class B units held by Buzz Management Aggregator L.P., that were outstanding prior to the Reclassification.
“Common Units” refers to the new class of units of Bumble Holdings created by the Reclassification and does not include Incentive Units.
“Continuing Incentive Unitholders” refers to certain pre-IPO holders of Class B Units who hold Incentive Units following the consummation of the Reorganization Transactions and the Offering Transactions.
“Founder” refers to Whitney Wolfe Herd, the founder of Bumble app, our Chief Executive Officer and member of our board of directors, together with entities beneficially owned by her.
“Fruitz” refers to Flashgap SAS, which operates the Fruitz app.
“High Vote Termination Date” means the earlier to occur of (i) seven years from the closing of the IPO and (ii) the date the parties to the stockholders agreement cease to own in the aggregate 7.5% of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock, assuming exchange of all Common Units.
“Incentive Units” refers to the new class of units of Bumble Holdings created by the reclassification of the Class B Units in the Reclassification. The Incentive Units are “profit interests” having economic characteristics similar to stock appreciation rights and having the right to share in any equity value of Bumble Holdings above specified participation thresholds. Vested Incentive Units may be converted to Common Units and be subsequently exchanged for shares of Class A common stock.
“Incentive Unitholders” refers collectively to our Continuing Incentive Unitholders and eligible service providers that received Incentive Units at the time of the IPO in connection with such individual’s employment or service.