Quarterlytics / Financial Services / Financial - Credit Services / Sezzle Inc

Sezzle Inc

szl · ASX Financial Services
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Ticker szl
Exchange ASX
Sector Financial Services
Industry Financial - Credit Services
Employees 201-500
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FY2019 Annual Report · Sezzle Inc
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The way forward.

A N N U A L   R E P O R T
A N N U A L   R E P O R T

2 0 1 9
2 0 1 9

For personal use onlyO U R   M I S S I O N
O U R   M I S S I O N

Financially  
empowering the  
next generation

For personal use onlyC O N T E N T S

2

4

5

11

Key Performance Metrics

About Sezzle

Message from the Executive Chairman and CEO

Sustainability Report

28 Operating & Financial Review

42 Directors’ Report

54 Consolidated Financial Statements

79 Directors’ Declaration

80

Additional ASX Information

83 Corporate Information

SEZZLE INC.

ANNUAL REPORT 2019

1

For personal use onlyKey Performance Metrics

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U N D E R LY I N G  
M E R C H A N T  
S A L E S   ( U M S )
( $ 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 s )

A C T I V E
M E R C H A N T S

A C T I V E
C U S T O M E R S

R E P E A T
U S A G E

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US$244.1

$31.1

685%

Underlying Merchant Sales 
(UMS) increased by 685%.

T O T A L

I N C O M E  

( $ 0 0 0 s )

US$16,060

$1,632

884%

Total income increased 

by 884% from 2018 to 

2019 reflecting strong 

top-line growth.

10,010

2,228

914,886

155,257

83.7%

69.7%

349%

Active Merchants increased 
by 349% and exceed 10,000.

N E T  

T R A N S A C T I O N

L O S S E S   A S   A  

P E R C E N T A G E  

O F   U M S

1.5%

2.3%

0.8PP

Losses as a percentage of UMS 

decreased from 2.3% in 2018 to 

1.5% in 2019 reflecting disciplined 

credit risk management and 

increased repeat usage by 

End-customers.

489%

Active Customers increased 
by 489% and are quickly 
approaching 1MM.

N E T  

T R A N S A C T I O N

M A R G I N   A S   A

P E R C E N T A G E

O F   U M S

0.3%

1.3PP

-1.0%

We went from negative 

Net Transaction Margin in 2018 

to positive Net Transaction 

Margin in 2019.

14PP

Repeat Usage increased 14 
percentage points (pp) and is 
calculated as the percentage 
of cumulative orders made by 
returning End-customers to 
date relative to total cumulative 
orders to date. This is an indication 
of increasingly positive user 
experience and growing 
brand loyalty.

For personal use only9

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U N D E R LY I N G  

M E R C H A N T  

S A L E S   ( U M S )

( $ 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 s )

US$244.1

$31.1

685%

Underlying Merchant Sales 

(UMS) increased by 685%.

T O T A L
I N C O M E  
( $ 0 0 0 s )

A C T I V E

M E R C H A N T S

10,010

2,228

349%

Active Merchants increased 

by 349% and exceed 10,000.

N E T  
T R A N S A C T I O N
L O S S E S   A S   A  
P E R C E N T A G E  
O F   U M S

A C T I V E

C U S T O M E R S

914,886

155,257

489%

Active Customers increased 

by 489% and are quickly 

approaching 1MM.

N E T  
T R A N S A C T I O N
M A R G I N   A S   A
P E R C E N T A G E
O F   U M S

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US$16,060

$1,632

884%

Total income increased 
by 884% from 2018 to 
2019 reflecting strong 
top-line growth.

1.5%

2.3%

0.8PP

Losses as a percentage of UMS 
decreased from 2.3% in 2018 to 
1.5% in 2019 reflecting disciplined 
credit risk management and 
increased repeat usage by 
End-customers.

0.3%

1.3PP

-1.0%

We went from negative 
Net Transaction Margin in 2018 
to positive Net Transaction 
Margin in 2019.

R E P E A T

U S A G E

83.7%

69.7%

14PP

Repeat Usage increased 14 

percentage points (pp) and is 

calculated as the percentage 

of cumulative orders made by 

returning End-customers to 

date relative to total cumulative 

orders to date. This is an indication 

of increasingly positive user 

experience and growing 

brand loyalty.

SEZZLE INC.

ANNUAL REPORT 2019

3

For personal use onlyAbout Sezzle

A   N E X T   G E N E R A T I O N   P A Y M E N T S   P L A T F O R M 
F O R   A   N E W   G E N E R A T I O N   O F   C O N S U M E R S

Additional reschedules on the order 
are levied a fee and are dependent  
on the shopper agreeing to pay that 
additional fee.

Failed payment fees are applied  
in cases where the End-customer’s 
payment fails in the automated 
payment process. In these instances, 
the fee is waived if the End-customer 
makes a payment within two days’ 
time. End-customers temporarily 
blocked from transacting with Sezzle 
for failure to make a payment, and 
who wish to continue to use Sezzle, 
must settle their arrears and any 
accrued failed payment fees before 
being allowed to make additional 
purchases on the Sezzle Platform.

Sezzle pays merchants the value of 
underlying sales net of transaction 
fees. Sezzle charges merchants for 
facilitating the purchases by End-
customers transacted on their retail 
web sites and select on-site locations. 

Merchant fees are generated on  
each individual, approved order 
placed by an End-customer through 
the Sezzle Platform. The fee is 
predominantly based on a percentage 
of the End-customer order value plus 
a fixed transaction fee.

Sezzle does not 
charge interest  
or initiation fees  
for offering credit 
to customers.

Reschedule fees and failed payment 
fees are another source of income  
for the Company. Reschedule fees are  
not a major driver of Sezzle Income, 
but may be applied to End-customers 
who need to shift their payment 
schedules. Sezzle limits reschedules  
to two weeks from the originally 
scheduled date and allows  
End-customers to reschedule  
once per order for free. 

Sezzle is a technology-enabled 
payments company based in the 
United States with operations in  
both the United States and Canada. 
The Company is traded on the 
Australian Securities Exchange  
(ASX) under the ticker SZL. Sezzle’s 
mission is to financially empower  
the next generation. This mission  
is accomplished by enabling 
merchants to offer customers a  
more consumer-friendly credit 
alternative. Many consumers today 
are locked out of the existing credit 
system or prefer not to use payment 
methods that can get them into  
debt or hurt their credit scores.  
Sezzle provides a flexible, reliable, 
transparent, and secure alternative  
to the incumbent payment options 
traditionally available to everyday 
consumers. 

The Company offers its payment 
solution in online stores and a  
select number of brick-and-mortar 
retailers. Sezzle connects consumers 
with merchants via a proprietary 
payments solution that instantly 
extends credit at point-of-sale, 
allowing consumers to purchase  
and receive the items that they  
need now while paying over time  
in interest-free installments. 

Merchants turn to Sezzle to increase 
sales by tapping into Sezzle’s existing 
user base, improving conversion 
rates, raising spend per transaction, 
increasing purchase frequency, and 
reducing return rates, all without any 
credit risk to the merchant. Sezzle is  
a high-growth, networked platform 
that benefits from a symbiotic and 
mutually beneficial relationship 
between merchants and consumers. 

4

For personal use onlyMessage from 
the Executive 
Chairman  
and CEO

CHARLIE YOUAKIM,  
CHAIRMAN AND CEO

In the year ahead, we will double 
down on our commitment to 
financially empowering the next 
generation of consumers.

Dear Fellow Shareholders,

We are excited to report that  
we experienced tremendous 
growth across all our key 
operating metrics in 2019.  
This growth, coupled with 
becoming of a publicly traded 
company in July, solidified  
our position as the leading 
US-based installment payments 
platform. Our team is committed 
to our mission of empowering  
the next generation of 
consumers and building a brand 
that makes our stakeholders 
proud. We forge into 2020 
with the momentum of 2019’s 
tremendous success and plans 
to make a significant impact  
in the years ahead.

This inaugural Annual Report has  
a very different look from previous 
Sezzle investor and marketing 
materials. This Annual Report marks 
the unveiling of Sezzle’s new brand. 
Indeed, this new brand, which we 
hope you love as much as we do, 
better reflects who we are as a 
company and where our business  
is heading. 

F I N A N C I A L LY   E M P O W E R I N G 
T H E   N E X T   G E N E R A T I O N

Our mission at Sezzle – it’s even 
chiseled on the walls of our 
headquarters – is “financially 
empowering the next generation.”  
Gen Z and millennial consumers 
across the globe are looking for  
new and dynamic ways to pay  
and also for long-term partners in 
their financial journeys. Since our 
founding, we have always been 

consumer-first in our thinking  
and actions. We are proud to be  
a trusted partner and brand for  
many Gen Z and millennial shoppers 
across North America. In the year 
ahead, we will double down on our 
commitment to financially empower 
the next generation of consumers,  
by expanding our array of product 
offerings to increase our value 
proposition to our shoppers and 
merchants and broadening our 
footprint both into new sectors  
and across new territories.

5

ANNUAL REPORT 2019SEZZLE INC.For personal use onlyE X E C U T I V E   C H A I R M A N   A N D   C E O ’ S   M E S S A G E   

C O N T I N U E D

2 0 1 9 :   A   S T O R Y   O F   S T E L L A R 
G R O W T H   A N D   C O M M I T T I N G 
T O   T H E   H I G H E S T   S TA N D A R D S 
O F   G O V E R N A N C E

At Sezzle, achieving stellar growth 
and committing to the highest 
standards of corporate governance 
are two sides of the same coin.  
As evidenced by our tremendous 
growth in 2019, we believe that  
we can continue to deliver high 
growth performance metrics in a 
responsible, sustainable manner 
throughout 2020 and well beyond.

As such, we filled the past year  
with many important milestones  
and achievements outlined here:

H I G H   G R O W T H   F O C U S 
W I T H   A   P U B L I C   C O M P A N Y 
M I N D S E T

Our capital raise on the Australian 
Securities Exchange in mid-2019 gave 
us the cash injection to fuel our 
growth. Becoming a public company 
accelerated our transformation into a 
mature enterprise poised to achieve a 
market leadership position. Our DNA 
is still that of a high-growth company. 
We are still the savvy marketers and 
competent risk managers who 
propelled us to where we are today. 
Becoming a public company has  
had a transformative and positive 
impact on our governance structure, 
approach to sustainability, and 
corporate best practices.

S T E L L A R   K E Y   P E R F O R M A N C E 
M E T R I C S   I N   2 0 1 9

Underlying Merchant Sales (UMS)  
on the Sezzle Platform – a key 
performance metric underpinning  
the symbiotic relationship between 
customer satisfaction and merchant 
success – totaled $244.1 million, up 
from $31.1 million in 2018, a marked 
685% year-over-year increase.  
These impressive economic metrics 
were made possible by strong growth 
in the number of users on both  
sides of the Sezzle Platform. In 2019, 
Active Customers grew by over  
489%, ending the year at 914,886,  
while Active Merchants grew to  
10,010 compared to 2,228 at the end  
of 2018, an increase of 349%. Despite 
the increasingly large and varied  
size of consumers and merchants,  
Net Transactions Losses (NTL) 
improved to (1.5%) of UMS and Net 
Transaction Margin (NTM) turned 
positive in 2019, ending the year at 
0.3% of UMS. This dynamic is proving 
that Sezzle can scale its business 
while mitigating risk, improving  
unit economics, and securing 
operational and financial efficiencies.

6

For personal use onlyWe believe that we 
can continue to 
deliver high growth 
performance metrics 
in a responsible, 
sustainable manner 
throughout 2020 
and well beyond.

K E Y   D R I V E R S   O F   G R O W T H

We are always focused on ways to 
efficiently expand our prospects. 

Our mid-year entry into the  
Canadian marketplace represented  
a significant opportunity for our 
company because it marked Sezzle’s 
first territorial expansion outside  
the United States. We know that 
territorial expansion will undoubtedly 
be one of the tools that we use  
to continue to push forward on  
our growth. 

During 2019 we also leveraged 
partnerships as a growth driver.  
We forged several key strategic 
partnerships that are enabling  
broad, large-scale adoption of  
the Sezzle Platform by entirely  
new communities of merchants. 
Expanding our reach with merchants 
through these partnerships enhanced 
our unit economics by decreasing 
merchant acquisition costs. 

To support this exceptional  
growth, we need to fuel it with  
capital. In December of 2019,  
we announced a new $100 million  
debt funding facility to supply  
that fuel. This funding has given  
our company the added financial 
wherewithal to accelerate our 
Underlying Merchant Sales in  
the year ahead.

7

ANNUAL REPORT 2019SEZZLE INC.For personal use onlyE X E C U T I V E   C H A I R M A N   A N D   C E O ’ S   M E S S A G E 

C O N T I N U E D

D A T A   A N D   P R I V A C Y

In our business, data is the key to 
nearly everything. We are keenly aware 
of the importance of data security 
and data privacy. To this end, our 
engineering and data science teams 
have made data security priority 
number one. We take pride in knowing 
that Sezzle’s customer, merchant, and 
employee data is safe and secure.

C O R E   V A L U E S

Everything at Sezzle boils down  
to who we are as a company, and  
the key to capturing our corporate 
ethos is to understand our guiding 
principles and core values. At Sezzle, 
from the CEO down to the newest 
employee, we are committed to:

•  Creating a company identity  
synonymous with Strong 
Character, rooted in integrity;

•  Fostering a culture of  

Excellent Communication,  
with a steadfast focus on  
openness and transparency;

•  Developing and supporting a 

Passionately Engaged workforce;

•  Harnessing a tireless esprit de 

corps, being Driven to Succeed 
and wanting to win, by focusing  
on making ourselves better;

•  Preserving a work environment  

that encourages overall wellness, 
happiness, and Having Fun.

As we have grown in complexity  
and size, we have not wavered from 
these core tenets. Our company 
ethos has remained stable and  
forms the foundation of what  
we aspire to be—a genuinely 
revolutionary high-growth  
financial technology enterprise.

8

P R O - A C T I V E   A P P R O A C H 
T O   R E G U L A T I O N   A N D 
O V E R S I G H T

O U R   S E C R E T   W E A P O N : 
S E Z Z L E ’ S   C O R P O R A T E 
C U LT U R E

In 2019, our company’s roster of 
full-time personnel nearly doubled  
in size. We continue to build our 
capabilities across sales and 
business development, engineering, 
risk management, and other core 
strategic growth areas. Despite a  
tight U.S. labor market, Sezzle is 
drawing in significant interest and 
demand for our open positions.  
In 2019, we had well over 2,000 
applications during our recruiting 
process to fill 30 roles. This strong 
inbound applicant pipeline is an 
essential dynamic in a fast-growing 
company. This pipeline allows us to 
not only find the most competent  
and skilled people to join our ranks 
but also those who embody our  
core values. We know that the right 
corporate culture is a crucial driver  
of its long-term success, which is  
why we are so focused on it.

The ‘buy now, pay later’ space is  
new in North America, and, as the 
marquee US-based leader in the 
space, we aim to become the lodestar 
for regulators seeking to better 
understand this emerging area  
of commerce. 

Our consumer-friendly product  
puts us in a positive light with 
regulators who are typically focused 
on predatory lending practices.  
However, it’s possible we have  
relied too much on the assumption 
that the consumer-friendly nature  
of our product is self-evident.  
The state of California ruling on our 
lending license application—since 
resolved—was an example of a 
misstep that we are taking steps  
to prevent in the future.

We have been proactive with 
regulators in the past, but our focus 
in this area will increase in 2020.  
In October of 2019, we sought out  
an audience with the US Consumer 
Federal Protection Bureau to give 
officials an overview of our consumer-
friendly product and our burgeoning 
sector. It was a highly productive 
meeting that exemplifies what we 
need to do throughout the US and 
Canada with federal, state, and 
provincial oversights. We will seek  
out constructive dialogue with  
these regulators, enabling us to 
address issues head on, before  
they become problems.

Our payment product is very new  
in North America. Because of this, we 
feel it is incumbent upon ourselves,  
as the leading US-based platform  
in this sector, to help inform and 
educate US and Canadian regulators. 
We will spend a good part of the 
upcoming year meeting with 
lawmakers and policymakers on an 
array of emerging issues relevant  
to this category to help shape the 
narrative. We know we are the type  
of business they want to support.

For personal use onlyWe believe in the power of diversity: 
diversity in ethnicity; diversity  
in socio-economic background; 
diversity in age, gender, and gender 
identity; and diversity in beliefs.  
We also believe in a healthy,  
mission-driven corporate culture.  
One might say that our culture, which 
supports transparency and steadfast 
dedication to empowering and 
supporting the consumer, is our 
secret weapon. We believe being  
open and transparent about what  
we do and how we do it is not at  
odds with driving income growth  
and charting a course towards 
profitability. Instead, we believe that  
it is precisely the embodiment of 
these values that will enable us to 
achieve our objectives swiftly and  
with limited external friction.

W E   A R E   A L L   I N   T H I S 
T O G E T H E R :   S E Z Z L E ’ S 
C O M M I T M E N T   T O   S H A R E D 
R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y   A N D 
S T A K E H O L D E R   V A L U E .

Sezzle is a company with its finger  
on the pulse of millennials and Gen Z 
consumers. One of the fundamental 
characteristics of this age cohort is 
the sense that their loyalties will not 
merely follow brands that are a means 
to an end. For millennials and even 
more so for Gen Z, good corporate 
citizens must not only be good at 
what they do – they must be agents  
of good. Sezzle has made a firm 
commitment to delivering value 
across the entirety of its stakeholder 
ecosystem: consumers, merchants, 
employees, the community at large, 
and of course, our shareholders.

One of the core concepts  
embedded in every critical  
decision that we make at Sezzle  
is the notion of a “mission-driven 
approach to profit.” 

Our focus is not on cutting corners, 
but on finding faster and more 
innovative ways to get to the finish 
line. We hire the very best people and 
let them take the reins. We encourage 
a culture of thinking outside of the 
box and trying new things. Most 
importantly, we encourage listening 
to our customers and retail merchant 
partners and engaging in an open 
dialogue with all of our stakeholders.

We now have over 10,000 merchants  
on our Platform, ranging from small 
‘mom-and-pop’ online stores to 
billion-dollar retailers. We understand 
that we cannot always take a one-
size-fits-all approach to meet their 
needs and expectations. In 2019, we 
began developing an array of new 
product offerings to meet the specific 
needs of small, medium, and large-
sized merchants. We’ve also started 
testing a variety of in-store payment 
solutions for brick-and-mortar clients 
and customers who prefer to do  
their shopping in person.

On the consumer front, we’ve  
taken up several initiatives aimed  
at creating useful and compelling 
tools to help our End-customers with 
payment scheduling, budgeting, and 
financial education. We believe that 
supporting our consumers to take 
control of their finances is in the 
long-term best interest of Sezzle.

Shared responsibility is a cornerstone 
of our organization. We’ve partnered 
with select merchants who have 
socially-driven causes to support  
our consumers’ desires to give back 
and support their communities.

Something I am particularly proud  
of is how strong the culture of giving 
back is among Sezzle employees. 
Throughout 2019, Sezzlers, as we  
call our team members, volunteered 
countless hours of their own time in 
their communities, non-profits, and 
other service-oriented organizations.

9

ANNUAL REPORT 2019SEZZLE INC.For personal use onlyThe new logo is more accessible  
and leans into our core audience.  
The overall messaging conveys a 
more youthful feel, and, we hope,  
is more readily associated with our 
mantra of financial empowerment. 

In short, we feel good about how 
much we have achieved and where  
we are heading in 2020.

On behalf of my co-founders and  
our senior leadership at Sezzle,  
I’d like to take this opportunity to 
thank our team of deeply committed 
coworkers. You continue to inspire us, 
challenge us, and help push Sezzle 
forward every day.

We at Sezzle believe we have tapped 
into something bigger than merely 
being a payments platform where 
buyers and sellers meet. It’s increasingly 
evident to us, told through myriad 
merchant and customer testimonials, 
that Sezzle means so much more to 
its users than simply a way to pay.  
We increasingly see ourselves as 
being in the business of transforming 
lives, facilitating personal financial 
betterment, and preparing the next 
generation of consumers for the  
road ahead.

And that’s something we will continue 
to fight for every single day.

Charlie Youakim 
Executive Chairman and  
Chief Executive Officer

Charlie.Youakim@sezzle.com 

E X E C U T I V E   C H A I R M A N   A N D   C E O ’ S   M E S S A G E 

C O N T I N U E D

S T R O N G   F I N A N C I A L 
P O S I T I O N

We ended 2019 in a strong financial 
position. The initial public offering  
on the ASX raised USD 30.3 million  
of growth financing, which enabled  
us to invest in key strategic areas.  
We added to our financial strength 
with our new credit facility. The new 
facility will fund significant growth  
as every additional dollar of capital 
supports $14 of Underlying  
Merchant Sales. 

We find ourselves in a great situation 
due to our merchant diversification.  
A large number of small merchant 
partners is a winning strategy.  
This dynamic turns a merchant loss 
into a relative non-event, which is 
powerful. We ignore this, though,  
and instead strive to keep every 
merchant on our platform. We keep 
our merchant partners happy,  
as indicated by public merchant 
ratings and our low churn rates.  
Low merchant churn means that  
our user growth will continue to  
tick up, which is something we love.

We end the year with $36.6 million  
of cash on hand, 123 employees  
plus 10 contractors spanning four 
countries, and a full head of steam 
for 2020.

B R A N D I N G   F O R   T H E   F U T U R E

Finally, as I alluded to above, in  
this report, we are unveiling our new 
logo and updated brand identity.  
As a consumer-first organization,  
we are continually listening to our 
customers and retail merchant 
partners. We take in their feedback 
and assess where we can make 
adjustments. Through this feedback, 
we learned that our brand didn’t  
fully capture the dynamism, energy, 
and diversity that are the hallmarks  
of our company. We have fixed it.

The result of this process is the new 
logo, branding, and imagery that 
weaves its way throughout this report. 
The vibrant palette of colors reflects 
the inclusiveness and diversity  
that figures so prominently in  
our positioning. 

The initial  
public offering  
on the  
ASX raised 

US$30.3M

of growth  
financing

Sezzle is a company predicated  
on removing barriers and enabling 
consumers to buy the things they 
need today with a financially 
responsible way to pay.  
We believe that the percentage of our 
income derived from failed payment 
fees is the lowest of our competitive 
set. We pride ourselves on being the 
only payments platform that offers 
free rescheduling of payments.  
We endeavor to grow in partnership 
with our customers, not despite them.

We view all of our stakeholders  
as symbiotic components of a 
flourishing Sezzle ecosystem.  
Each piece is accretive in nature, 
making the whole more powerful  
than the sum of its parts. Shareholder 
value is not just about bottom-line 
profits. That’s an unsustainable vision. 
Long-term shareholder value will  
only come from the culmination  
of an innovative and hardworking 
workforce, satisfied customers, 
growing merchants, and a company 
that gives back to its community.  
We are steadfast in our belief that  
the stakeholder approach to winning 
is the right path. This belief is an 
immutable core underpinning of  
our corporate philosophy. 

10

For personal use onlyS U S T A I N A B I L I T Y   R E P O R T
S U S T A I N A B I L I T Y   R E P O R T

 Building your 
tomorrow,  
today

SEZZLE INC.

11

ANNUAL REPORT 2019For personal use onlyWe are in the business  
of doing good

Two out of three. That’s the number  
of Americans under the age of 30  
that are considered ‘sub-prime’ –  
a classification in the American 
financial system that indicates  
that an individual’s credit score 
presents a substantially high  
default risk. A sub-prime credit  
score effectively locks out millions  
of Americans from access to  
lenders who finance products  
such as mortgages, credit cards,  
and auto loans.

67%
30 years 
or younger 
are sub-prime

At Sezzle, we believe the algorithms 
used by third-party organizations to 
generate credit scores overemphasize 
the importance of credit history.  
As a result, many young Americans 
and Canadians are finding it 
increasingly difficult to get access  
to credit due to their stunted  
credit score. 

This lack of access to credit 
disenfranchises large portions of  
the population from harnessing  
their real purchasing power. In turn, 
the impact of not using credit early 
on in life makes it more difficult for 
young adults to develop a credit 
history, critical to developing a  
good credit score in the future.

Due to this dynamic, Gen Z, the cohort 
born between 1997 and 2012, and 
millennials, those born between 1981 
and 1996, have turned to debit cards 
and other cash-based equivalents  
for their purchasing needs. 

It was precisely from this vicious  
cycle in the credit marketplace, 
unfairly penalizing young adults,  
that the idea for Sezzle was born.  
We call these same young adults 
“prime-to-be” because we believe  
that they shouldn’t be hampered  
in the building of a credit record  
when a low credit score is due to a 
lack of payment and credit history, 
not a lack of willingness to repay.

At Sezzle, we view these Americans 
and Canadians – those ill-served by 
the current credit system – as the 
heart and soul of our tomorrow.  
We believe in them, so we’ve built  
a product that supports them.  
We are empowering them with a  
way to pay, using credit, even if they 
have no discernible credit history.  
We are focused on empowering 
millions of Gen Z and millennial 
customers because we know that  
they will grow into prime credit 
customers in the years to come.

6
7
%

3
3
%

5
9
% 4
%

1

5
1
%

4
9
%

5
9
%

4
1
%

8
5
%

1
5
%

7
1
%

2
9
%

30 or younger

30-39

40-49

50-59

60-69

70 or older

Credit score distribution by age

≤680

>680

12

For personal use onlyM E E T   T H E   S E Z Z L E R S

Equally important is the diversity of 
experience and perspective of our 
company’s workforce. Sezzlers speak 
9 different languages and dialects 
and hail from 12 different countries 
and territories, representing a broad 
cross-section of cultural and socio 
– economic backgrounds and 
upbringings. This broad-based 
perspective within our ranks 
strengthens our ability to gather 
insights and better connect with  
our End-customers and merchant 
clients, who are equally diverse in 
their composition.

We are deeply committed to the 
notion that our diversity and 
openness makes us stronger and 
more cohesive as an organization.

Although our senior leadership  
team brings together decades of 
experience in their relevant areas  
of expertise, we are proud to have  
a workforce that reflects the younger 
nature of our core consumer base. 
Our average age of employee is  
29 years old, comprised of a growing 
contingent of Gen Z, millennials,  
Gen X, and baby boomers.

We think of ourselves as “training 
wheels” for young credit users.  
We allow young adults to exercise 
their budgeting muscles with short-
term financing on everyday goods 
and services. Our installment plans 
make it easier for those on a tight 
budget to buy the things they need 
today without incurring undue 
financial burden or paying massive 
interest charges.

One of our goals is to make this  
next generation of young adults 
across North America fall in love  
with our brand by using our product. 
We know that these young consumers 
will be our future, and if we do our  
job correctly, we’ll be a part of their 
future, helping them gain their 
footing on their financial journeys.

We founded Sezzle on the principle  
of making consumers’ lives more 
manageable and empowering them 
to live responsibly. We endeavor to 
serve our customers by enabling 
them to acquire the things they need 
when they need them without further 
aggravating their financial health.  
We view Sezzle as a vector through 
which consumers can take greater 
control over their finances and set 
themselves on a path for future 
success and growth. We are all  
about building a bridge to a  
better tomorrow, starting today.

In short, we believe that we are in  
the business of doing good, and  
it is this ethos that sits at the heart  
of the long-term sustainability of  
our company. As we grow in scale, 
expand geographically, and diversify 
our product offerings, our board  
and executive leadership will remain 
committed to the twin concepts of 
doing good and helping solve the  
real problems facing real people.

In 2019, we received well over 2,000 
applicants to fill a mere 30 open 
positions. Two of the most frequently 
asked questions from applicants 
during the multiple interviews 
conducted throughout the year  
were, “What does Sezzle mean?”  
and “What is it like to be a Sezzler?”

There is no easy answer, of course.  
We don’t include the word ‘pay’ in our 
name, as we don’t see our long-term 
mission constrained by our flagship 
product offering in 2019 and 2020. 
Instead, we are building a company 
predicated on developing an intimate 
and integral long-term relationship 
with our End-customers.

We are fully committed to building  
the foundation for a trusted 
partnership with consumers, and  
a key to fostering this mindset  
within our company is, naturally, 
hiring the right people.

Although our workforce, which  
now numbers 133 employees and 
contractors, is highly diverse in its 
composition, it’s a shared belief  
in our core values that binds us 
together. Sezzlers:

•  Exhibit Strong Character

•  Are Passionately Engaged

•  Are Driven to Succeed

•  Demonstrate Excellent 
Communication; and

•  Have Fun.

We are proud of the diversity of  
our workforce and look forward to 
further expanding the company’s 
heterogeneous makeup in the year 
ahead. We have a corporate culture 
and work atmosphere that embraces 
and celebrates the diverse array  
of political affiliations, religious 
persuasions, and sexual orientations 
that our employees bring to the 
organization.

13

ANNUAL REPORT 2019SEZZLE INC.For personal use onlyC A I T LY N   R O E 
HEAD OF PEOPLE OPERATIONS, 
M I N N E A P O L I S ,   U S A 

There is no greater asset to our 
company than our people – our 
‘Sezzlers’ – a cohesive team united 
behind our core values. Our culture is 
a key to the long-term sustainability 
of our business and a strategic 
advantage when it comes to 
recruiting. Top talent wants to come 
and work at Sezzle not only because 
they believe in our mission and our 
business, but because it’s a great 
place to work.

W E   A R E   I N   T H E   B U S I N E S S   O F   D O I N G   G O O D   

C O N T I N U E D

E M M A N U E L   I S A A C ,   
F U L L   S T A C K   S O F T W A R E   E N G I N E E R ,   
L A G O S ,   N I G E R I A

Although I am based on the other side of the 
world, I feel a real sense of connectedness to my 
teammates in Minneapolis. I’ve visited the office 
multiple times and my teammates there are like 
family to me. Our international presence also 
allows us to take advantage of a 24-hour workflow. 
When my teammates in Minneapolis prepare to  
go home for the evening, they hand off projects to 
our teammates in India, and then to me in Nigeria. 
When I’m getting ready to sign off, the team in the 
US is just getting started. This spirit of global 
connectedness and international sense of  
family among the team members are the  
aspects I most value with my work at Sezzle.

14

For personal use onlyO U R   C O M M I T M E N T   T O   
T R A N S P A R E N C Y   I S   L I T E R A L

Our main headquarters is in the heart 
of the North Loop area of downtown 
Minneapolis. It’s a vibrant commercial 
district dotted with scores of trendy 
restaurants, coffee shops, galleries, 
boutiques, and start-up technology 
firms, making it a very desirable 
location for young workers. Our office, 
housed in an old warehouse building, 
mixes historic charm with a fun 
‘start-up’ look and feel, with exposed 
brick walls butted up against full 
glass conference rooms. It’s a place 
that our team loves and celebrates.

Our open office space fosters 
communication and transparency 
while creating ample opportunities  
for spontaneous cross-departmental 
interaction – an often-serendipitous 
form of instinctive connection.  
This connectedness sparks new  
ideas and brings innovation to  
life. The dearth of internal walls, 
scarcity of individual offices, ample 
communal areas, and the abundance 
of free snacks and beverages grant 
employees of all levels easy access  
to senior leadership and vice versa, 
breaking down the traditional 
barriers of the corporate hierarchy.

Sezzle employees 
enjoy an open 
workspace that 
fosters informal 
cross-departmental 
collaboration,  
idea sharing, and 
reinforces a shared 
sense of mission.

Education and learning are  
significant components of daily  
life at Sezzle. Industry workshops, 
all-staff ‘Town Hall Meetings,’ and 
off-site corporate events play a  
vital role at the company. As the 
workforce expands both in size as  
well as geography, our core values 
remain intact, and our cultural profile 
as a company remains strong and 
unified. We take our company culture 
seriously, and we invest in initiatives 
that nurture and cultivate the Sezzle 
esprit de corps. Members of our senior 
leadership team often lead lunches, 
learning sessions, and interactive 
forums that enable employees to 
engage with leadership, ask tough 
questions, and offer suggestions. 

We believe that you reap what you 
sow, and we are committed to never 
taking our strong cultural identity  
for granted.

Our diverse yet culturally aligned 
workforce, situated in an open and 
transparent work environment that 
fosters personal interaction, has 
created a fertile breeding ground  
for breakthrough ideas, innovative 
problem-solving, and game-changing 
strategic thinking. Our culture has 
become a hallmark of Sezzle’s 
successes to date. Sezzle’s culture  
is an asset that furthers our 
corporate mission and firmly cements 
our shared sense of purpose.

15

ANNUAL REPORT 2019SEZZLE INC.For personal use onlyW E   A R E   I N   T H E   B U S I N E S S   O F   D O I N G   G O O D   

C O N T I N U E D

S E Z Z L E :   S T R A T E G I C   I N V E S T M E N T   
I N   O U R   P E O P L E 

Our people are our greatest asset; they fuel the tremendous growth that we see on the horizon ahead.  
As such, we have invested significant resources in our ‘People Operations’ team to equip them to find, 
nurture, and support Sezzle talent.

One of the critical initiatives slated 
for 2020 is the formation of an 
external advisory board, comprised  
of seasoned, experienced leaders  
in fintech and payments, retail, SMBs 
(small and medium businesses), 
technology, public policy, consumer 
marketing, and other relevant areas. 
As we compile this external body  
of advisors, we will apply the same 
rigorous set of credentials as we do 
for every new employee with an eye 
towards cultural fit. Moreover, a vital 
prerogative of this advisory board is 
that it not only represents a diversity 
of opinions based on varied 
foundational and area expertise  
but that it reflects the broad cultural 
diversity and heterogeneity that  
we are seeking to foster within our 
company ranks.

At Sezzle, regular interaction and 
engagement between our people 
operations team members and  
staff are always encouraged.  
So many times, in a typical corporate 
environment, one only engages with 
human resources at the point of 
hiring, firing, or retiring. We take the 
opposite approach. We encourage 
employees at Sezzle to regularly share 
their experiences and perspectives 
with our people operations team,  
in a confidential setting, to ensure 
that there is an open line of 
communication between senior 
management and employees at all 
different levels of the company.  
This open dialog is an important 
feature that heads off potential  
areas for concern in the early stages, 
allowing senior management to  
gain insights into issues to which  
they wouldn’t usually have access. 
According to the employment review 
site Glassdoor, Sezzle is rated 4.8 out 
of 5.0 stars, and has a 100% “would 
recommend the company to a friend” 
rating as of December 31, 2019.

All full-time employees are eligible  
to receive equity-based awards  
in addition to their standard 
compensation and benefits 
packages. We fully embrace the  
idea of shared ownership in the 
company’s growth as we believe  
that equity participation is an 
extension of our shared values  
of the community. We hope that all 
employees become shareholders  
in our company.

We’re in an excellent spot today  
with a highly diverse and gender-
balanced workforce. But, we 
understand we must continue to 
invest in programs that ensure the 
long-term sustainability of our 
diversity, which we consider to be  
a core strategic asset. We have a 
variety of programs underfoot 
throughout 2020 that will seek to 
bolster our diversity and gender 
equality, particularly as it relates  
to management roles.

Another initiative we are planning  
to kick off in 2020 is developing a 
meaningful whistleblower policy  
for employees to raise concerns 
outside of the traditional hierarchical 
managerial lines of reporting. In 
consultation with external experts 
who specialize in this area, we will  
be developing a thoughtful and 
responsible set of procedures in 
which employees at all levels will feel 
comfortable and protected in coming 
forward and voicing their concerns 
about potential misconduct.

Sezzle is rated

stars according  
to the employment  
review site Glassdoor

16

For personal use only2 0 2 0 :   M O R E   I N V E S T M E N T   
I N   C O M M U N I T Y   S T A K E H O L D E R S

One area we began to develop in  
2019, and look forward to expanding 
throughout the year ahead, is our 
corporate commitment to volunteerism 
and charitable initiatives. Sezzlers, by 
and large, are very generous with their 
time; many are involved outside of 
regular working hours with an array of 
charitable, religious, community–based, 
and other non-profit organizations.

Sezzle’s leadership team plans to 
develop a meaningful set of initiatives 
and programs focused on targeted 
volunteerism and charitable giving 

that align with the company’s mission 
of financially empowering the next 
generation. We already have a generous 
charitable matching program in 
place, but this is just a start.

Through mentorship programs, 
financial literacy programs, and  
a variety of other educational and 
community-based projects focused 
on personal finance and economic 
well-being, in 2020, we aim to more 
fully leverage Sezzle’s domain 
knowledge to benefit the community 
at large.

Both in Minneapolis and at  
our Canadian headquarters in 
Toronto, we are fortunate to be 
located close to a large number of 
community-based organizations  
that focus on advancing women  
and disadvantaged youth in tech. 
Because of their missions and our 
proximity and penchant for 
supporting groups like these, it’s  
our goal to find ways to help them 
and partner with them. We plan to 
develop a relationship with a leading 
organization in this charitable space.

SEZZLE INC.

17

ANNUAL REPORT 2019For personal use onlyW E   A R E   I N   T H E   B U S I N E S S   O F   D O I N G   G O O D   

C O N T I N U E D

C O N S U M E R S   A R E   A T   T H E 
H E A R T   O F   O U R   P R O M I S E   
A N D   O U R   M I S S I O N

It’s not uncommon to hear corporate executives use the phrase 
“consumer-first,” but at Sezzle, our dedication to the End-customer  
is not just lip service – it’s at the heart of who we are.

Active Customers 
using Sezzle grew by

489% 

in 2019, positioning  
the company to break 
the one million mark 
early in 2020.

For this reason, Sezzle is investing 
heavily in developing a series of 
programs and initiatives focused  
on studying the Gen Z cohort and 
using the insights and learnings from 
these efforts to better engage with 
Gen Zers who are above the age of 18.

This dedication to serving our 
End-customers is the reason that  
our BBB (Better Business Bureau) 
rating was an A+ during 2019, our 
Trustpilot score is 4.8 out of 5.0 and, 
our Facebook reviews give us a 4.8 
out of a possible 5.0. We are proud  
of these ratings and look forward  
to continuing to exceed our 
customers’ expectations.

A L E X   W I L L I A M S   O F   T H E   N E W 
Y O R K   T I M E S ,   D E S C R I B I N G 
G E N E R A T I O N   Z   ( 9 / 1 8 / 2 0 1 5 )

With the oldest members of this cohort  
barely out of high school, these tweens and 
teens of today are primed to become the 
dominant youth influencers of tomorrow. 
Flush with billions in spending power, they 
promise untold riches to marketers who  
can find the master key to their psyche.

Over the past year, the number of 
Active Customers using Sezzle grew 
by 489%, positioning the company  
to break the one million Active 
Customer mark in early 2020. 
Although dispersed across many 
different demographics in the United 
States and Canada, a large portion  
of that growth stemmed from new  
Gen Z and millennial customers.

These two demographic subsets  
are substantial in size. There are 
approximately 80 million millennials  
in the US and Canada and another  
90 million that comprise Gen Z. 
Although the majority of Gen Z have 
yet to become adults, every year  
over 4.5 million new members of this 
cohort turn 18 years old and enter  
the workforce, start college, or take 
up vocational training.

Demographers, generational experts, 
and consumer trend analysts are 
united in pointing out that although 
there are some shared characteristics 
between millennials and Gen Z, to 
treat them as the same would be a 
big mistake on the part of consumer-
facing brands. 

18

For personal use onlyS E Z Z L E   B E L I E V E S   I N   G E N   Z

Simply put, our goal is to become the preferred payment platform for Gen Z. We believe that investing 
in this up-and-coming generation is a strategic pillar that will help guarantee our company’s long-term 
financial success by cementing our brand as a preferred method of payment among this group.

The future is always on the mind of 
Gen Z. For a generation that grew  
up after 9/11 and lived through the 
2008 financial crisis, this is a cohort 
that has learned that life can be 
unpredictable. Among the strongest 
tenets that unite the majority of  
Gen Zers in North America is their 
commitment to ensuring diversity  
in their workplace, embracing of all 
different types of lifestyles, interests, 
and vocations, and vigorously 
defending their right to a level  
playing field.

The other major trend that defines 
Gen Z is social media. Gen Z is a 
generation that grew up on Wi-Fi. 
Apps such as Snapchat, Instagram, 
and increasingly Tik Tok, are not only 
replacing the communication tools  
of millennials, but Gen Zers are 
finding new and compelling ways to 
use them. They are a digitally native 
generation that consumes media in  
a way that is profoundly different 
from any generation that came 
before them. The number of hours 
this generation spends on devices 
and screens outpaces that of any 
other generation, and many studies 
project that the number of hours  
Gen Z spends on devices will 
eventually approach the number  
of waking hours. Indeed, a recent 
study indicated that nearly 75% of  
Gen Zers’ time outside of school  
or work is spent online.

Sezzle is a company with its  
finger on the pulse of Gen Z; we 
understand their values, how to 
connect with them, and what drives 
them. Our payments platform and 
user experience are optimized to 
engage with Gen Zers on their  
terms. We understand that for many 
Gen Zers, debt is a ‘four-letter word”  

We understand that personal 
recommendations, word-of-mouth, 
and the cycles of digital virality are 
the quintessential hallmarks of how 
brands are recognized and ultimately 
adopted by this young generation. 
The bottom line is that our reputation 
matters with this group. We need to 
treat each consumer engagement 
and every customer transaction as  
if our company’s future depends  
on it – because it does!

in the pejorative sense. One of our 
aims in connecting with the Gen Z 
cohort is to take the fear out of credit 
by creating an inviting, trustworthy 
payment solution. We want to create  
a payment system that is much  
more than merely a way to transact, 
but also a dedicated partner they 
can lean on for help with budgeting, 
planning, and preparing for the 
future. Many of our dedicated 
customer success specialists are 
themselves members of Gen Z, and 
bring invaluable insights to our 
engineering, product development, 
and marketing teams.

Because of the nature of our 
business, Sezzle takes precautions to 
avoid marketing directly to teenagers 
below the age of 18. Nonetheless, we 
are fully cognizant of the fact that  
the teenagers of today are not only 
far more digitally savvy than older 
generations but are exposed to a 
plethora of external influences much 
earlier than in generations past. 

ZENAB KASHIF,  
STUDENT AND ENTREPRENEUR,  
AGE 21

Sezzle helps me invest in myself. Because of 
Sezzle, I can buy higher quality items that  
I’ll be able to use for a long time. I can use 
Sezzle to pay for these items over time and 
use the purchases to invest in my future  
and my career. The ability to stretch 
payments has taken a lot of stress and 
anxiety off my back.

19

ANNUAL REPORT 2019SEZZLE INC.For personal use onlyW E   A R E   I N   T H E   B U S I N E S S   O F   D O I N G   G O O D   

C O N T I N U E D

O U R   N E W   B R A N D   A I M S   T O   C O N N E C T   
W I T H   T H E   V A L U E S   O F   G E N   Z E R S

The new Sezzle brand, unveiled for the first time in a public forum in this annual report, is a reflection  
of our efforts over the past year to engage in a meaningful way with our core customer base.

We spent many hours listening to  
Gen Z consumers, logging their 
comments and suggestions, and 
transposing that feedback into 
tangible, actionable projects and 
initiatives. Over the course of 2019,  
our marketing division underwent a 
wholesale renewal, switching up the 
leadership and bringing in new talent. 
One of the very first projects of this 
new team was to set up a variety of 
focus groups and listening sessions 
to understand how our brand was 
viewed in the broader marketplace, 

and in particular by Gen Z.  
One consistent piece of feedback 
garnered through this process  
was that, although our customers 
love the user experience and really 
value the Sezzle platform, they felt 
that the brand didn’t share that  
same level of dynamism. 

As a result, we embarked on a mission 
to revisit our corporate identity and 
institutional brand. Everything was  
on the table. The feedback from these 
studies was clear: consumers wanted 

Sezzle’s brand to reflect the energy 
and diversity that are the hallmarks 
of our product offering. The result of 
this process is not just the new logo 
that encompasses a wide range of 
colors. It’s also a unique feeling that 
projects the Sezzle ethos in a much 
more forward-facing fashion while 
paying homage to our core pillars  
of transparency, inclusivity, and 
diversity that figure so prominently  
in our market positioning.

20

For personal use onlyO U R   T E C H N O L O G Y   I S   B U I L D I N G   
A   B R I D G E   T O   A   B E T T E R   T O M O R R O W 

Although it would be correct to 
describe Sezzle as a digital payments 
solution, such a statement barely 
scratches the surface of what our 
company does. At its core, Sezzle  
is a powerful technology platform  
with a proprietary risk management 
algorithm managed by a team of 
experienced engineers, sophisticated 
data scientists, and steady-handed 
actuaries that safeguard the long-
term stability and sustainability  
of Sezzle’s business model.  

Our intellectual property is the 
backbone of our business. It’s created 
a strategic advantage that has put 
Sezzle’s technology at the forefront of 
the payments industry. Our underlying 
code, technology-centered human 
resources, and data analytics 
capabilities combine to serve as  
both a formidable defensive shield 
and a strategic differentiator in  
the competitive landscape.

In the year ahead, we will be  
folding in additional resources to 
complement our technology team. 

In 2020, we will invest in bringing  
on more human talent as well as  
adding to our existing investments  
in machine learning and artificial 
intelligence capabilities.

The end-result of Sezzle’s massive 
deployment of resources into our 
technology matrix is a stable, secure, 
and high-performance suite of 
interconnected digital capabilities, 
management protocols, and human 
resources that are positioning  
Sezzle for a period of extensive, 
high-pitched growth.

21

ANNUAL REPORT 2019SEZZLE INC.For personal use onlyW E   A R E   I N   T H E   B U S I N E S S   O F   D O I N G   G O O D   

C O N T I N U E D

T H E   M E T R O   T A R G E T   R E T A I L 
A C C E L E R A T O R   P R O G R A M 
P O W E R E D   B Y   T E C H S T A R S

Throughout 2019, executives from 
Sezzle participated in the METRO 
Target Retail Accelerator Program 
powered by Techstars, an elite 
program sponsored by US retail  
giant Target to identify breakthrough 
ideas and concepts that can be 
applied across retail.

Our executive team met with  
dozens of senior leaders within 
Target’s organization over an 
intensive 12-week program.  
Our conversations with these  
leaders allowed us to distill  
how we could better serve a  
large-scale enterprise retailer  
with our technology.

Our team also spent a few weeks  
in Berlin meeting with METRO 
executives and technology thought 
leaders to help us gain insights  
into how our product might fit  
into the European marketplace.

22

For personal use onlyAt Sezzle, we 
have your back.

C O N S U M E R   
S A F E G U A R D S

Our proprietary suite of  
technologies, intellectual property, 
patents, and know-how combine  
to deliver an unparalleled value-
added experience for the End-
customer while empowering our 
merchants to drive sales and  
increase basket sizes.

Our chief source of Income,  
nearly 81% of 2019 operating income,  
was generated from merchants  
who pay Sezzle a fee for every 
transaction conducted on the 
Platform. Our business model does 
not rely upon failed payment fees  
and other charges borne by the 
End-customer. Instead, we do 
everything in our power to help our 
users avoid fees. We take great care  
in our approval process, monitoring 
new customers for the first sign of 
non-payment. We keep limits relatively 
low for the first several transactions, 
allow one free rescheduling per 
transaction, and forgive failed 
payment fees if the customer  
makes good on their payment  
within 48 hours.

We have a robust compliance system 
to ensure that no consumer finds 
themselves using the Sezzle Platform 
as a vector for indebtedness. 

We know that we will only be able  
to scale our business by keeping 
customer defaults and non-payments 
to a minimum. Despite the rapid pace 
of growth of our business throughout 
2019 and the increasingly large pool  
of consumers using our platform,  
Net Transactions Losses (NTL) and 
Net Transaction Margin (NTM) 
continued to post positive trends. 
These improvements prove that 
Sezzle can scale its business while 
mitigating risk and improving unit 
economics.

Our business is predicated on 
consumer success, diligent 
repayment, and repeat usage. 
Nonetheless, we realize that life does 
throw curveballs, and one of our 
objectives for 2020 is to develop a 
hardship policy for consumers who 
have suffered legitimate life-altering 
events, enabling them to extend the 
stipulated repayment time without 
incurring fees or charges.

Another area of which we are 
particularly proud is our steadfast 
and immutable dedication to data 
privacy. In our business, data is 
everything, and consumers want to 
know that their information is secure 
with us. Sezzle’s engineering and  
data science teams work diligently  

to ensure that our standards  
for managing user data not only 
meets but exceeds the international 
standards for data storage.  
Our long-term sustainability as a 
company relies upon consumer 
confidence that their data is secure 
with us. This reliance is one of the 
reasons we have made a concerted 
effort to ensure that we host all  
data on secure servers.

Furthermore, we have provisioned 
data security protocols for disaster 
redundancy mitigation and business 
continuity plans that we believe will 
keep our platform operational in  
just about any fathomable scenario. 
Our disaster recovery team simulates 
these scenarios in tests to help 
ensure seamless continuity and 
service to our merchants and 
customers. Building on this strong 
foundation of operational integrity,  
in 2020 we will begin a multi – 
departmental exercise in strategic 
long-term planning, aimed at 
ensuring that we have the proper 
amount of resources, infrastructure, 
human capital, technology solutions, 
and environmental sensibilities to  
be able to secure a long-term, 
sustainable, and prosperous  
future for our stakeholders.

23

ANNUAL REPORT 2019SEZZLE INC.For personal use onlyW E   A R E   I N   T H E   B U S I N E S S   O F   D O I N G   G O O D   

C O N T I N U E D

O U R   M E R C H A N T S   
A N D   R E T A I L E R S

At Sezzle, merchant success means 
our retailers see Sezzle as a pathway 
towards reaching new customers, 
increasing basket sizes, and growing 
order volume. 67% of North American 
consumers under the age of 30 have 
a sub-prime credit score, which 
effectively shuts them out from  
the traditional credit card market.  
For these consumers, online shopping 
has increasingly meant paying in full 
upfront with debit cards, which has 
stymied their overall spending power. 
For these consumers, Sezzle unlocks 
their purchasing power and enables 
them to stay within their budgets.  
For the merchants on our platform, 
we are delivering a new customer 
base to which they either wouldn’t 
ordinarily have access or one with 
which they would very likely be  
unable to transact.

The Merchant Success Team at  
Sezzle is one of the most vibrant  
and exciting groups within the  
entire company.

Customers can find merchants  
that use Sezzle either by discovering 
Sezzle during checkout on a retailer’s 
site or by finding a retailer on  
the Sezzle merchant directory.  
Our directory is increasingly 
becoming a virtual shopping mall, 
with curated content from coveted 
retail brands spanning fashion, 
nutritional supplements, beauty, 
fitness, and home goods.

During the course of 2019, the  
number of Active Merchants using 
Sezzle grew 349%, surpassing the 
symbolically significant 10,000 mark  
in the fourth quarter. Interestingly,  
our US headquarters is located only  

The Merchant 
Success Team  
at Sezzle is one  
of the most vibrant 
and exciting groups 
within the entire 
company. 

M E E T   A N N A   M E Y E R ,   
V I C E   P R E S I D E N T   O F   
M E R C H A N T   S A L E S 

The sales team at Sezzle likes to roll  
up their sleeves and really understand  
what makes our larger retail clients tick. 
What really energizes us is seeing how the 
transaction and sales volume steadily 
increases once our new clients have been 
onboarded onto the Sezzle Platform.  
Like any sales team, we get a rush from 
closing a sale and getting a new merchant 
under contract – but it’s nothing compared 
to the satisfaction we get from seeing  
their business really take off once they  
have been using Sezzle’s solution for  
a short while.

24

For personal use onlyB O D E G A 

Sezzle has been an absolutely essential 
piece of the puzzle for our business. I love 
the idea that Sezzle gives our shoppers  
the power to pay on their terms. Financial 
freedom is top of mind for our customers. 
With Sezzle, we saw explosive conversion 
rates off the bat. Bottom line: we love Sezzle 
and so do our customers. Easy as that.

Although we believe that active 
merchant growth is an important 
leading indicator for merchant 
demand, we believe that the 
Underlying Merchants Sales (UMS) 
metric gives the marketplace a  
much more complete picture of 
merchant growth. Underlying 
Merchant Sales on the Sezzle 
platform in 2019 totaled $244.1  
million, up from $31.1 million in  
2018, a marked 685% year-over-year 
increase. This growth is an indication 
that merchant demand for our 
product is high, and speaks to not 
only the explosive growth ahead  
but the long-term sustainability  
of our business model. 

a few miles from the Mall of America,  
the largest shopping mall in the 
country, which features roughly  
500 different stores and commercial 
establishments. Sezzle now has 
twenty times as many merchants  
on its curated shopping platform  
as the largest shopping mall in the 
United States.

In December of 2019, Sezzle  
announced a new $100 million  
debt funding facility, which will  
further enhance the company’s  
ability to pay retail merchants ahead 
of the installment payments made  
by End-customers. This new facility  
gave our company added financial 
backing to ensure we could fund 
robust merchant sales in the  
year ahead.

In June of 2019, we announced our 
first international expansion and 
began offering our product to 
customers in Canada. We have since 
opened our Canadian headquarters  
in Toronto and have brought on 
seasoned sales professionals to lead 
our effort in developing the market.

Our approach to securing new 
merchants is a three-pronged 
strategy. Every day, we have scores  
of new merchants, generally SMBs, 
that proactively reach out to us, 
going through our application and 
screening process, seeking to join our 
platform. In addition to these inbound 
merchants, we have a sales team  
that targets a robust cross-section of 
mid-sized retailers who are interested 
in adopting a ‘buy now, pay later’ 
solution for checkout. Finally, we  
have a dedicated team of engineers, 
product specialists, developers, and 
marketers that focus on developing 
bespoke solutions for large-scale 
retailers. As a result, our target mix  
is a combination of SMBs, midsize, 
and mass retailers.

In the year ahead, we look to broaden 
our mix of merchant partners, extend 
into new business verticals, expand 
and solidify the incumbent sectors 
already on our platform, and support 
the merchants already using Sezzle.

25

ANNUAL REPORT 2019SEZZLE INC.For personal use onlyW E   A R E   I N   T H E   B U S I N E S S   O F   D O I N G   G O O D   

C O N T I N U E D

A   S T E A D FA S T   C O M M I T M E N T   
T O   C O R P O R A T E   G O V E R N A N C E

Excellence in corporate governance is paramount to the long-term sustainability of Sezzle. 

in fulfilling its mission of financially 
empowering the next generation.  
It was a productive meeting that 
exemplifies the benefits of proactive, 
direct engagement with regulators 
and oversight bodies. This meeting 
laid the track for ongoing, open 
dialogue with regulators throughout 
the US and Canada on the federal, 
state and provincial, and local levels.

In late 2019 we suffered a temporary 
setback when the State of California’s 
Department of Business Oversight 
notified us of their intent to deny  
our lending license application.  
The situation, although quickly 
rectified and resolved, was an 
example of a misstep that we must 
prevent going forward. We plan to 
address this by expanding our 
proactive outreach from a federal 
level down to the state and provincial 
level. This plan will take some work, 
but we realize that we are trailblazers 
in this industry and that regulators 
need to understand who we are  
and what we do—particularly  
the consumer-friendly nature  
of our business.

We have been pleased with the 
contributions of our board members 
who, throughout 2019, provided  
a wealth of strategic guidance, 
frameworks for risk mitigation,  
and critical inputs on proposed 
partnerships and other strategic 
growth initiatives. Our board has 
been exceedingly accessible to the 
CEO and other members of the 
executive leadership team.

Specifically, the board has been 
committed to ensuring that we are 
proactive in our efforts to engage 
with regulators, lawmakers, and other 
institutions that might directly or 
indirectly influence the future of  
our payments space, both in the  
US and Canada.

We believe wholeheartedly in 
engaging regulators and educating 
them about our products and the 
competitive space in which we do 
business. We are adamant that our 
commitment to transparency, the 
safeguards that we have built into  
our product to protect consumers, 
and our vigorous anti-fraud and  
anti-money-laundering practices— 
all coupled with our consumer-
friendly product mix—places Sezzle  
in a positive light vis-à-vis regulators 
who are accustomed to dealing  
with a panoply of bad actors and 
their abusive credit schemes.

We have proactively engaged with 
regulators in the past, and we will 
continue to do so in the future.  
In October 2019, we secured an 
audience with the US Consumer 
Financial Protection Bureau in 
Washington, DC, to deliver an 
executive overview of our payments 
sector and the role Sezzle is playing 

26

For personal use onlyERIN AND ABBY MOFFITT 
SHAREHOLDERS

We were early investors in Sezzle.  
We could see from the outset that  
this was a company that was going  
to change the world and disrupt a  
credit system that unnecessarily 
penalized young adults—just as  
they are beginning their careers.  
As shareholders, we are deeply 
committed to the empowering mission  
of the company, and we look forward  
to seeing many new milestones  
achieved in the year ahead.

T H E   S E Z Z L E   A P P R O A C H   T O   S T A K E H O L D E R 
E N G A G E M E N T   A N D   S U S T A I N A B I L I T Y

We’ve addressed the importance  
of valuing and supporting our 
employees, servicing our End-
customers, investing resources and 
time in the communities in which  
our business operates, supporting 
our robust and growing portfolio of 
merchants, and taking a proactive 
approach to engaging with 
regulators. What we haven’t yet 
addressed is our final group of 
stakeholders—our shareholders.

Addressing our shareholders last  
is not a reflection of their relative 
importance—quite the contrary. 
Instead, we firmly believe that 
delivering shareholder value is,  
in many respects, a function of 
supporting all the other stakeholders. 

By ensuring that our stakeholders 
are duly vested in our company’s 
success throughout the year, we  
are building a bridge to a bright  
and sustainable tomorrow.

We believe we have the right product 
for the right audience at the right 
time. The environment in which Sezzle 
is operating is favorable at both the 
macroeconomic and microeconomic 
levels. Our talented team of 
professionals has the ability and 
resources to execute our business 
plan and mitigate risk, enabling our 
platform to take full advantage of  
the so-called “network effect,” which 
creates a symbiotic, increasingly 
positively correlated relationship 
between merchants and consumers. 

As our platform expands, we will have 
to diligently manage the inevitable 
interest that this growth will generate 
from regulators, competing interests, 
and other entities, some of which will 
inevitably not have our best interests 
at heart. But with each transaction, 
each new customer, and each new 
merchant, we are laying the 
foundation for long-term sustainable 
growth and shareholder value.

We look forward to the year ahead.

27

ANNUAL REPORT 2019SEZZLE INC.For personal use onlyOperating  
& Financial 
Review

28

For personal use onlyOperating and  
Financial Performance

Sezzle delivered a strong performance in 2019, as reflected in key operating and performance metrics. 
While driving significant growth, Sezzle completed its initial public offering, drove Net Transaction  
Margin from negative to positive, secured a $100 million debt facility, and expanded its operations  
into Canada. 2019 was indeed a banner year.

S U M M A R Y   O F   K E Y   O P E R A T I N G   M E T R I C S

The Company’s key operating metrics continue to show signs of rapid growth during the financial year as a result  
of the continued success of onboarding and retaining Active Merchants and Active Customers. 

A summary of the key operating metric results as of and for the year ended is shown below:

As of the year ended December 31

Active Merchants1

Active Customers1

For the year ended December 31 (US$000s)

Underlying Merchant Sales (UMS)

Merchant Fees 

Net Transaction Margin (NTM)2 (% of UMS)

Net Transaction Losses (NTL)2 (% of UMS)

A C T I V E
M E R C H A N T S

A C T I V E
C U S T O M E R S

U N D E R LY I N G  
M E R C H A N T  
S A L E S  
( $ 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 s )

9
1
0
2

8
1
0
2

9
1
0
2

8
1
0
2

9
1
0
2

8
1
0
2

10,010

2,228

914,886

155,257

US$244.1

$31.1

Up 349%

2019

10,010

2018

2,228

Up 489%

914,886

155,257

Up 685% $ 

244,126

Up 775% $ 

12,969

$ 

$ 

Up 1.3pp

Up 0.8pp

0.3%

(1.5%)

31,081

1,482

(1.0%)

(2.3%)

349%

Increased by 349% to 10,010 
compared to the prior year.

489%

Increased by 489% to 914,886 
compared to the prior year. 
Additionally, repeat usage, 
calculated as the percentage 
of cumulative orders made by 
returning End-customers to 
date relative to total cumulative 
orders to date was 83.7% as 
of December 31, 2019, compared 
to 69.7% as of the prior 
comparative period.

685%

Increased by 685% to 
over $244 million in 2019, 
compared to $31 million 
in the prior year.

1   Active Merchants and Active Customers are defined as those who have transacted with Sezzle in the past 12 months. 

2   Net Transaction Margin and Net Transaction Losses are non-U.S. GAAP financial metrics.

29

ANNUAL REPORT 2019SEZZLE INC.For personal use onlyO P E R A T I N G   A N D   F I N A N C I A L   P E R F O R M A N C E   

C O N T I N U E D

N E T   T R A N S A C T I O N   M A R G I N

Net Transaction Margin is expressed as a percentage and is calculated by Sezzle as:

(a)  Total Sezzle Income earned divided by Underlying Merchant Sales, expressed as a percentage;

(b)  Less the cost of End-customer communications and the total fees paid by Sezzle to process transactions,  

divided by Underlying Merchant Sales, expressed as a percentage;

(c)  Less Transaction Funding Financing Costs, divided by Underlying Merchant Sales, expressed as a percentage;

(d)  Less Net Transaction Loss, divided by Underlying Merchant Sales, expressed as a percentage.

Sezzle has continued to see improvements in its Net Transaction Margin, resulting in a positive margin in 2019.  
The increase was driven primarily by efficiencies in Sezzle Income and gains in Net Transaction Losses. Summarized 
below, Net Transaction Margin for the years ended December 31 are as follows:

FOR THE YEARS ENDED

2019

2018

Net Transaction Margin (NTM)

US$000s

% of UMS

US$000s

% of UMS

Underlying Merchant Sales (UMS)

$ 

244,126

–

$ 

31,081

Sezzle income

Cost of income

Net Transaction Loss

Transaction funding financing costs

13,375

(7,660)

(3,551)

(1,328)

5.5%

(3.1%)

(1.5%)

(0.5%)

1,415

(915)

(724)

(93)

Net Transaction Margin

$ 

836

0.3% $ 

(317)

–

4.6%

(2.9%)

(2.3%)

(0.3%)

(1.0%)

Net Transaction Loss is calculated as the expected provision and actual losses against notes receivable and reschedule 
fee losses to be incurred (less End-customer fees collected). The improvement of 0.8pp of UMS from the prior year was 
primarily due to higher collections of notes receivable, and End-customer failed payment fees.

FOR THE YEARS ENDED

2019

2018

Net Transaction Loss (NTL)

US$000s

% of UMS

US$000s

% of UMS

Provision for uncollectible accounts

$ 

(6,236)

(2.6%)

$ 

(940)

End-customer other income

2,685

1.1%

217

(3.0%)

0.7%

Net Transaction Loss

$ 

(3,551)

(1.5%) $ 

(724)

(2.3%)

F I N A N C I A L   R E V I E W

A summary of Sezzle’s financial results for the years ended December 31 are as follows: 

US$000s

Total income

Cost of income

Provision for uncollectible accounts

Net loss after tax

30

2019

2018

Up 884% $ 

16,060

$ 

1,632

Up 737%

Up 563%

7,660

6,236

915

 941

Up 296%

(16,596)

(4,194)

For personal use onlyThe results of the Company are reported in US dollars under accounting principles generally accepted in  
the United States of America (U.S. GAAP). This report also contains certain non-U.S. GAAP financial information  
including EBITDA, EBIT, Gross Profit, Gross Margin, Net Transaction Margin, and Net Transaction Loss, as  
defined in the applicable sections below:

•  EBITDA is earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization;

•  EBIT is earnings before interest and taxes;

•  Gross profit is calculated as Total income less Cost of income; and

•  Gross margin is gross profit divided by Total income, expressed as a percentage.

Note, the amounts included in this section were rounded to the nearest $1,000 (unless otherwise stated).  
Any discrepancies between totals and the sums of components contained in this report are due to rounding.

The financial results of the Company for the years ended December 31 are presented below:

US$000s

Sezzle income

FOR THE YEARS ENDED

2019

2018

Change

$ 

13,375

$ 

1,415

$ 

11,960

End-customer other income

2,685

217

2,468

Total income

Cost of income

Gross profit

Gross margin %

16,060

1,632

14,428

(7,660)

8,400

(915)

717

(6,745)

7,683

52.3%

43.9%

8.4pp

Other income (expense)

133

(37)

170

Provision for uncollectible accounts

(6,236)

(940)

(5,295)

Other operating expenses

(12,962)

(3,712)

(9,250)

EBITDA

(10,665)

(3,973)

(6,692)

Depreciation and amortization

(261)

(117)

(144)

EBIT

Net interest expense

Interest expense on beneficial conversion feature

Fair value adjustment on future equity obligations

Loss before tax

Income tax expense

Net loss after tax

(10,926)

(4,090)

(6,836)

(1,460)

(4,198)

_

(96)

_

(7)

(1,364)

(4,198)

7

(16,584)

(4,194)

(12,390)

(12)

_

(12)

$ 

(16,596) $ 

(4,194) $ 

(12,402)

31

ANNUAL REPORT 2019SEZZLE INC.For personal use only 
Provisions for uncollectible accounts 
on the Notes receivable are calculated 
on an expected loss basis. The total 
provision for uncollectible accounts 
was $6.2 million or 2.6% of UMS for 
2019, compared to $0.9 million or 3.0% 
of UMS in the prior year. Improved 
loss rates are a result of an increase in 
repeat usage among End-customers 
and continuous improvements  
in Sezzle’s proprietary  
underwriting processes. 

O P E R A T I N G   A N D   F I N A N C I A L   P E R F O R M A N C E   

C O N T I N U E D

End-customer other income was  
$2.7 million for the year ended 
December 31, 2019, compared to  
$0.2 million for the year ended 
December 31, 2018. End-customer 
other income is comprised of failed 
payment fees and makes up 16.7%  
of Total Income for the year ended 
December 31, 2019, compared to  
13.3% in the prior year. 

C O S T   O F   I N C O M E

Cost of income primarily comprises 
payment processing costs paid to 
third-party payment processors. 
Payment processing costs as a 
percentage of UMS was 2.4% for  
the year ended December 31, 2019, 
compared to 2.5% in the prior year.  
In April 2019, Sezzle changed card 
processing service providers to lower 
processing costs. Savings realized by 
the change in card processing service 
providers were partially offset by  
the increase in card utilization over 
direct debit from End-customer  
bank account payment methods.

Additionally, short-term referral fee 
costs stipulated by agreements with 
partners and merchants of Sezzle 
increased by 0.3% as a percentage of 
UMS year over year, driving the total 
cost of income to increase by 0.2%  
of UMS in 2019 compared to 2018.

R E C E I V A B L E S   A N D 
U N C O L L E C T I B L E   A C C O U N T S

Sezzle’s End-customer notes 
receivables before expected losses 
increased to $28.8 million as of 
December 31, 2019, compared to  
$5.6 million as of December 31, 
2018—an increase of 414% as a  
result of the rise in UMS and  
Active Customers. Sezzle’s notes 
receivable have a weighted average 
days outstanding of 34 days.

T O T A L   I N C O M E   ( U S $ 0 0 0 S ) 

0
6
0

,

6
1
$
S
U

2
3
6
,
1

2019

2018

Sezzle income totaled $13.4 million  
for the year ended December 31, 2019, 
compared to $1.4 million for the year 
ended December 31, 2018—an increase 
of 845%.

As a percentage of UMS, Sezzle 
income was 5.5% for the year ended 
December 31, 2019, compared to  
4.6% in the prior year. The Company 
has seen a similar improvement in 
Merchant fees as a percentage  
of UMS, with ratios of 5.3% and  
4.8% for the years ended 2019  
and 2018, respectively.

Merchant fees and End-customer 
reschedule fees, less financing 
origination costs, collectively 
comprise Sezzle income and are 
initially recorded as a deduction from 
notes receivable in the consolidated 
balance sheets. Deferred fees and 
expenses are recognized in the 
consolidated statements of 
operations over the average duration 
of the underlying notes receivable. 
Together, total End-customer 
reschedule fees and note origination 
costs were less than $0.4 million,  
or 3% of total Sezzle income 
recognized in 2019.

32

For personal use onlyO T H E R   O P E R A T I N G   E X P E N S E S

Other operating expenses for the years ended December 31 were made up of the following:

Other operating expenses

US$000s

% of Total

US$000s

% of Total

Compensation related expenses

$ 

8,372

64.6% $ 

2,251

60.6%

2019

2018

Third-party service provider costs

Marketing, advertising, and tradeshows

Professional services

Rent

Other

1,284

855

1,025

404

1,023

9.9%

6.6%

7.9%

3.1%

7.9%

615

365

114

92

275

16.6%

9.8%

3.1%

2.5%

7.4%

Other operating expenses

$ 

12,962

$ 

3,712

•  Compensation related expenses increased to $8.4 million in the current year from $2.3 million in the prior year  
as a result of increased employee and contractor headcount. Total employees and contractors were 133 as  
of December 31, 2019, compared to 63 as of December 31, 2018.

•  Third-party service provider costs consist primarily of costs incurred to obtain data used in underwriting  
End-customers and fraud prevention. These costs increased to $1.3 million in 2019 compared to $0.6 million  
in the prior year, driven by growth in Active Customers.

•  Marketing, advertising, and tradeshow costs were $0.9 million, compared to $0.4 million in 2018, as a result of the 
Company’s efforts in expanding its presence with both merchants and customers, as well as the investment in 
updating the Sezzle brand.

•  Professional services include legal, financial audit, and tax compliance related costs. Costs of $1.0 million for 2019  
were driven by regulatory fees incurred associated with obtaining a lending license in California, completion of its 
financial statement audit for the 2017 and 2018 reporting years, as well as other ongoing professional services costs 
associated with the Company now being listed on the ASX. 

•  Rent expense was $0.4 million in 2019. The Company’s corporate headquarters moved to a larger facility to 

accommodate its expanded employee headcount. Sezzle also opened its Canadian office in 2019 alongside the 
rollout of its product in Canada.

33

ANNUAL REPORT 2019SEZZLE INC.For personal use only 
 
 
Significant non-cash items include 
expenses recorded to establish the 
provision for uncollectible accounts 
on notes and other receivables from 
End-customers ($7.4 million in 2019, 
compared to $1.0 million in 2018), 
expenses recorded for the Company’s 
equity-based compensation for 
employees ($1.0 million in 2019 and  
$0.03 million in 2018), and a $4.3 million 
loss on the Company’s convertible 
notes resulting from the conversion  
of the notes to common stock.

Net cash used in investing activities 
increased to $0.5 million during 2019, 
compared to $0.4 million in the prior 
year. This increase is primarily from 
the capitalization of internal-use 
software used in product development.

Net cash flow received from financing 
activities increased to $50 million  
in 2019 from $12.8 million in 2018.  
Net proceeds from convertible notes 
totaled $5.8 million. The Company 
borrowed $24.2 million from its 
revolving line of credit and repaid  
$7.0 million on the line. Additionally, 
the Company received proceeds 
from its IPO of $30.3 million, before 
issuance costs of $2.8 million.

Refer to the Consolidated Statements 
of Cash Flows on page 60 in this 
Annual Report for further information.

O P E R A T I N G   A N D   F I N A N C I A L   P E R F O R M A N C E   

C O N T I N U E D

I N T E R E S T   E X P E N S E

Net interest expense totaled $1.5 
million for the year ended December 
31, 2019, primarily driven by a full year 
of utilizing the Company’s revolving 
credit facilities. Refer to Note 13 
within the Company’s Consolidated 
Financial Statements for additional 
commentary on its line of credit.

Interest expense on the beneficial 
conversion feature was incurred 
on the Company’s Initial Public 
Offering date and resulted from the 
conversion of $5.8 million of notes 
issued in the first half of 2019. Refer to 
Note 16 of the Consolidated Financial 
Statements for further information.

F I N A N C I A L   P O S I T I O N 
A C T I V I T Y

Sezzle’s total assets increased to 
$64.5 million as of December 31,  
2019, from $12.5 million as of December 
31, 2018. This growth of $52 million  
is primarily from increases in both 
cash and cash equivalents and  
notes receivables.

Merchant accounts payable 
increased to $13.3 million as of 
December 31, 2019, compared to  
$2.3 million as of December 31, 2018. 
This increase is related to the growth 
in Underlying Merchant Sales and 
Active Merchants during 2019. Total 
liabilities increased to $37.2 million  
as of December 31, 2019, compared  
to $7.2 million in the prior year.

Stockholders’ equity and mezzanine 
equity increased to $27.3 million as  
of December 31, 2019, from $5.3 million 
as of December 31, 2018, primarily  
as a result of the proceeds from the 
Company’s Initial Public Offering (IPO).

C A P I T A L   M A N A G E M E N T

To help manage the increase in UMS, 
Sezzle signed an agreement with  
the Syndicate to increase its debt 
facility to $100 million in November 
2019. As of December 31, 2019, Sezzle 
had drawn $21.5 million from its 
revolving line of credit.

Sezzle also issued convertible notes 
totaling $5.8 million during the 
first half of 2019. Proceeds from this 
offering were utilized to fund the 
Company’s operations as well as 
facilitate lending activity with Active 
Customers and Active Merchants.

On July 24, 2019, Sezzle restructured 
its capital in anticipation of listing  
on the Australian Securities Exchange 
(ASX). The Series A preferred stock 
and convertible notes outstanding 
were converted into common stock. 
The Company issued 70,446,291 
common stock upon conversion of 
70,446,291 Series A preferred stock, 
converted on a 1:1 basis, per the terms 
of the preferred stock agreements. 
Additionally, the Company issued 
12,064,155 shares of common stock 
following the conversion of the $5.8 
million of convertible notes, plus 
accrued interest, at a conversion 
price of $0.49 per common share.

On July 29, 2019 the Company officially 
listed on the ASX. The initial public 
offer of 35,714,286 CHESS Depository 
Interests (CDIs) over shares of common 
stock (one CDI equates to one share 
of common stock) were offered at a 
price of A$1.22 (approximately $0.84) 
per CDI to raise about A$43.6 million 
(approximately $30 million).

Refer to the Consolidated Balance 
Sheets on page 57 in this Annual 
Report for further information.

C A S H F L O W   A C T I V I T Y

Sezzle used $19.9 million of net cash 
outflows for its operating activities  
for the year ended December 31, 
2019, compared with $6.2 million in 
2018. Increased cash usage versus 
the prior year was driven by higher 
operating losses and increased net 
working capital. The increase in net 
working capital was primarily due to 
an increase in receivables from End-
customers of$28.0 million, offset by  
an increase in accounts payable of 
$11.0 million and accrued liabilities  
of $1.2 million.

34

For personal use onlyBusiness  
and Strategy

When co-founders Charlie 
Youakim, Paul Paradis, and 
Killian Brackey came together  
in 2016 to start Sezzle, the vision 
they articulated was one founded 
on the guiding principle of 
empowering everyday consumers 
by making their finances more 
manageable in increasingly 
uncertain times. 

As Sezzle has grown, transforming 
itself into a publicly-traded 
multinational corporation with over 
10,000 merchant partners, over 130 
employees and contractors, and 
almost 1 million Active Customers, 
keeping this underlying mission of 
being an agent of social good front 
and center continues to be the 
organization’s number one priority.

As the executive leadership team  
and the board develop plans for 
continued growth and future 
expansion this year and beyond, 
these essential underlying principles 
remain paramount, and our 2020 
enterprise strategy is a reflection and 
continuance of these fundamental 
underlying precepts. Bottom line: no 
matter our size and reach, our core 
principles remain immutable—our 
future strategic goals and objectives 
will always serve to further these values.

10,000+ 
merchant partners

Over
130 
employees

Rapidly 
approaching
1M 
Active Customers

B R A N D

For our merchant partners and 
End-customers, our market research 
indicates that Sezzle is widely viewed 
as the ‘good guy’ in a sector of the 
economy that has historically been 
led by a bevy of companies labeled  
as bad actors, predatory lenders,  
and other less than scrupulous 
descriptors. We strive every day to  
live up to our reputation as being  
a company that does right by our 
customers and partners and strives 
for social good.

As we unfurl to the broader 
marketplace our new branding, which 
reflects the meaningful way in which 
we engage with our core customer 
base and the dynamism of our 
company’s offerings, we believe that 
the year ahead will be replete with 
opportunities to accelerate our 
engagement with consumers and 
create new pivot points to connect 
with an ever-growing community  
of interested merchant partners.

We are fundamentally changing how 
consumers think about payments 
and their financial futures. With our 
mission to financially empower the 
next generation, we are committed to 
building a company that reinforces 
this mission. A big part of that is how 
we communicate with our consumers, 
brands, and partners. We launched a 
rebranding process to ensure that we 
are establishing our commitment to 
the future by providing a platform  
of inclusivity, transparency, access, 
and a promise to always have our 
customers’ back.

We have always lived this mantra 
internally and want to ensure that we 
are presenting that externally as well. 
Our rebranding efforts are much 
more than a change in our logo,  
our fonts, or our colors, they are a 
commitment to our stakeholders  
and will have a meaningful impact  
on our design, tone of voice, and  
all ways we communicate. We are 
forward-thinking at Sezzle. While we 
have historically been product-led, we 
recognize the importance of design 
and branding as we move into a 
market where retailers are looking  
at payments as a marketing engine.  
As importantly, our rebranding will  
be reflected in our product design, 
user experience, and all aspects of 
our business as we position ourselves  
for future growth.

35

ANNUAL REPORT 2019SEZZLE INC.For personal use onlyB U S I N E S S   A N D   S T R A T E G Y 

C O N T I N U E D

U N L O C K I N G   T H E   P O W E R   
O F   O U R   E N D - C U S T O M E R S

One of the results of a vibrant 
network of merchants and End-
customers is that the sheer size  
of our consumer base becomes  
an increasingly powerful asset for  
us as we continue to harness the 
collective purchasing power of  
Sezzle consumers. A significant  
pillar of our 2020 business strategy 
revolves around looking for ways  
to unlock the value of the power of 
our End-customers, accelerating  
the network effect, which devolves 
geometrically increased value to  
the Sezzle platform and opens  
up a variety of potential additional 
revenue streams to the company.

R I S H I   M U K H E R J E E ,   
D E V E L O P E R

As one of the first developers hired by Sezzle,  
it’s been an amazing experience being able  
to create this technology platform from the 
ground up. The architecture of our tech is  
built not just to meet the demands of today,  
but for the anticipated growth of tomorrow.  
The development team takes tremendous  
pride in the product we put out, which we  
feel can stand toe-to-toe with any other  
platform in the payments space.

L E V E R A G I N G   O U R   T E C H N O L O G Y

The engineering and data science 
teams at Sezzle have created a 
powerful digital engine, optimized  
for delivering a secure, streamlined, 
and transparent consumer-facing 
experience built upon a robust set of 
risk mitigation algorithms. To this end, 
in 2020, Sezzle will be examining, on  
a case-by-case basis, opportunities  
to deploy this technology for adjacent 
uses across the fintech sector.  
Our business development team will 
continue to engage in conversations 

with select large-scale merchants  
and partners that are interested  
in tapping into our technology  
to facilitate their strategic payments-
related initiatives. As we examine  
and evaluate these opportunities,  
we will be focused not on short-term 
economic return, but ensuring  
that any expansion of services, 
products, or meaningful deployments 
of resources and human capital  
dovetail with our long-term strategic 
objectives.

36

For personal use only2 0 2 0 :   B U I L D I N G   O U T 
A D D I T I O N A L   R E S O U R C E S

In the year ahead, we will be 
developing both in-house and via  
key strategic external partnerships,  
a portfolio of tools, content offerings, 
and other ancillary services that will 
further support our consumers and 
merchants. We believe that financial 
education and financial access are 
critical for our end-users to ensure 
continued success as our product 
grows and expands. To that end, 
we will deploy significant human 

resources towards thinking critically 
about the ideal complementary 
offerings that we can bring to the 
marketplace to stand alongside 
our core product. We believe that 
our platform should be not only an 
endpoint where customers come  
to do their shopping and make 
payments, but a starting point for 
their budgeting, financial planning, 
and general personal financial 
education.

I N T E R N A T I O N A L   E X P A N S I O N

In 2019, we announced Sezzle’s 
expansion into Canada, its first 
market outside of the United States. 
Since then, we opened an office in 
Toronto and hired a country general 
manager, Patrick Chan, a former 
digital payments executive with deep 
experience in the Canadian market.

P A T R I C K   C H A N ,   
A   F O R M E R   S A L E S   E X E C U T I V E   I N 
D I G I T A L   P A Y M E N T S ,   J O I N E D   S E Z Z L E 
T O   L E A D   I T S   C A N A D A   T E A M

Despite being in the market for only half a year, 
the pick-up from Canadian merchants has been 
overwhelming. In the year ahead, we look forward 
to developing a national sales force with vertical 
domain experts. It’s a really exciting time to be at 
Sezzle in Canada right now, and we look forward  
to making the most of the opportunity.

Our plans for Canada in 2020 will be 
centered around further developing 
the Sezzle brand, developing business 
with new merchant retailers, and 
solidifying a number of key strategic 
partnerships that will further cement 
our role as an agent of good and 
positive change in the Canadian 
retail ecosystem.

In addition to continuing to support 
our investment in Canada, our 
company is actively exploring 
opportunities across Asia, Europe, 
and Latin America, where we believe 
Sezzle can play an important role in 
supporting consumers and offering  
a valuable alternative payment 
solution to local in-country 
merchants. To be clear, our approach 
in these marketplaces will be 
deliberate, and any investments 
made will be incremental and in the 
form of limited liability subsidiaries. 
Our thinking around expansion  
into strategic new markets is one  
of enabling seed investments to take 
hold, adding water and nutrients as 
the investment proves itself viable 
and worthy of additional resources. 
We will not be making large-scale 
initiatives in untested markets, but  
we see a number of opportunities  
to move into territories during the 
course of 2020.

37

ANNUAL REPORT 2019SEZZLE INC.For personal use onlyKey Risks and  
Challenges

In the course of conducting our business operations, we are exposed to a variety of risks, some  
of which are inherent in our industry and others of which are more specific to our businesses. 

This discussion addresses the most 
significant factors, of which we are 
currently aware, that could affect  
our businesses, results of operations, 
and financial condition. However, 
other factors not discussed below or 
elsewhere in this Annual Report could 
also adversely affect our businesses, 
results of operations, and financial 
condition. Therefore, the risk factors 
below should not be considered a 
complete list of potential risks that  
we may face.

38

L O S S   O F   K E Y   R E T A I L 
M E R C H A N T   C L I E N T 
R E L A T I O N S H I P S 

The Company depends on continued 
relationships with its current 
significant retail merchant clients. 
There can be no guarantee that these 
relationships will continue or, if they 
do continue, that these relationships 
will continue to be successful.  
The Company’s contracts with retail 
merchant clients can be terminated 
for convenience on relatively short 
notice by either party, and so the 
Company does not have long term 
contracted income.

There is a risk that the Company 
may lose retail merchant clients for a 
variety of reasons, including a failure 
to meet key contractual or commercial 
requirements, or retail merchant 
clients shifting to in-house solutions 
or competitor service providers.

Although the Company does not 
currently depend on any single 
retail merchant client for more than 
approximately 3% of Sezzle Income, 
the Company’s business is still at 
a relatively early stage, and retail 
merchant client income is not as 
diversified as it might be for a more 
mature business. The loss of even a 
small number of the Company’s key 
retail merchant clients may materially 
and adversely impact the Company’s 
income and profitability, and increase 
marketing expenses to sign up new 
retail merchant clients to replace 
those lost. Depending on the reason 
for the loss of a key retail merchant 
client, it may also negatively impact 
the Company’s reputation with other 
retail merchant clients and with 
End-customers.

There is also a risk that new 
agreements formed with retail 
merchant clients in the future may  
be less favorable to the Company, 
including pricing and other key  
terms, due to unanticipated  
changes in the market in which  
the Company operates.

E X P O S U R E   T O   E N D -
C U S T O M E R   B A D   D E B T S

The Company’s profitability depends 
on its ability to put in place and 
optimize its systems and processes  
to make predominantly accurate, 
real-time decisions in connection  
with the End-customer transaction 
approval process. End-customer non-
payment is a significant component 
of the Company’s expenses at 
present, and the Company is currently 
exposed to End-customer bad debts 
as a regular part of its operations. 
However, excessive exposure to 
bad debts through customers 
failing to meet their repayments to 
the Company will materially and 
adversely impact the Company’s 
profitability.

The Company also has an exposure, 
although much more limited, to the 
potential insolvency of a retail 
merchant client to which the Company 
has advanced funds. Exposure occurs 
in the period between the advance  
of funds to a retail merchant client  
for a customer’s purchase of goods 
and the retail merchant shipping  
the goods to the End-customer  
(at which point the Company is 
entitled to payment from the End-
customer). However, this period of  
risk is typically only a few days.

A D D I T I O N A L   R E Q U I R E M E N T S 
F O R   C A P I T A L

As the Company’s current business 
grows and new lines of business are 
developed, the Company will require 
additional funding to support the 
provision of installment plans to 
End-customers and working capital. 
Although the Directors believe that 
the Company will have sufficient 
working capital and capacity with the 
funds raised during the initial public 
offering and under its existing credit 
facilities to carry out its short-term 
business objectives, there can be 
no assurance that such goals can 
be met without further financing 
or, if new funding is necessary, 

For personal use onlyEvents of that nature may  
cause part or all of the Company’s 
technology system or the 
communication networks used by  
the Company to become unavailable. 
The Company’s operational processes 
and contingency plans may not 
adequately address every potential 
event and may disrupt transaction 
flow and adversely impact the 
Company’s financial performance 
and reputation.

E M P L O Y E E   R E C R U I T M E N T 
R I S K   A N D   R E T E N T I O N

The Company’s ability to effectively 
execute its growth strategy depends 
upon the performance and expertise 
of its people. The Company relies on 
experienced managerial and highly 
qualified technical staff to develop 
and operate its technology and to 
direct operations staff to manage  
the operational, sales, compliance, 
and other functions of its business.

There is a risk that repeated failures 
to keep the Company’s technology 
available may result in a decline in 
End-customer and retail merchant 
client numbers or retail merchant 
clients terminating their contracts 
with the Company. Such failures may 
materially and adversely impact the 
Company’s financial performance, 
including a reduction in income 
from completed transactions and an 
increase in the costs associated with 
servicing End-customers through 
the disruption, as well as negatively 
impacting the Company’s reputation.

R E L I A N C E   O N   T H E 
A C C U R A C Y   O F   T H I R D - P A R T Y 
D A T A   P R O V I D E D   T O   T H E 
C O M P A N Y

The Company purchases data from 
third parties that are critical to 
the Company’s assessment of the 
creditworthiness of End-customers 
before they are either approved or 
denied funding for their purchase 
from a retail merchant client. The 
Company is reliant on these third 
parties to ensure that the data they 
provide is accurate. Inaccurate data 
could cause the Company not to 
approve transactions that otherwise 
would have been approved or vice 
versa, resulting in loss of income or 
higher income with a higher incidence 
of bad debts for the Company.

There is a risk that the Company 
may not be able to attract and 
retain key staff or be able to find 
competent replacements promptly. 
The loss of staff, or any delay in 
their replacement, could impact 
the Company’s ability to operate 
its business and achieve its growth 
strategies, including through the 
development of new systems and 
technology.

There is a risk that the Company 
may not be able to recruit suitably 
qualified and talented staff in a 
time frame that meets the growth 
objectives of the Company. Staffing 
delays may result in delays in 
the integration of new systems, 
development of technology, and 
general business expansion, which 
may adversely impact the Company’s 
income and profitability.

There is also a risk that the  
Company will be unable to retain 
existing staff or recruit new staff 
in terms of retention that are as 
attractive to the Company as past 
agreements. Low retention would 
adversely impact employment costs 
and profitability.

that financing can be obtained on 
favorable terms or at all. Further,  
if additional funds are raised by 
issuing equity securities, this may 
result in dilution for some or all  
of the Shareholders.

C O M P E T I T O R S   A N D   
N E W   M A R K E T   E N T R A N T S 

The Company considers it has a 
competitive advantage in being one 
of the first to provide an interest-free 
‘buy now, pay later’ service to the US 
and Canadian online retail market. 
However, there is always a risk of new 
entrants in the market, which may 
disrupt the Company’s business and 
market share. Existing competitors, as 
well as new competitors entering the 
industry, may engage in aggressive 
customer acquisition campaigns, 
develop superior technology offerings 
or consolidate with other entities to 
deliver enhanced scale benefits. Such 
competitive pressures may materially 
erode the Company’s market share 
and income, and may materially and 
adversely impact the Company’s 
income and profitability.

A general increase in competition 
may also require the Company to 
increase marketing expenditure or 
offer lower fees to Retail Merchant 
Clients, which would decrease 
profitability even if the Company’s 
market share does not decrease.

FA I L U R E S   O R   D I S R U P T I O N S 
O F   T E C H N O L O G Y   S Y S T E M S 

The Company depends on the 
constant real-time performance, 
reliability, and availability of its 
technology system and third-party 
technology and communication 
networks (including the systems of 
third-party e-commerce networks). 
There is a risk that these systems  
may fail to perform as expected or be 
adversely impacted by several factors, 
including those outside the control  
of the Company, such as damage, 
equipment faults, power failure, fire, 
natural disasters, computer viruses 
and external malicious interventions 
such as hacking, cyber-attacks  
or denial-of-service attacks.  

39

ANNUAL REPORT 2019SEZZLE INC.For personal use onlymerchant clients, and regulatory 
scrutiny and fines, any of which 
could materially adversely impact the 
financial performance and prospects 
of the Company.

Also, any security or data issues 
experienced by other software 
companies globally could adversely 
impact customers’ trust in providing 
access to their data generally,  
which could adversely affect the 
Company’s ability to provide its 
services generally.

T E C H N O L O G I C A L   C H A N G E S

The Company participates in a 
competitive environment. IT systems 
are continuing to develop and  
are subject to rapid change, while 
business practices continue to  
evolve. The Company’s success will,  
in part, depend on its ability to offer 
services and systems that remain 
current with the continuing changes 
in technology, evolving industry 
standards, and changing consumer 
preferences. There is a risk that the 
Company will not be successful in 
addressing these developments 
promptly, or that expenses will be 
higher than expected. Additionally, 
there is a risk that new products  
or technologies (or alternative 
systems) developed by third parties 
will supersede the Company’s 
technology, and this may materially 
and adversely impact the Company’s 
income and profitability.

K E Y   R I S K S   A N D   C H A L L E N G E S 

C O N T I N U E D

C O M P L I A N C E   W I T H   L A W S , 
R E G U L A T I O N S ,   I N D U S T R Y 
C O M P L I A N C E   S T A N D A R D S

The Company is subject to a range 
of legal and industry compliance 
requirements that are continually 
changing. Such requirements include 
privacy laws, consumer protection 
laws, and contractual conditions. 
There has recently been an increased 
focus and scrutiny by regulators  
in various jurisdictions concerning 
‘buy now, pay later’ arrangements.

There is potential that the Company 
may become subject to additional 
legal or regulatory requirements if 
its business, operations, strategy, 
or geographic reach expand in the 
future or if the regulations change 
with respect to the jurisdictions in 
which it operates. These changes may 
potentially include credit licensing, 
financial services licensing, or other 
licensing or regulatory requirements 
or similar limitations on the conduct 
of business.

There is a risk that additional or 
revisions to legal, regulatory, and 
industry compliance standards may 
make it uneconomic for the Company 
to continue to operate, or to expand 
under its strategy. These additions  
or revisions may materially and 
adversely impact the Company’s 
income and profitability, including  
by preventing its business from 
reaching a sufficient scale.

There is also a risk that if the 
Company fails to comply with these 
laws, regulations, and industry 
compliance standards, this may  
result in significantly increased 
compliance costs, cessation of 
certain business activities, or the 
ability to conduct business, litigation 
or regulatory inquiry or investigation 
and significant reputational damage.

40

Sezzle’s business is subject to 
investigation by regulators, 
enforcement agencies, and offices of 
state attorneys general, which could 
lead to enforcement actions, fines, 
and penalties, and qualifications to 
conduct business or the assertion 
of private claims and lawsuits 
against Sezzle. The US Federal Trade 
Commission and the US Consumer 
Financial Protection Bureau have the 
authority to investigate consumer 
complaints against Sezzle, to conduct 
inquiries at their insistence, and to 
recommend enforcement actions  
and seek monetary penalties.

The Company is continually reviewing 
the regulatory landscape that 
governs each of the jurisdictions 
in which it operates. The Company 
will work with the regulators in each 
domain and, if required, will apply  
for the requisite licenses to ensure 
that it is compliant with the laws  
of that state.

D A T A   S E C U R I T Y   B R E A C H E S

Through the ordinary course of 
business, the Company collects a wide 
range of confidential information. 
Cyber-attacks may compromise or 
breach the technology platform used 
by the Company to protect sensitive 
data. The Company’s business could 
be materially impacted by security 
breaches of the data and information 
of Retail Merchant Clients and End-
customers data and information, 
either by unauthorized access, theft, 
destruction, loss of information, 
or misappropriation or release of 
confidential data.

There is also a risk that the measures 
the Company takes may not be 
sufficient to detect or prevent 
unauthorized access to, or disclosure 
of, such confidential personal or 
proprietary information, and any of 
these events may cause significant 
disruption to the business and 
operations. This risk may also 
expose the Company to reputational 
damage, legal claims, termination of 
the Company’s contracts with retail 

For personal use onlyR E P U T A T I O N   R I S K

Maintaining the strength of the 
Company’s reputation is vital 
to retaining and increasing its 
End-customer base and its retail 
merchant client base, maintaining its 
relationships with partner companies 
and other service providers, and 
successfully implementing the 
Company’s business strategy.  
There is a risk that unforeseen issues 
or events may adversely impact the 
Company’s reputation, and this may 
negatively impact the future growth 
and profitability of the Company.

The Company’s reputation is also 
closely linked to the timely and 
accurate provision of services to 
End-customers. There is a risk that 
the Company’s actions and the 
actions of the Company’s suppliers 

and merchants may adversely 
impact the Company’s reputation. 
Any factors that diminish the 
Company’s reputation could result 
in customers, merchants, or other 
parties ceasing to do business with 
the Company. Such reputation risk 
would impede the Company’s ability 
to successfully provide its goods and 
services, negatively affect its future 
business strategy, and materially and 
adversely impact its financial position 
and performance.

E X P O S U R E   T O   A D V E R S E 
M A C R O E C O N O M I C 
C O N D I T I O N S 

The Company’s business depends  
on End-customers transacting  
with retail merchant clients, which  
in turn can be affected by changes  
in general economic conditions.  

For example, the retail sector is 
affected by such macroeconomic 
conditions as unemployment, 
interest rates, consumer confidence, 
economic recessions, downturns, 
or extended periods of uncertainty 
or volatility, all of which may 
influence customer spending and 
suppliers and retailers’ focus and 
investment in outsourcing solutions. 
These macroeconomic factors 
may subsequently impact the 
Company’s ability to generate income. 
Additionally, in weaker economic 
environments, consumers may have 
less disposable income to spend, 
and as a result, may be less likely to 
purchase products by utilizing the 
Company’s services, and bad debts 
might increase.

41

ANNUAL REPORT 2019SEZZLE INC.For personal use onlyDirectors’ 
Report

42

For personal use onlyDirectors’ Report

THE DIRECTORS PRESENT THEIR REPORT, TOGETHER WITH THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS, OF SEZZLE INC. (ASX: SZL, SEZZLE, OR COMPANY ) AND ITS WHOLLY OWNED 
SUBSIDIARIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2019.

DIRECTORS

The following individuals were Directors of Sezzle for the full year ended December 31, 2019:

•  Charlie Youakim, co-founder, Executive Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer

•  Paul Paradis, co-founder, Executive Director, and Chief Revenue Officer

Additionally, the following individuals were named to the Board of Directors during the reporting period:

•  Paul Lahiff, Independent Non-Executive Director – appointed May 7, 2019;

•  Kathleen Pierce-Gilmore, Independent Non-Executive Director – appointed April 15, 2019; and 

•  Paul Purcell, Independent Non-Executive Director – appointed April 15, 2019

INFORMATION ON DIRECTORS

CHARLIE YOUAKIM

CHAIRMAN, EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Charlie is a co-founder, Executive Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Sezzle.

Charlie is a serial technology entrepreneur with nearly ten years of experience in growing 
fintech companies from inception to large-scale businesses. Charlie began his career as an 
engineer and software developer. After successfully advancing in his early career, he returned 
to business school where he was able to focus on expanding his knowledge of finance, 
marketing, and business strategy.

In 2010, after completing business school, Charlie founded his first payments company, 
Passport. Passport became a leader in software and payments for the transportation 
industry. At Passport, Charlie led the construction of the original technology and led the 
company as it disrupted the industry through the introduction of white label systems and 
payments wallets. Passport is the technology behind enterprise transportation installations 
like ParkChicago, ParkBoston, and the GreenP in Toronto.

Charlie co-founded Sezzle in 2016 and also planned much of the business’ technology 
architecture.

Charlie has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota and  
an MBA from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota.

Other current Directorships: Charlie does not currently hold any other directorships.

Interests in Shares: 88,359,809

Interests in Options: 500,000

43

ANNUAL REPORT 2019SEZZLE INC.For personal use onlyDirectors’ Report

Continued

PAUL PAR ADIS

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER

Paul is a co-founder, Executive Director, and Chief Revenue Officer at Sezzle.

Paul has extensive experience in sales and marketing. He began his career in sales with  
the Minnesota Timberwolves. He left the Timberwolves to attain his MBA from the Carlson 
School of Management at the University of Minnesota, where he focused on marketing and 
strategy. After graduating from the Carlson School of Management, Paul spent six years 
leading sales and marketing at Dashe & Thomson and the Abreon Group, which are 
boutique management consultancies focused on IT transformation adoption.

Paul left the Abreon Group in 2016 when he co-founded Sezzle. At Sezzle, Paul oversees  
sales, marketing, partnerships, and merchant development.

Paul has a BA in Political Science from Davidson College and an MBA from the  
University of Minnesota.

Other current Directorships: Paul does not currently hold any other directorships.

Interests in Shares: 10,000,0001

Interests in Options: 500,000

PAUL L AHIFF

INDEPENDENT NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Paul Lahiff was previously Chief Executive Officer of Mortgage Choice and prior to this,  
Chief Executive Officer of Permanent Trustee and Heritage Bank. He also held senior 
management roles for Westpac Banking Corporation in Sydney and London.

He previously held Board roles with Sunsuper, Thorn Group, New Payments Platform Australia 
and Cancer Council NSW.

Paul holds a BSC degree from the University of Sydney, is a graduate of the Australian 
Institute of Company Directors.

Other current Directorships: Paul is a Non-Executive Director of AUB Holdings, 86400 and  
NESS Superannuation.

Interests in Shares: 81,967 

Interests in Options: 250,000

1.  Paul Paradis holds 10,000,000 shares. As of the date of this Annual Report, 8,625,000 shares have fully vested with the 
remaining shares subject to vesting conditions as follows: 1,375,000 shares will vest in monthly installments over the  
next 22 months.

44

The Way FoRWaRD

For personal use onlyKATHLEEN PIERCE-GILMORE

INDEPENDENT NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Kathleen has been a payments and fintech executive for 20+ years across firms, including 
American Express, Capital One, PayPal, and most recently startup companies Raise 
Marketplace and Flexa Technologies. She has held leadership positions from leading  
Strategy to COO, President, and CEO roles. In addition to her deep expertise in customer 
experience, consumer lending, product development, and P&L management, she has also  
led businesses on the merchant side of the payments ecosystem. She is currently CEO of  
a boutique executive search firm focused primarily in the fintech space.

Kathleen graduated with a BA from the Integrated Sciences Program at Northwestern 
University and has recently completed the Non-Executive Director Diploma program  
through the Financial Times.

Other current Directorships: Tala

Interests in Shares: 0

Interests in Options: 350,000

PAUL PURCELL

INDEPENDENT NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Paul Purcell has invested in financial services companies (public and private markets) for 
nearly 20 years. He retains a specific specialization in emerging financial innovation as well  
as non-bank financial services. He has been the Chief Investment Officer of Jupiter Management 
since January 1, 2019 and prior to assuming that position led the sourcing and origination of 
investments at Continental Investors. Paul is a frequent panelist at industry conferences and 
has published several articles on the trends and developments in the emerging commerce 
and financial services market places.

Before joining Continental Investors, Paul was a co-founder of Continental Advisors, a 
manager of two sector-based hedge funds. He was also Manager of Internet Marketing  
at the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), a department he helped found.

Paul is a graduate of the University of San Diego where he is a member of the Board  
of Trustees.

Other current Directorships: Paul currently serves on the Boards of Listo!, Veritec Solutions, 
Drizly, Winestyr, Intuition LLC, CarHop, and What’s Next Media. 

Interests in Shares: 0

Interests in RSAs: 02 

2.  In accordance with Paul Purcell’s director appointment agreement, 350,000 restricted stock awards were issued to 

Continental Investment Partners on March 29, 2019 which comprises compensation for Paul Purcell’s services as director.

45

ANNUAL REPORT 2019SEZZLE INC.For personal use onlyDirectors’ Report

Continued

INFORMATION ON CORPOR ATE SECRETARY

Justin Clyne is a company director and company secretary for public-listed and unlisted companies. He has 
significant experience and knowledge in international law, the Corporations Act, the ASX Listing Rules, and corporate 
regulatory requirements. Mr. Clyne was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales and  
High Court of Australia in 1996 before gaining admission as a barrister in 1998. He had 15 years of experience in the 
legal profession acting for the country’s largest corporations, initially in the areas of corporate and commercial  
law before dedicating himself full time to the provision of corporate advisory and company secretarial services.  
Mr. Clyne holds a Master in Laws in International Law for the University of New South Wales, and is qualified as a 
Chartered Company Secretary.

MEETINGS OF DIRECTORS

During the financial year ended December 31, 2019, Sezzle held five meetings of the Board of Directors and one 
meeting of the noted committees, all of which were standard meetings.

FULL BOARD

AUDIT AND  
RISK COMMITTEE

REMUNERATION AND 
NOMINATION COMMITTEE

Held

Attended

Held

Attended

Held

Attended

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

1

1

1

1

1

11

01

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

11

01

1

1

1

Charlie Youakim

Paul Paradis

Paul Purcell

Kathleen Pierce-Gilmore

Paul Lahiff

1  Not a committee member.

As of the date of this report, Sezzle has an Audit and Risk Committee and a Remuneration and Nomination Committee 
of the Board of Directors. All committee members are non-executive independent directors. The members of each 
committee are as follows:

Audit and Risk Committee

Remuneration and Nomination Committee

Paul Lahiff (Chair)

Paul Lahiff (Chair)

Kathleen Pierce-Gilmore

Kathleen Pierce-Gilmore

Paul Purcell

Paul Purcell

PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES

The principal activities of Sezzle are to provide a technology-driven payment platform that facilitates fast, secure, 
and easy payments between End-customers and retailers through its short-term, interest-free installment plans 
that delivers to End-customers both a budgeting and financing value proposition.

FINANCIAL RESULT

The Company reported a net loss of $16.6 million after tax for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to a loss 
of $4.2 million in the previous year ended.

46

The Way FoRWaRD

For personal use only 
 
OPER ATING AND FINANCIAL REVIE W

Refer to pages 28-34 for the Company’s operating and financial review, which covers discussion of the Company’s: 

• 

financial and operating performance;

•  business strategies and initiatives; and

•  key risks and challenges.

FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

Any other information on likely developments in the operations of the Company and its prospective financial  
future have not been included in this report because the Directors believe it to be commercial-in-confidence and  
as a result likely to result in unreasonable prejudice to the Company.

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS SUBSEQUENT TO THE END OF THE YEAR

No material events have occurred subsequent to the end of the year at the time of issuing this report.

SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE STATE OF A FFAIRS

In the opinion of the Directors, there were no significant changes in the state of affairs of the consolidated  
entity during the financial period, except as otherwise noted in this report.

DIVIDENDS

No dividends on common stock were declared or issued during the year ended December 31, 2019.

On June 23, 2019, the Board of Directors declared and issued a 15% stock dividend resulting in the issue of 909,451 
Series A preferred stock to the existing holders of Series A-1 through A-5 preferred stock, valued at $0.8 million.  
All preferred stock was converted into common stock on July 24, 2019 in conjunction with the Company listing on  
the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).

STOCK-BASED PAYMENT PL ANS

A summary of the Company’s stock-based payment plans is disclosed within Note 17 of the Consolidated  
Financial Statements. 

SUSTAINABILIT Y

The Company understands and supports the increased role environmental, social, and economic factors play into 
the sustainability of its businesses and its stakeholders. The Company also understands that there are stakeholders 
that expect additional information on the Company’s sustainability initiatives. To this extent, the Company discusses 
its sustainability initiatives and stakeholder approach in pages 11-27 of this report.

The consolidated entity is not subject to any significant environmental regulation under the laws of the United States.

CORPOR ATE GOVERNANCE

The Company’s Corporate Governance Statement for the year ended December 31, 2019 can be found at  
https://www.sezzle.com/investors

REMUNER ATION REPORT

The Directors of the Company present the Remuneration Report for Non-Executive Directors, Executive Directors,  
and other Key Management Personnel (KMP), prepared pursuant to the Corporations Act 2001 and the Corporations 
Regulations 2001. 

47

ANNUAL REPORT 2019SEZZLE INC.For personal use onlyDirectors’ Report

Continued

The Remuneration Report is set out under the following main headings: 

•  Remuneration Philosophy;

•  Performance;

•  Details of Remuneration;

•  Service Agreements;

•  Share-Based Compensation; 

•  Short Term Incentive Program;

•  Long Term Incentive Program; and

•  Other Information.

REMUNER ATION PHILOSOPHY

The performance of Sezzle depends upon our ability to attract and retain KMP. To prosper, we must attract,  
motivate, and retain these highly skilled individuals. KMP are those persons having authority and responsibility  
for planning, directing, and controlling the activities of the Company, directly or indirectly, including all Directors.

To that end, our remuneration framework is designed to deliver:

•  Competitive rewards to attract high caliber executives;

•  Clear alignment of remuneration with strategic objectives;

•  Focus on creating sustainable value for all of our stakeholders;

•  Merit-based remuneration across a diverse workforce; and

•  Ensure total remuneration is competitive by market standards.

The Remuneration and Nomination Committee (RNC) is responsible for determining and reviewing compensation 
arrangements for the KMP. The RNC assesses the appropriateness of the nature and amount of remuneration for 
KMP on a periodic basis by reference to relevant market conditions with the overall objective of ensuring maximum 
stakeholder benefit from the retention of a high-quality board and executive team.

The Board of the Company believes the remuneration framework to be appropriate and effective in attracting and 
retaining the best KMP to operate and manage the Company.

The KMP remuneration framework is designed to support the Company’s reward philosophies and to underpin  
the Company’s growth strategy. The framework comprises the following components:

•  Base salary-appropriate to the position and experience and is competitive in the market; and

•  Long term incentive-aligned to delivery of long term performance and delivery of returns to stakeholders.

The Board will continue to review KMP packages annually by reference to the Company’s performance, KMP 
performance, and comparable information from industry sectors and other listed companies in similar industries.

PER FORMANCE

As shown in the table below, the Company has achieved exceptional growth over the last three years. 

Year ended December 31

2019

2018

2017

Underlying Merchant Sales (US$)

$ 

244,125,995

$ 

31,081,277

$ 

855,381

Active Customers

Active Merchants

Total Income (US$)

48

The Way FoRWaRD

914,886

155,257

10,010

2,228

4,542

100

$ 

16,060,356

$ 

1,632,060

$ 

29,366

For personal use onlyDETAILS OF REMUNER ATION

AMOUNTS OF REMUNERATION

Details of the remuneration of KMP of the Company are set out in the following tables. The KMP of the Company 
during the reporting period consisted of the following:

•  Charlie Youakim, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer;

•  Paul Paradis, Executive Director and Chief Revenue Officer; 

•  Kathleen Pierce-Gilmore, Non-Executive Director;

•  Paul Purcell, Non-Executive Director;

•  Paul Lahiff, Non-Executive Director; and

•  Karen Hartje, Chief Financial Officer.

Non-Executive Directors

P. Purcell

K. Pierce Gilmore

P. Lahiff

Executive Directors

C. Youakim

P. Paradis

Executive Management

K. Hartje

SHORT TERM

LONG TERM

Cash Salary 
and Fees 
US$ 

Non-
Monetary 

Annual 
Leave 
US$ 

Options/ 
RSAs

Nil

Nil

$ 

17,796

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

350,000 RSAs1

350,000 Options2

250,000 Options3

$ 

$ 

205,593

168,878

Nil

Nil

$ 

$ 

6,635

500,000 Options4 

5,577

500,000 Options4

$ 

203,096

Nil

$ 

6,577

500,000 Options4

1. 

In accordance with Paul Purcell’s director appointment agreement, 350,000 RSAs were issued to Continental Investment 
Partners on March 29, 2019 which comprises compensation for Paul Purcell’s services as Director.

2.  Kathleen Pierce-Gilmore received 350,000 options on March 29, 2019 with an exercise price of $0.05, which comprises  

her compensation for her services. 1/36th of the options granted to Kathleen Pierce-Gilmore vest each month after the 
grant of the options, provided that she remains a Director of the Company as of the applicable date. The options expire 
ten years from March 29, 2019. 

3.  1/36th of the options granted to Paul Lahiff vest each month after the grant of the options, provided that he remains  
a Director of the Company as of the applicable date and are exercisable at the exercise price per option of $0.84.  
The options expire ten years from July 27, 2019.

4.  1/48th of the options for these KMPs vest each month after the grant of the options, provided the individual remains  

an employee of the Company as at the applicable date. These options expire ten years from July 27, 2019.

49

ANNUAL REPORT 2019SEZZLE INC.For personal use only 
 
 
 
Directors’ Report

Continued

SERVICE AGREEMENTS

Remuneration and other terms of employment for KMP are formalized in service agreements. Details of these 
agreements are as follows:

Name:

Title: 

Charlie Youakim

Executive Chairman and CEO

Agreement commenced: 

June 21, 2019

Term of Agreement:

Annual salary of $225,000. Charlie’s agreement may be terminated: 

(i)  at any time upon mutual written agreement of the parties; 

(ii)  by the Company immediately and without prior notice for cause; 

(iii) immediately upon Charlie’s death or disability; 

(iv) by the Company other than for cause with advance written notice of at least  

12 months; or

(v)  by Charlie, other than due to Charlie’s death or disability, with advance written  

notice of at least 12 months.

Name:

Title: 

Paul Paradis

Executive Director and Chief Revenue Officer

Agreement commenced: 

June 21, 2019

Term of Agreement: 

Annual salary of $200,000. Paul’s agreement may be terminated: 

(i)  at any time upon mutual written agreement of the parties; 

(ii)  by the Company immediately and without prior notice for cause; 

(iii)  immediately upon Paul’s death or disability; 

(iv)  by the Company other than for cause with advance written notice of at least  

12 months; or

(v)  by Paul, other than due to Paul’s death or disability, with advance written notice  

of at least 12 months.

Name:

Title: 

Karen Hartje

CFO

Agreement commenced: 

June 21, 2019

Term of Agreement:

Annual salary of $225,000. The Company may terminate immediately for cause.  
Either party may terminate with 6 months’ written notice without cause.

50

The Way FoRWaRD

For personal use onlyName:

Title: 

Paul Purcell

Non-Executive Director

Agreement commenced:  March 28, 2019

Term of Agreement:

The Agreement shall continue until terminated by either party for any reason upon five (5) 
days prior written notice without further obligation or liability other than as otherwise 
set forth in the Agreement. 350,000 RSAs were issued to Continental Investment Partners 
on March 29, 2019 which comprises compensation for Paul Purcell’s services as Director.

Name:

Title: 

Kathleen Pierce-Gilmore

Non-Executive Director

Agreement commenced:  March 26, 2019

Term of Agreement: 

The Agreement shall continue until terminated by either party for any reason upon  
five (5) days prior written notice without further obligation or liability other than as 
otherwise set forth in the Agreement. Kathleen received 350,00 options exercisable  
at $0.05 each and expiring March 29, 2029 vesting monthly over 3 years engagement  
as a director but automatically vesting in full upon certain circumstances including  
a sale, merger or consolidation.

Name:

Title: 

Paul Lahiff

Non-Executive Director

Agreement commenced:  May 7, 2019

Term of Agreement: 

The Agreement shall continue until terminated in accordance with the provisions  
of the Agreement including in the event that Paul is not re-elected as a director of  
the Company by shareholders or becomes disqualified from acting as a director.  
Paul receives a total of A$60,000 per annum comprising A$50,000 as a director and  
an additional A$10,000 in board subcommittee fees.

KMP have no entitlement to termination payments in the event of removal for misconduct.

SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

ISSUE OF SHARES

Other than as set out in this report, there were no shares issued to KMP as part of compensation during the year 
ended December 31, 2019.

51

ANNUAL REPORT 2019SEZZLE INC.For personal use onlyDirectors’ Report

Continued

SHARES/CDIS HELD BY KMP:

The number of ordinary shares in the Company during the year ended December 31, 2019 reporting period held  
by each of the Company’s key management personnel, including their related parties, is set out below:

Member of KMP

Charlie Youakim

Paul Paradis

Kathleen Pierce-Gilmore

Paul Purcell

Paul Lahiff

Karen Hartje

Note:

Balance at 
Start of Year

Granted as 
Remuneration

Received on 
Exercise

Other 
Changes

Held at end 
of Reporting 
Period

40,000,000

10,000,0002

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

48,359,8091

88,359,809

0

0

0

10,000,000

0

0

81,967

81,967

0

0

1.  Charlie Youakim held 47,680,590 preferred shares at the beginning of 2019. An additional 679,219 shares were granted to him 
pursuant to the preferred dividend that was declared by the Board of Directors on June 23, 2019. These 48,359,809 preferred 
shares converted to common shares of the Company on July 24, 2019 in conjunction with the Company’s listing on the ASX.

2.  Paul Paradis holds 10,000,000 shares. As of the date of this Annual Report, 8,625,000 shares have fully vested with the remaining 
shares subject to vesting conditions as follows: 1,375,000 shares will vest in monthly installments over the next 22 months.

OPTIONS HELD BY KMP:

The number of options in the Company during the year ended December 31, 2019 reporting period held by each of 
the Company’s KMP, including their related parties, is set out below:

Member of KMP

Charlie Youakim

Paul Paradis

Kathleen Pierce-Gilmore

Paul Purcell

Paul Lahiff

Karen Hartje

Notes:

Balance at 
Start of Year

Granted as 
Remuneration

Other 
Changes

–

–

–

–

–

500,000

500,000

350,000

0

250,000

1,735,000

500,000

–

–

–

–

–

–

Held at end 
of Reporting 
Period

500,0001

500,0001

350,0002

03

250,0004

2,235,0001

1.  1/48th of the options for these KMPs vest each month after the grant of the options, provided the individual remains  

an employee of the Company as at the applicable date. These options expire 10 years from the date of grant.

2.  Kathleen Pierce-Gilmore received 350,000 options on March 29, 2019 with an exercise price of $0.05, which comprises  

her compensation for her services. 1/36th of the options granted to Kathleen Pierce-Gilmore vest each month after the 
grant of the options, provided that she remains a Director of the Company as at the applicable date. The options expire 
10 years from March 29, 2019. 

3.  In accordance with Paul Purcell’s director appointment agreement, 350,000 restricted stock awards were issued to 

Continental Investment Partners on March 29, 2019 which comprises compensation for Paul Purcell’s services as Director.

4.  1/36th of the options granted to Paul Lahiff vest each month after the grant of the options, provided that he remains  
a Director of the Company as of the applicable date and are exercisable at the exercise price per option of $0.84.  
The options expire 10 years from July 27, 2019. 

52

The Way FoRWaRD

For personal use onlySHORT TERM INCENTIVE PROGR AM

Other than cash salaries, the Company did not have other short term incentives for 2019.

LONG TERM INCENTIVE PROGR AM

Under the terms of the 2016 Employee Stock Option Plan and 2019 Employee Incentive Plan (collectively the “Plans”) 
approved by the board, the Company may offer options and other incentives to eligible employees. Incentives are 
subject to vesting conditions consisting of time-based hurdles.

OTHER INFORMATION — LOANS TO KMP

There were no loans made during the year to any Key Management Personnel.

THIS CONCLUDES THE REMUNER ATION REPORT.

PROCEEDINGS ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY

No person has sought to bring proceedings on behalf of the consolidated entity, and the consolidated entity is not  
a party to any proceedings, for the purpose of taking responsibility on behalf of the consolidated entity for any such 
proceedings, or for a particular step in any such proceedings.

INSUR ANCE OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

During the year, Sezzle paid a premium for a Directors and Officers Liability Insurance Policy (D&O Insurance).  
This policy covers Directors and Officers of the Company and the consolidated entity. In accordance with normal 
commercial practices under the terms of the insurance agreements, the disclosure of the nature of the liabilities 
insured against and the amount of the premiums are prohibited by the policy.

INDEMNIFICATION OF AUDITORS

To the extent of the law, Sezzle has agreed to indemnify its auditors, Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP as part of the 
terms of its audit engagement agreement. No payment has been made in relation to this agreement during or after 
the financial year.

NON-AUDIT SERVICES

Sezzle may choose to employ its auditor for services additional to their statutory audit duties. Pursuant to the 
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, Sezzle and its affiliates do not employ its auditors on assignments related to:

•  Bookkeeping;

•  Financial information systems design and implementation;

•  Appraisal or valuation services, fairness opinions, or contribution-in-kind reports;

•  Actuarial services;

• 

Internal audit outsourcing services;

•  Management functions or human resources;

•  Broker-dealer, investment adviser, or investment banking services; and

•  Legal services and expert services unrelated to the audit.

In all other instances, the Audit and Risk Committee considers whether any service may impair the firm’s 
independence in fact or appearance and approves the service before engagement.

53

ANNUAL REPORT 2019SEZZLE INC.For personal use onlyFinancial 
Statements

Sezzle Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2019 and 2018

54

The Way FoRWaRD

For personal use onlyContents

Independent Auditors’ Report 

Consolidated Balance Sheets 

Consolidated Statements of Operations 

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 

Note 1 – Principal Business Activity and Significant Accounting Policies 

Note 2 – Property and Equipment 

Note 3 – Internally Developed Intangible Assets 

Note 4 – Notes Receivable 

Note 5 – Leases 

Note 6 – Commitments and Contingencies 

Note 7 – Income Taxes 

Note 8 – Merchant Concentration 

Note 9 – Income 

Note 10 – Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) 

Note 11 – Mezzanine Equity 

Note 12 – Employee Benefit Plan 

Note 13 – Revolving Line of Credit 

Note 14 – Notes Payable 

Note 15 – Future Equity Obligations 

Note 16 – Convertible Notes 

Note 17 – Equity-Based Compensation 

Note 18 – Losses per Share 

Note 19 – Subsequent Events 

Directors’ Declaration 

ASX Additional Information 

Corporate Directory 

56

57

58

59

60

61

61

66

66

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69

71

71

72

73

74

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75

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83

55

ANNUAL REPORT 2019SEZZLE INC.For personal use onlyIndependent auditors’ Report

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT 

Board of Directors 
Sezzle, Inc. and Subsidiaries 
Minneapolis, MN 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated financial statements of Sezzle, Inc. and Subsidiaries, which 
comprise the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the related consolidated 
statements of operations, stockholders' equity (deficit), and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related 
notes to the consolidated financial statements. 

Management’s Responsibility for the Consolidated Financial Statements 

Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these consolidated financial statements 
in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America; this includes the 
design, implementation, and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of 
consolidated Financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. 

Auditors' Responsibility 

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We 
conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. 
Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the 
consolidated financial statements are free from material misstatement. 

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the 
consolidated financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditors' judgment, including the 
assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to fraud 
or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity's 
preparation and fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements in order to design audit procedures 
that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness 
of the entity's internal control. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes evaluating the 
appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made 
by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. 

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our 
audit opinion. 

Opinion 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the 
financial position of Sezzle, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the results of their 
operations and their cash flows and substantially all of the disclosures for the years then ended in accordance 
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. 

Minneapolis, Minnesota 
February 27, 2020 

Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP trading as Baker Tilly is a member of the global network of Baker Tilly International Ltd., the members of 
which are separate and independent legal entities. © 2018 Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP 

56

The Way FoRWaRD

For personal use only 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets
as of December 31, 2019 and 2018

Assets

Current Assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Restricted cash

Notes receivable, net

Other receivables, net

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

Total current assets

Non-Current Assets

Internally developed intangible assets, net

Property and equipment, net

Right-of-use assets

Restricted cash

Other assets

Total Assets

Liabilities, Mezzanine Equity, and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)

Current Liabilities

Merchant accounts payable

Lease liability (current)

Accrued liabilities 

Other payables

Total current liabilities 

Long Term Liabilities

Long term debt

Lease liability (non-current)

Line of credit, net of unamortized debt issuance costs of US$590,827  
and US$66,172, respectively

Total Liabilities

Mezzanine Equity

2019 
US$

2018 
US$

$ 

34,965,069

$ 

6,519,400

1,639,549

545,454

25,189,135

4,930,616

315,502

882,939

32,780

128,167

62,992,194

12,156,417

480,098

134,400

867,272

20,000

49,171

260,732

75,676

–

20,000

22,509

$ 

64,543,135

$ 

12,535,334

$ 

13,284,544

$ 

2,276,880

389,257

1,670,261

267,934

–

457,488

96,252

15,611,996

2,830,620

250,000

500,131

250,000

–

20,859,173

4,133,828

37,221,300

7,214,448

Preferred stock, 6% noncumulative, US$0.00001 par value; 200,000,000 shares 
authorized;  
0 and 69,536,840 shares issued and outstanding, respectively

–

11,678,429

Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)

Common stock, US$0.00001 par value; 300,000,000 shares authorized;  
178,931,312 and 59,416,666 shares issued and outstanding, respectively

Additional paid-in capital

Accumulated deficit

Total Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)

1,789

51,138,207

594

99,857

(23,818,161)

(6,457,994)

27,321,835

(6,357,543)

Total Liabilities, Mezzanine Equity, and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)

$ 

64,543,135

$ 

12,535,334

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

57

ANNUAL REPORT 2019SEZZLE INC.For personal use onlyConsolidated Statements of operations
For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018

Income

Sezzle income

End-customer other income

Total income

Cost of Income

Gross profit

Operating Expenses

Selling, general, and administrative expenses

Provision for uncollectible accounts

Total operating expenses

Operating Loss

Other Income (Expense)

Interest expense

2019 
US$

2018 
US$

$ 

13,375,254

$ 

1,415,077

2,685,102

216,983

16,060,356

1,632,060

7,660,276

915,266

8,400,080

716,794

13,223,605

3,829,013

6,235,820

940,498

19,459,425

4,769,511

(11,059,345)

(4,052,717)

(1,459,782)

(96,496)

Interest expense on beneficial conversion feature 

(4,197,674)

–

Other income and expense

Fair value adjustment on future equity obligations

Loss before taxes

Income tax expense

Net Loss

Earnings per share:

132,554

(36,850)

–

(7,490)

(16,584,247)

(4,193,553)

11,981

–

$ 

(16,596,228) $ 

(4,193,553)

Basic and diluted loss per common share

$ 

(0.15)

$ 

(0.07)

Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding

111,576,824

59,416,666

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

58

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For personal use onlyConsolidated Statements of 
Stockholders’ equity (Deficit)
For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018

Common Stock

Shares

Amount 
US$

Additional 
Paid-in Capital 
US$

Stock 
Subscriptions 
US$

Accumulated 
Deficit 
US$

Total 
US$

59,416,666

$ 

594

$ 

69,180

$ 

(57,708) $ 

(2,264,441) $ 

(2,252,375)

30,677

–

–

30,677

Balance at 
January 1, 2018

Equity based 
compensation

Collection of stock 
subscription

Net loss

Balance at 
December 31, 2018

Equity based 
compensation

Stock option 
exercises

Restricted stock 
issuances and 
vesting of awards

Preferred stock 
dividend

Conversion of 
preferred stock  
to common stock

Proceeds of initial 
public offering, net 
of issuance costs

Conversion  
of notes to 
common stock

Net loss

Balance at 
December 31, 2019

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

59,416,666

594

99,857

–

882,914

407,000

–

–

8

4

–

825,302

37,099

126,673

–

70,446,291

705

12,441,662

35,714,286

357

27,509,331

12,064,155

–

121

–

10,098,283

–

178,931,312

$ 

1,789

$ 

51,138,207

$ 

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

57,708

57,708

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(4,193,553)

(4,193,553)

(6,457,994)

(6,357,543)

–

–

–

825,302

37,107

126,677

(763,939)

(763,939)

–

–

–

12,442,367

27,509,688

10,098,404

(16,596,228)

(16,596,228)

$ 

(23,818,161) $ 

27,321,835

59

ANNUAL REPORT 2019SEZZLE INC.For personal use onlyConsolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018

Operating Activities:

Net loss

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used for operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization

Provision for uncollectible accounts

Provision for other uncollectible receivables

Equity based compensation and restricted stock vested

Amortization of debt issuance costs 

Fair value adjustment on future equity obligations

Impairment losses on long-lived assets

Loss and accrued interest on conversion of convertible notes

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Notes receivable

Other receivables

Prepaid expenses and other assets

Merchant accounts payable

Other payables

Operating leases

Accrued liabilities

Net cash used for operating activities

Investing Activities:

Purchase of property and equipment

Internally developed intangible asset additions

Net cash used for investing activities

Financing Activities:

Proceeds from issuance of long term debt

Costs incurred for convertible note issuance

Proceeds from line of credit

Payments to line of credit

Proceeds from employee stock option exercises

Payments of debt issuance costs

Proceeds from initial public offering

Costs incurred for initial public offering

Proceeds of future equity obligations

Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock, net of costs

Collection of stock subscription

Net cash provided by financing activities

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

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash:

Beginning of Year

End of Year

Non-cash investing and financing activities:

Conversion of notes to common stock

Conversion of preferred stock to common stock

Issuance of preferred stock dividend

Non-cash lease liabilities arising from obtaining right-of-use assets

2019 
US$

2018 
US$

$ 

(16,596,228)

$ 

(4,193,553)

245,496

6,235,820

1,188,201

951,979

72,379

–

15,623

4,306,622

96,845

940,498

102,540

30,677

4,727

7,490

19,827

–

(26,494,339)

(5,658,137)

(1,470,923)

(788,428)

11,007,664

171,682

22,116

1,212,773

(133,100)

(121,195)

2,168,981

79,575

–

421,492

(19,919,563)

(6,233,333)

(125,885)

(406,333)

(532,218)

5,812,500

(25,000)

24,200,000

(6,950,000)

37,107

(592,750)

30,286,785

(2,777,097)

–

–

–

49,991,545

29,539,764

(101,529)

(267,375)

(368,904)

250,000

–

4,600,000

(400,000)

–

(70,899)

–

–

30,000

8,368,386

57,708

12,835,195

6,232,958

7,084,854

851,896

$ 

36,624,618

$ 

7,084,854

$ 

10,098,404

$ 

12,442,367

763,939

872,210

–

–

–

–

Issuance of preferred stock from future equity obligations

–

3,310,043

Supplementary disclosures:

Cash paid for interest

1,153,730

34,634

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

60

The Way FoRWaRD

For personal use onlyNotes to the Consolidated 
Financial Statements
December 31, 2019 and 2018

NOTE 1 – PRINCIPAL BUSINESS ACTIVIT Y AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

PRINCIPAL BUSINESS ACTIVIT Y

Sezzle Inc. (the “Company” or “Sezzle”) is a technology-enabled payments company based in the United States with 
operations in both the United States and Canada. The Company is a Delaware corporation formed on January 4, 2016. 
The Company offers its payment solution at online stores and a select number of brick-and-mortar retail locations, 
connecting consumers with merchants via a proprietary payments solution that instantly extends credit at point-of-sale, 
allowing consumers to purchase and receive the items that they need now while paying over time in interest-free 
installments. 

Merchants turn to Sezzle to increase sales by tapping into Sezzle’s existing user base, increase conversion rates, 
increase spend per transaction, increase purchase frequency, and reduce return rates, all without bearing any 
credit risk. Sezzle is a high-growth, networked platform that benefits from a symbiotic and mutually beneficial 
relationship between merchants and consumers.

The Company’s core product allows consumers to make online purchases and effectively split the payment for  
the purchase over four equal, interest-free payments over six weeks. The End-customer makes the first payment  
at the time of checkout and makes the subsequent payments every two weeks after that. The purchase price,  
less processing fees, is paid to retail merchant clients by Sezzle in advance of the collection of the purchase  
price installments by Sezzle from the End-customer.

The Company is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The consolidated financial statements are prepared and presented under accounting principles generally accepted 
in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP). All amounts listed are reported in US dollars. It is the Company’s policy to 
consolidate the accounts of subsidiaries for which it has a controlling financial interest. The accompanying consolidated 
financial statements include all the accounts and activity of Sezzle Inc., Sezzle Funding SPE, LLC, Sezzle Canada Corp., 
Sezzle Holdings I, Inc., and Sezzle Holdings II, Inc. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been 
eliminated in consolidation. 

CONCENTR ATIONS OF CREDIT RISK

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

Financial instruments that potentially expose the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash 
and cash equivalents. The Company maintains its cash in depository accounts that, at times, may exceed Federal 
Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) limits. As of the date of this report, the Company has experienced no losses  
on such accounts.

FOREIGN CURRENCY RISK

The Company is exposed to foreign currency fluctuations on its consolidated balance sheets and consolidated 
statements of operations. Currency risk is managed through limits set on total foreign deposits on hand which  
are routinely monitored by the Company.

NOTES RECEIVABLE

The Company has a policy for establishing credit lines for individual End-customers that helps mitigate credit risk. 
The allowance for uncollectible accounts is adequate for covering any potential losses on outstanding notes receivable.

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

The Company had cash and cash equivalents of $34,965,069 and $6,519,400 as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, 
respectively. The Company considers all money market funds and other highly liquid investments with an original 
maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company accepts debit and credit 
cards from End-customers as a method to settle its receivables, and these transactions are generally transmitted 
through third parties. The payments due from third parties for debit and credit card transactions are generally 
settled within three days. The Company considers all bank, debit and credit card transactions initiated before year 
end to be cash and cash equivalents.

61

ANNUAL REPORT 2019SEZZLE INC.For personal use onlyNotes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

Continued

NOTE 1 – PRINCIPAL BUSINESS ACTIVIT Y AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES CONTINUED

RESTRICTED CASH

The Company is required to maintain cash balances in a bank account in accordance with the lending agreement 
executed on November 29, 2019 between Sezzle Funding SPE, LLC, Sezzle Inc, and their third party line of credit 
providers Bastion Consumer Funding II, LLC, Atalaya Asset Income Fund IV LP, and Hudson Cove Credit Opportunity 
Master Fund, LP (“the Syndicate”). The bank account is the property of Sezzle Funding SPE, LLC, but access to 
End-customer payments is controlled by the Syndicate. On a regular basis cash received from End-customers is 
deposited to the bank account and subsequently made available to Sezzle through daily settlement reporting  
with the Syndicate. Cash deposits to the bank account represent cash received from End-customers not yet made 
available to Sezzle, as well as a minimum balance consisting of the sum of $20,000, accrued interest on the drawn 
credit facility, and accrued management fees charged by the Syndicate. Additionally, the Company is required  
to maintain minimum balances in a deposit account with a third-party service provider to fund notes receivable.  
The amount on deposit within the current restricted bank accounts totaled $1,639,549 and $545,454 as of  
December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company was required to maintain a $20,000 cash balance held in a reserve 
account to cover Automated Clearing House (ACH) transactions. The cash balance within this account is classified 
as non-current restricted cash on the consolidated balance sheets.

RECEIVABLES AND CREDIT POLICY

Notes receivable represent amounts from uncollateralized End-customer receivables generated from the purchase  
of online merchandise. The original terms of the notes for the Company’s core product are to be paid back in equal 
installments every two weeks over a six-week period. The Company does not charge interest on the notes to End-
customers. Sezzle defers direct note origination costs over the average life of the notes receivable using the  
effective interest rate method. These net deferred fees and costs are recorded within notes receivable, net on  
the consolidated balance sheets. The Company evaluates the collectability of the balances based on historical 
experience and the specific circumstances of individual notes, with an allowance for uncollectible accounts being 
provided as necessary. All notes receivable from End-customers, as well as related fees, outstanding greater than  
90 days past due are charged off as uncollectible. It is the Company’s practice to continue collection efforts after the 
charge-off date. Refer to Note 4 for further information about receivable balances, allowances, and charge-off amounts.

DEBT ISSUANCE COSTS

Costs incurred in connection with originating debt have been capitalized and are classified in the consolidated 
balance sheets as a reduction of the line of credit balance to which those costs relate. Debt issuance costs are 
amortized over the life of the underlying debt obligation utilizing the straight-line method, which approximates the 
effective interest method. Amortization of debt issuance costs is included within interest expense in the consolidated 
statements of operations. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, amortization of debt issuance costs 
totaled $72,379 and $4,727, respectively. Total cumulative cash payments to date for debt issuance costs were 
$663,649 and $70,899 for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

PROPERT Y AND EQUIPMENT

Property and equipment are recorded at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided using either 
the straight-line or double-declining balance method, based on the useful lives of the assets:

Computer equipment

Office equipment

Furniture and fixtures

Years

Method

3

5

7

Double-declining balance

Double-declining balance

Straight-line

Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Refer to Note 2 for further information.

62

The Way FoRWaRD

For personal use onlyINTERNALLY DEVELOPED INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The Company capitalizes costs incurred for web development and software developed for internal use. The costs 
capitalized primarily relate to direct labor costs for employees and contractors working directly on the development 
and implementation of the software. Projects are deemed eligible for capitalization once it is determined that the 
project is being designed or modified to meet internal business needs, the project is ready for its intended use,  
the total estimated costs to be capitalized exceed $500, and there are no plans to market, sell or lease the project.

Amortization is provided using the straight-line method, based on useful lives of the intangible assets as follows:

Internal use software

Website development costs

Refer to Note 3 for further information. 

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COSTS

Years

Method

3

3

Straight-line

Straight-line

Research expenditures that relate to the development of new processes, including internally developed software,  
are expensed as incurred. Such costs were approximately $517,000 and $394,000 for the years ended December 31, 2019 
and 2018, respectively. Research expenditures are recorded within selling, general, and administrative expenses within 
the consolidated statements of operations.

IMPAIRMENT OF LONG -LIVED ASSETS

The Company reviews the carrying value of long-lived assets, including property, equipment and internally developed 
intangible assets for impairment whenever events and circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets 
may not be recoverable from the future cash flows expected to result from its use and eventual disposition. In cases 
where undiscounted expected future cash flows are less than the carrying value, an impairment loss is recognized 
equal to an amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of assets. The factors considered by management 
in performing this assessment include current operating results, trends and prospects, the manner in which the 
property is used, and the effects of obsolescence, demand, competition, and other economic factors. Management 
has determined that $15,623 and $19,827 of impairment losses were incurred for the years ended December 31, 2019 
and 2018, respectively.

As of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 the Company had not renewed or extended the initial determined life 
for any of its recognized internally developed intangible assets.

INCOME TAXES

Income taxes are provided for the tax effects of transactions reported in the consolidated financial statements and 
consist of taxes currently due plus deferred taxes related primarily to differences between the basis of receivables, 
property and equipment, accrued liabilities, and equity based compensation for financial and income tax reporting. 
The deferred tax assets and liabilities represent the future tax return consequences of those differences, which will 
either be taxable or deductible when the assets and liabilities are recovered or settled. Deferred tax assets are 
reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion 
or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. A full valuation allowance is recorded against the Company’s 
deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2019 and 2018.

The Company evaluates its tax positions that have been taken or are expected to be taken on income tax returns to 
determine if an accrual is necessary for uncertain tax positions. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the unrecognized tax 
benefits accrual was zero. The Company will recognize future accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized 
tax benefits in income tax expense if incurred.

ADVERTISING COSTS

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and consist of traditional marketing, digital marketing, sponsorships, 
and promotional product expenses. Such costs were $368,235 and $179,394 for the years ended December 31, 2019 
and 2018, respectively. 

63

ANNUAL REPORT 2019SEZZLE INC.For personal use onlyNotes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

Continued

NOTE 1 – PRINCIPAL BUSINESS ACTIVIT Y AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES CONTINUED

EQUIT Y-BASED COMPENSATION

The Company maintains stock compensation plans which provides the offering of incentive and non-statutory stock 
options and restricted stock to employees, directors, and advisors of the Company. Equity-based compensation 
expense reflects the fair value of awards measured at the grant date and recognized over the relevant vesting 
period. The Company estimates the fair value of each stock option on the measurement date using the Black-Scholes 
option valuation model which incorporates assumptions as to stock price volatility, the expected life of the options, 
risk-free interest rate and dividend yield. The Company issues new shares upon the exercise of stock options. Refer to 
Note 17 for further information around the Company’s equity-based compensation plans.

ESTIMATES

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make 
estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements. The Company’s 
estimates and judgments are based on historical experience and various other assumptions that it believes are 
reasonable under the circumstances. The amount of assets and liabilities reported on the Company’s consolidated 
balance sheets and the amounts of income and expenses reported for each of the periods presented are affected 
by estimates and assumptions, which are used for, but not limited to, determining the allowance for uncollectible 
accounts recorded against outstanding receivables, the useful life of property and equipment and internally developed 
intangible assets, determining impairment of property and equipment and internally developed intangible assets, 
valuation of equity based compensation, leases, and income taxes.

FAIR VALUE

Fair values are based on the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly 
transaction between market participants at the measurement date (i.e. an exit price). The accounting guidance 
includes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The three 
levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets;

Level 2 — Inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities that are observable 
either directly or indirectly for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; and

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, which include management’s own assumption about the 
assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk.

The Company measures the value of its money market securities on a regular basis. The fair value of its money market 
securities, totaling $7,282,946 and $1,800,559 as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, are based on Level 1 inputs 
and are included within cash and cash equivalents on the consolidated balance sheets. 

COST OF INCOME AND SELLING, GENER AL AND ADMINISTR ATIVE EXPENSES

The primary costs classified in each major expense category are: 

Cost of income: 

•  Payment processing costs

•  End-customer communication expenses

•  Merchant affiliate program fees

• 

International payment processing costs

•  Partner revenue share fees

64

The Way FoRWaRD

For personal use onlySelling, general, and administrative expenses: 

•  All compensation related costs for employees and contractors

•  Third party service provider costs

•  Depreciation and amortization

•  Advertising costs

•  Rent expense

•  Legal and regulatory compliance costs

SEGMENTS

The Company’s operations consist primarily of lending to End-customers located in the United States who  
purchase goods from its affiliated merchants. During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company began 
operations in Canada. While a distinct geographic location, the operations in Canada are still in an early growth 
stage. Additionally, as of December 31, 2019, management has not found any significant difference in the economic 
performance of each operating segment. Therefore, management has concluded that the Company has one 
reportable segment on a consolidated basis.

FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE LOSSES

Sezzle works with international merchants creating exposure to gains and losses from foreign currency exchanges. 
Sezzle’s income and cash can be affected by movements in the Canadian dollar. Sezzle has transactional currency 
exposures arising from merchant fees and payouts to Canadian merchant partners. Gains (losses) from foreign 
exchange rate fluctuations affecting Sezzle’s net loss totaled $20,729 and ($38,859) for the years ended December 31, 2019 
and 2018, respectively, and are recorded within other income and expenses on the consolidated statements of 
operations. The Company did not hold foreign currency prior to October 2018.

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”)  
No. 2016-02, “Leases,” which requires all lessees to recognize a liability and a corresponding right-of-use asset for all 
long-term leases. The Company has adopted the new standard as of January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective 
approach. Upon adopting this standard, the Company established a right of use asset of $345,607, lease liability  
of $355,567, and reduced its deferred rent liability by $9,960. The Company elected to apply the package of three 
practical expedients which most notably allowed the Company to carryforward the classifications of its existing 
leases. Refer to Note 5 for further discussion around lease implementation.

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07, “Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting”  
to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from nonemployees. The Company 
adopted the new accounting pronouncement as of January 1, 2019. Implementation of the accounting standard  
did not result in adjustments to previously reported financial figures.

During August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, “Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure 
Requirements for Fair Value Measurement.” ASU No. 2018-13 modifies the disclosure requirements for fair value 
measurements in Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement. The amendments are based on the concepts in the FASB 
Concepts Statement, Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting—Chapter 8: Notes to Financial Statements, 
which the Board finalized on August 28, 2018. ASU No. 2018-13 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within 
those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not believe  
that the adoption of ASU No. 2018-13 will have a material effect on its consolidated statements of operations, 
consolidated balance sheets, and statement of cash flows.

65

ANNUAL REPORT 2019SEZZLE INC.For personal use onlyNotes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

Continued

NOTE 1 – PRINCIPAL BUSINESS ACTIVIT Y AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES CONTINUED

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses 
on Financial Instruments” which requires reporting entities estimate credit losses expected to occur over the life  
of the asset. Expected losses will be recorded in current period earnings and recorded through an allowance for 
credit losses on the consolidated balance sheet. During November 2018, April 2019, May 2019, and November 2019,  
the FASB also issued ASU No. 2018-19, “Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses”,  
ASU No. 2019-04, “Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses”; ASU No. 2019-05 
“Targeted Transition Relief ”; and ASU No. 2019-10, “Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivatives and 
Hedging (Topic 815), and Leases (Topic 842): Effective Dates” and ASU No. 2019-11, “Codification Improvements to  
Topic 326, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses.” ASU No. 2018-19 clarifies the effective date for nonpublic entities  
and that receivables arising from operating leases are not within the scope of Subtopic 326-20, ASUs Nos. 2019-04 
and 2019-05 amend the transition guidance provided in ASU No. 2016-13, ASU No. 2019-10 defers the effective date  
of and ASU No. 2019-11 amends ASU No. 2016-13 to clarify, correct errors in, or improve the guidance. ASU No. 2016-13 
(as amended) is effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods beginning after 
December 15, 2022. Early adoption is permitted for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. 
The Company plans to adopt the standard beginning January 1, 2023 and is currently evaluating the impact of the  
standard on its consolidated statements of operations, consolidated balance sheets, and statements of cash flows.

NOTE 2 – PROPERT Y AND EQUIPMENT

As of December 31, property and equipment, net consists of the following:

Computer and office equipment

$ 

225,186

$ 

114,978

Furniture and fixtures

Property and equipment, gross

Less: accumulated depreciation

28,394

5,727

253,580

120,705

(119,180)

(45,029)

Property and equipment, net

$ 

134,400

$ 

75,676

2019 
US$

2018 
US$

Depreciation expense relating to property and equipment was $74,151 and $36,086 for the years ended  
December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

NOTE 3 – INTERNALLY DEVELOPED INTANGIBLE ASSETS

As of December 31, internally developed intangible assets, net consists of the following:

Internal use software

Web development costs

Work in process

Internally developed intangible assets, gross

Less: accumulated amortization

2019 
US$

2018 
US$

$ 

662,653

$ 

257,537

20,195

13,672

29,027

46,370

696,520

332,934

(216,422)

(72,202)

Internally developed intangible assets, net

$ 

480,098

$ 

260,732

Amortization of internally developed intangible assets was $171,344 and $60,759 for the years ended  
December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

66

The Way FoRWaRD

For personal use onlyNOTE 4 – NOTES RECEIVABLE

As of December 31, Sezzle’s notes receivable, related allowance for uncollectible accounts, and deferred net 
origination fees are recorded within the consolidated balance sheets as follows: 

Notes receivable, gross

$ 

29,700,598

$ 

5,719,723

2019 
US$

2018 
US$

Less: allowance for uncollectible accounts

Balance at start of period 

Provision

Charge-offs, net of recoveries

Total allowance for uncollectible accounts

Notes receivable, net of allowance

(645,332)

(45,783)

(6,235,820)

(940,498)

3,419,315

340,949

(3,461,837)

(645,332)

26,238,761

5,074,391

Deferred net origination fees on notes receivable

(1,049,626)

(143,775)

Balance at end of year 

$ 

25,189,135

$ 

4,930,616

Sezzle maintains an allowance for uncollectible accounts at a level necessary to absorb estimated probable losses 
on principal receivables from End-customers. Any amounts delinquent after 90 days are charged-off with an offsetting 
reversal of the allowance for doubtful accounts through the provision for uncollectible accounts. Included in 
charge-offs, net of recoveries are recoveries totaling $170,231 and $41,396 for the years ended December 31, 2019  
and 2018, respectively.

Sezzle uses its judgement to evaluate the allowance for uncollectible accounts based on existing economic conditions 
and historical performance of End-customer principal payments. The historical vintages are grouped into 
fortnightly populations for purposes of the allowance assessment, in line with the standard payment plan of an 
End-customer. The balances of historical cumulative charge-offs by vintage support the calculation for estimating 
the allowance for uncollectible accounts for vintages outstanding less than 90 days.

Deferred net origination fees are comprised of Sezzle income less direct note origination costs, are recognized  
over the duration of the note with the End-customer and are recorded within Sezzle income on the consolidated 
statements of operations.

Sezzle estimates the allowance for uncollectible accounts by segmenting End-customer accounts receivable by the 
number of days balances are delinquent. Balances that are at least one day past the initial due date are considered 
delinquent. Balances that are not delinquent are considered current. End-customer notes receivable are charged-
off following the passage of 90 days without receiving a qualifying payment, upon notice of bankruptcy, or death. 
End-customers are allowed to reschedule a payment one time without incurring a reschedule fee and the principal 
of a rescheduled payment is not considered to be delinquent. If End-customers reschedule a payment more than 
once in the same order cycle they are subject to a reschedule fee. Alternatively, failed payment fees are applied to 
any missed payments for which an End-customer did not reschedule or pay within 48 hours of the original payment 
date. Any failed payment fees associated with a delinquent payment are considered to be the same number of days 
delinquent as the principal payment.

67

ANNUAL REPORT 2019SEZZLE INC.For personal use onlyNotes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

Continued

NOTE 4 – NOTES RECEIVABLE CONTINUED

The following table summarizes Sezzle’s gross notes receivable and related allowance for uncollectible accounts  
as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018: 

2019

2018

Gross 
Receivables 
US$

Allowance 
US$

Net Receivables 
US$

Gross 
Receivables 
US$

Allowance 
US$

Net Receivables 
US$

Current 

$ 

25,695,723

$ 

(1,014,888)

$ 

24,680,835

$ 

4,975,024

$ 

(101,054)

$ 

4,873,970

Days past due:

1-28

29-56

57-90

2,251,591

(923,396)

1,328,195

400,755

(215,592)

185,163

919,177

(719,910)

199,267

200,491

(188,339)

834,107

(803,643)

30,464

143,453

(140,347)

12,152

3,106

Total

$ 

29,700,598

$ 

(3,461,837) $ 

26,238,761

$ 

5,719,723

$ 

(645,332) $ 

5,074,391

Principal payments received after the 90 day charge-off period are recognized as recoveries in the allowance  
for uncollectible accounts in the period the payment is received.

NOTE 5 – LEASES

During the year of 2019, the Company entered into four new operating leases for corporate office space, three  
of which are located within the United States and one in Canada. Total lease expense incurred for the year ended 
December 31, 2019 and 2018 was $348,246 and $76,252, respectively, and is recorded within selling, general and 
administrative expenses on the consolidated statements of operations. Additionally, total cash paid for rent  
for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 was $350,722 and $73,433, respectively.

Right-of-use assets and lease liabilities are recognized as of the commencement date based on the present value  
of the remaining lease payments over the lease term which include renewal periods the Company is reasonably  
certain to exercise.

As of December 31 the Company’s operating leases are recorded on the consolidated balance sheets as follows:

Operating Leases

Assets

Total leased assets

Liabilities

Current

Classification

Right-of-use asset

2019 
US$

867,272

867,272

$ 

$ 

Lease liability (current)

$ 

389,257

Non-current

Lease liability (non-current)

Total lease liabilities

500,131

$ 

889,388

68

The Way FoRWaRD

For personal use onlyNOTE 5 – LEASES CONTINUED

The expected maturity of the Company’s operating leases are as follows: 

Maturity of Lease Liabilities

2020

2021

2022

Less: interest

US$

$ 

423,039

376,457

141,525

(51,633)

Present value of lease liabilities

$ 

889,388

The weighted average remaining term of the Company’s operating leases is 2.4 years. The weighted average discount 
rate of the operating leases is 4.75%. As of December 31, 2019, Sezzle has not entered into any lease agreements that 
contain residual value guarantees or financial covenants. Sezzle has several immaterial lease agreements in which  
it has the right to terminate the contract by providing written notice in advance. 

NOTE 6 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

MARKETING AND ADVERTISING

In September 2018, the Company entered into an agreement with a third party whereby Sezzle will pay for marketing 
and advertising costs. The agreement stipulates it will spend up to $250,000 over the four years following the date  
of the agreement.

The Company entered into similar agreements with third parties in 2019, committing up to $1,085,000 in marketing  
and advertising spend. The Company spent $530,000 of this amount during 2019, of which approximately $495,000 is 
recorded as a prepaid expense on the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2019. Absent a termination of the 
noted agreements, the Company is committed to spend an additional $500,000 on an annual basis in future years.

Costs relating to these agreements totaled $34,760 and $50,000 for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively 
and are included within selling, general, and administrative expenses within the consolidated statements of operations. 

NOTE 7 – INCOME TAXES

The income tax expense (benefit) components for the years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018  
are as follows:

Current tax expense/(benefit)

Federal

Foreign

State

Deferred tax expense/(benefit)

Federal

Foreign

State

2019 
US$

2018 
US$

$ 

$ 

–

–

11,981

–

–

–

$ 

11,981

$ 

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

69

ANNUAL REPORT 2019SEZZLE INC.For personal use onlyNotes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

Continued

NOTE 7 – INCOME TAXES CONTINUED

A reconciliation of the Company’s provision for income taxes at the federal statutory rate to the reported income tax 
provision for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 is as follows:

Computed “expected” tax benefit

State income tax benefit, net of federal tax effect

Nondeductible equity-based compensation

Nondeductible interest expense on beneficial conversion feature

Other permanent differences

Change in valuation allowance

Rate differentials and other

Income tax expense (benefit)

2019 
%

(21.0)

0.0

1.0

5.3

0.5

15.0

(0.9)

0.1

The components of the net deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 are as follows:

2019 
US$

2018 
%

(21.0)

(0.1)

–

–

0.4

20.7

–

–

2018 
US$

Deferred tax assets:

Net operating loss carryforwards

$ 

2,686,878

$ 

959,000

Allowance for uncollectible accounts

Deferred Sezzle income

Equity-based compensation

Depreciation and amortization

Startup costs

Accruals

Other

Total net deferred tax assets:

Valuation allowance

861,239

149,255

–

30,320

30,047

7,482

11,488

48,625

539

2,110

2,866

11,913

–

–

3,646,298

1,155,464

(3,646,298)

(1,155,464)

Net deferred tax asset/(liability):

$ 

–

$ 

–

70

The Way FoRWaRD

For personal use onlyNOTE 7 – INCOME TAXES CONTINUED

The total amount of gross federal net operating loss carryforwards are $11,898,000 and $4,394,000 as of December 31, 2019 
and 2018, respectively. The total amount of gross state net operating loss carryforwards are $1,735,000 and $461,000 
as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The federal net operating loss carryforwards that originated after 2017 
will have an indefinite life and may be used to offset 80% of a future year’s taxable income. The federal net operating 
loss carryforwards that originated before 2018 have expiration dates between 2036 and 2037. The state net operating 
losses will carryforward for 15-20 years and will expire beginning in 2031.

The Company’s ability to utilize a portion of its net operating loss carryforwards to offset future taxable income is 
subject to certain limitations under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code due to changes in the equity ownership 
of the Company. An ownership change under Section 382 has not been determined at this time.

The Company established a valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets to reduce the total to an amount 
management believes is appropriate. Realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon sufficient future taxable 
income during the periods when deductible temporary differences and carryforwards are expected to be available 
to reduce taxable income.

On December 22, 2017, the President of the United States signed into law the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act tax reform 
legislation. This legislation makes significant change in U.S. tax law, including a reduction in the corporate tax rates, 
changes to net operating loss carryforwards and carrybacks, and a repeal of the corporate alternative minimum tax. 
The legislation reduced the U.S. corporate tax rate from the current rate of 35% to 21%.

The legislation also introduced a new Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (“GILTI”) provision. Under U.S. GAAP, the 
Company is allowed to make an accounting policy choice of either 1) treating taxes due on future U.S. inclusions in 
taxable income related to GILTI as a current-period cost when incurred, or 2) factoring such amounts into the Company’s 
measurement of its deferred taxes. GILTI depends not only on the Company’s current structure and estimated future 
income but also on intent and ability to modify the structure or business. The Company has elected to treat GILTI  
as a current-period cost when incurred.

In November 2018, the U.S. Treasury issued proposed regulations for the new section 163( j), which generally limits 
business interest deductions to 30% of adjusted taxable income (“ATI”). Any disallowed business interest can be 
carried forward on an indefinite basis. For the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company was not subject to the 
business interest limitation.

Sezzle Canada Corp. does not have any earnings and no deferred tax liability has been booked related to unremitted 
earnings of the foreign subsidiary. 

NOTE 8 – MERCHANT CONCENTR ATION

There are no material concentrations for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.

NOTE 9 – INCOME

SEZZLE INCOME

Sezzle receives its income predominantly from fees paid by retail merchant clients in exchange for Sezzle’s  
payment processing services. These fees are applied to the underlying sales to End-customers passing through  
the Company’s platform and are based on a percentage of the End-customer order value plus a fixed fee per 
transaction. End-customer installment payment plans typically consist of four installments, with the first payment 
made at the time of purchase and subsequent payments coming due every two weeks after that. Additionally, 
End-customers may reschedule their initial installment plan by delaying payment for up to two weeks, for which 
Sezzle earns a rescheduled payment fee. The total of merchant fees and rescheduled payment fees, less note 
origination costs, are collectively referred to as Sezzle income within the consolidated statements of operations. 

71

ANNUAL REPORT 2019SEZZLE INC.For personal use onlyNotes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

Continued

NOTE 9 – INCOME CONTINUED

Sezzle income is initially recorded as a reduction to notes receivable, net within the consolidated balance sheets. 
Sezzle income is then recognized over the average duration of the End-customer note using the effective interest 
rate method. The total Sezzle income to be recognized over the duration of existing notes receivable outstanding 
was $1,049,626 and $143,775 as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Total Sezzle income recognized was 
$13,375,254 and $1,415,077 for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

END-CUSTOMER OTHER INCOME

Sezzle also earns income from End-customers in the form of failed payment fees assessed to End-customers who  
fail to make a timely payment. Sezzle allows a 48-hour waiver period where fees are dismissed if the installment is 
paid by the End-customer. Failed payment fees are recognized at the time the fee is charged to the End-customer, 
less an allowance for uncollectible amounts. Failed payment fee income recognized totaled $2,685,102 and $216,983 
for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

NOTE 10 – STOCKHOLDERS ’ EQUIT Y (DEFICIT )

STOCK SUBSCRIPTIONS

As of January 1, 2018, stock subscriptions represented a receivable for consideration that has not been paid to  
the Company based on the subscription price agreed to between the stockholder and the Company related to the 
purchase of common stock. The Company issued a stock subscription receivable of $57,708 to employees for 19,416,666 
shares of common stock at prices ranging from $0.0005 and $0.0065. Stock subscriptions are included within 
stockholders’ equity (deficit). The total amount of stock subscriptions receivable was fully paid by the end of 2018.

PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDEND

On June 23, 2019, the Company issued a preferred stock dividend to preferred stockholders. Refer to Note 11  
for further information. 

CONVERSION OF PREFERRED STOCK TO COMMON STOCK 

On July 24, 2019, the Company restructured its share capital in anticipation of listing on the Australian Securities 
Exchange (ASX). Each of the Series A preferred stock was converted into common stock. The Company issued 
70,446,291 common shares upon conversion of 70,446,291 of Series A preferred stock, converted on a 1:1 basis in 
accordance  
with the terms of the preferred stock agreements. Historical preferred stock issuances are outlined within Note 11.

CONVERSION OF CONVERTIBLE NOTES TO COMMON STOCK

On July 24, 2019, the Company issued 12,064,155 common shares following the conversion of the $5,812,500 of convertible 
notes outstanding, along with accrued interest, at a conversion price of $0.49 per common share. Refer to Note 16  
for further information on the convertible note issuance.

INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING OF COMMON STOCK

On July 29, 2019, the Company listed on the ASX. The initial public offer of 35,714,286 CHESS Depository Interests (CDIs) 
over shares of common stock (one CDI equates to one common share) were offered at an issuance price of A$1.22 
(approximately $0.84) per CDI to raise approximately A$43.6 million, resulting in proceeds of $30,286,785. Total costs  
of the offer were $2,777,097, resulting in overall net proceeds of $27,509,688.

72

The Way FoRWaRD

For personal use onlyNOTE 11 – MEZZANINE EQUIT Y

PREFERRED STOCK

As of December 31, 2018, the Company had authorized and designated shares of Series A-1 through A-5 preferred 
stock as follows:

Series A-1:  
Series A-2:  
Series A-3:  
Series A-4:  
Series A-5:  

174,652 shares  
15,584,042 shares 
18,291,457 shares 
33,981,205 shares 
25,401,218 shares

The Company also had 106,567,426 of preferred shares authorized but unissued and undesignated. On April 10, 2018, 
the Company issued 19,655,605 shares of A-1 through A-3 preferred stock in exchange for converted Simple Agreement 
for Future Equity (SAFE) agreements issued in prior years. The exchange of the SAFE agreements resulted in the 
issuance of preferred stock valued at $3,310,043. The initial cash proceeds of the SAFE agreements were $2,346,000. 
Refer to Note 15 for further information regarding the SAFE agreements.

During 2018, the Company issued 49,881,235 of A-4 and A-5 preferred shares in exchange for cash proceeds  
of $8,368,386, net of costs to issue.

As of December 31, 2018, the preferred shares were classified as mezzanine equity on the consolidated balance sheets 
due to the fact they were redeemable upon a deemed liquidation event, defined as a change in control upon a merger, 
consolidation, transfer or sale of the Company that the Company cannot control or prevent from occurring.

The preferred stockholders were entitled to receive, if declared by the Board of Directors, a preferential 6% 
noncumulative dividend. On May 1, 2019, the Company amended its articles of incorporation. One of the amendments 
required the first dividend declared by the Board of Directors to be calculated at 15% of the original issue price.  
On June 23, 2019, the Board of Directors declared and issued a dividend of 909,451 shares of Series A preferred  
shares to the existing holders of Series A-1 through A-5 preferred stock, valued at $763,939. The preferred stock 
dividend was classified as Series A-6 preferred stock and was subject to the same rights as all other series of 
preferred shares. 

Additionally, the preferred shares were mandatorily convertible upon either (a) the closing of a public offering for  
the sale of common stock resulting in at least $50 million of proceeds, less issuance costs; or (b) the date and time,  
or occurrence of an event, specified by vote or written consent of the holders of a majority of the then outstanding 
preferred shares. Upon the occurrence of either of the aforementioned events, all outstanding preferred shares  
were to be automatically converted into common shares on a one to one basis. The conversion ratios of preferred  
to common stock price per share range from $0.1152 to $0.1684.

All preferred stock mandatorily converted to shares of common stock on July 24, 2019 in conjunction with the Company’s 
initial public offering of common stock on the ASX. Refer to Note 10 for more information.

73

ANNUAL REPORT 2019SEZZLE INC.For personal use onlyNotes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

Continued

NOTE 12 – EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PL AN

The Company sponsors a defined contribution 401(k) plan for eligible U.S. employees. Plan assets are held separately 
from those of the Company in funds under the control of a third-party trustee. Participants in the plan may elect to 
defer a portion of their eligible compensation, on a pre or post-tax basis, subject to annual statutory contribution 
limits. The Company does not offer matching contributions and may make discretionary contributions. There have 
been no Company contributions made to the plan for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018. 

NOTE 13 – REVOLVING LINE OF CREDIT

On November 14, 2018, Sezzle Funding SPE, LLC and Sezzle Inc. entered into a Loan and Security Agreement with 
Bastion Consumer Funding II, LLC (“Bastion”). The loan agreement provided for a credit facility of $30,000,000.  
As of December 31, 2018, the Company had an outstanding revolving line of credit balance relating to this agreement 
of $4,200,000, recorded within line of credit, net as a non-current liability on the consolidated balance sheets.  
The line of credit beared interest at a floating per annum rate equal to the 3-month LIBOR + 12% on the first 
$15,000,000 and 3-month LIBOR + 10% for the remaining $15,000,000 (14.74% as of December 31, 2018).

On November 29, 2019, Sezzle Funding SPE, LLC and Sezzle Inc. entered into a new agreement with the Syndicate  
for a credit facility of $100,000,000, with a maturity date of May 29, 2022. As of December 31, 2019, the Company had  
an outstanding revolving line of credit balance of $21,450,000, recorded within the line of credit, net as a non-current 
liability on the consolidated balance sheets. The new line of credit agreement bears interest at a floating per annum 
rate equal to the 3-month LIBOR + 7.75% on the $100,000,000 line (9.65% as of December 31, 2019). 

Under the agreements, interest on borrowings is due monthly and all borrowings are due at maturity. Borrowings 
subsequent to May 1, 2019 are based on 90% of eligible notes receivable from both the United States and Canada, 
defined as past due balances outstanding less than 30 days and originating from the United States. Total interest 
expense incurred related to the line of credit was $908,309 and $80,744 for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 
2018, respectively. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, Sezzle had pledged $23,757,188 and $4,656,967, respectively,  
of its notes receivable to Sezzle Funding SPE, LLC.

The Company’s obligations under the agreement are secured by its installment payments receivable. 

The Company must maintain a drawdown from the credit facility of at least $20,000,000 beginning November 29, 2019 
and of at least $40,000,000 beginning November 29, 2020.

Sezzle will pay a termination fee and a make-whole fee to the Syndicate in the event of an early termination.  
Fees differ based on termination timing differences. Beginning May 27, 2020, any daily unused amounts will result  
in a facility fee due to the Syndicate from Sezzle at a rate of .50% per annum. 

The cumulative total of debt issuance costs incurred to obtain and manage the line of credit with Bastion and the 
Syndicate totaled $663,649 through December 31, 2019. The costs were capitalized as a reduction to the line of credit 
balance, and are amortized over the remaining life of the agreement.

74

The Way FoRWaRD

For personal use onlyNOTE 14 – NOTES PAYABLE

On July 26, 2018, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) funded a  
$250,000 seven-year interest-free loan due in June 2025 to Sezzle under the State Small Business Credit Initiative  
Act of 2010 (the “Act”). The Act was created for additional funds to be allocated and dispersed by states that have 
created programs to increase the amount of capital made available by private lenders to small businesses.  
The loan proceeds are used for business purposes, primarily start-up costs and working capital needs. The loan  
may be prepaid in whole or in part at any time without penalty. If more than fifty percent of the ownership interest  
in Sezzle is transferred during the term of the loan, the loan will be required to be paid in full, along with a penalty  
in the amount of thirty percent of the original loan amount.

NOTE 15 – FUTURE EQUIT Y OBLIGATIONS

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company entered into various SAFE agreements with investors 
in exchange for proceeds of $30,000. The SAFE agreements had no maturity date and bore no interest. The agreements 
provided the rights of the investors to preferred stock in the Company upon an equity financing event as defined  
in the agreements. The agreements were subject to valuation caps ranging from $8,000,000 to $12,000,000 and had 
conversion discount rates ranging from 15% to 25%.

Based on the terms of the SAFE agreements, if there were a liquidity event before the termination of the SAFE 
agreements, the investors would, at their option, either: 1) receive a cash payment equal to the purchase amount  
or 2) automatically receive from the Company a number of shares of common stock equal to the purchase amount 
divided by the liquidity price. In a dissolution event, the SAFE agreement holders would be paid out of remaining 
assets prior to holders of the Company’s common stock. 

The Company recorded the changes in fair value of the SAFE agreements at each reporting period to the consolidated 
statements of operations. The changes in fair value resulted in losses of $7,490 for the year ended December 31, 2018. 
The changes in fair value are recorded to other income (expense) within the consolidated statements of operations. 

On April 10, 2018, the SAFE agreements converted into preferred stock. 

NOTE 16 – CONVERTIBLE NOTES

On March 29, 2019, the Company issued $5,662,500 of convertible notes to a group of investors. The promissory  
notes had a stated maturity date of March 29, 2021 and paid an annual interest rate of 4% on the unpaid principal 
balance through June 30, 2019. Subsequent to June 30, 2019 the notes paid an annual interest rate of 8% on the  
unpaid principal balance. The notes were issued at a $25,000 discount which is amortized over the life of the 
convertible notes. Amortization of the discount totaled $4,281 for the year ended December 31, 2019 and is recorded 
within interest expense within the consolidated statements of operations. 

Additionally, the notes carried a conversion feature whereby they would automatically convert upon either (a) a 
change in control of the Company; (b) a reorganization, merger, or consolidation of the Company; (c) the sale of  
the Company’s assets; or (d) an initial public offering of the Company’s common stock (or a security representing 
common stock). The notes also would have converted in the event the Company consummated an equity financing 
arrangement with an aggregate sales price of no less than $10,000,000. Upon the occurrence of one of the 
aforementioned events the notes would have converted into 80% of the price per share value of common stock 
applicable at the time of the event. The notes also carried an optional conversion feature whereby the notes  
may convert into common stock. 

On June 6, 2019, the Company issued two separate convertible notes totaling $150,000. The promissory notes had a 
stated maturity date of June 6, 2021 with the option of individual 1-year renewable periods for up to five years should 
no conversion event occur. The notes would pay an annual interest rate of 10% on the unpaid principal balance 
through June 6, 2021. 

75

ANNUAL REPORT 2019SEZZLE INC.For personal use onlyNotes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

Continued

NOTE 16 – CONVERTIBLE NOTES CONTINUED

The first convertible note of $75,000 carried a conversion feature where it would automatically convert upon  
either (a) a change in control of the Company; (b) a reorganization, merger, or consolidation of the Company;  
(c) the sale of the Company’s assets; or (d) an initial public offering of the Company’s common stock (or a security 
representing common stock). The note would have also converted in the event the Company consummates an equity 
financing arrangement with an aggregate sales price of no less than $500,000. Upon the occurrence of one of the 
aforementioned events the note would convert into 80% of the price per share value of common stock applicable  
at the time of the event. The note also carried an optional conversion feature whereby the note may convert into 
common stock.

The second convertible note of $75,000 carried a conversion feature whereby the holder may convert, upon the 
holder’s discretion, for either (a) a change in control of the Company; (b) a reorganization, merger, or consolidation  
of the Company; (c) the sale of the Company’s assets; or (d) an initial public offering of the Company’s common  
stock (or a security representing common stock). The note would have also converted automatically in the event 
the Company consummated an equity financing arrangement with an aggregate sales price of not less than 
$500,000. Upon the occurrence of one of the aforementioned events the note would have converted into 80% of  
the price per share value of common stock applicable at the time of the event. The note also carried an optional 
conversion feature whereby the note may convert into common stock. 

The conversion features of the notes issued on March 29, 2019 and June 6, 2019 were triggered as a result of  
the Company’s initial public offering of common stock on the ASX. The total non-cash impact of the beneficial 
conversion feature was $4,306,622, comprised of $4,197,674 of expense incurred on the date of conversion, and 
accumulated interest incurred on the convertible notes of $108,948. The impacts of the conversion are recorded 
within interest expense on beneficial conversion feature and interest expense, respectively, in the consolidated 
statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2019.

NOTE 17 – EQUIT Y-BASED COMPENSATION

The Company issues incentive and non-qualified stock options, restricted stock units, and restricted stock awards  
to employees and non-employees with vesting requirements varying from two to four years (the typical vesting is  
a one-year cliff vesting and monthly vesting after the first year of service). The Company utilizes the Black-Scholes 
model for valuing stock option issuances, and the grant date fair value for valuing the restricted stock issuances. 

Equity-based compensation expense recorded totaled $951,979 and $30,677 for the years ended December 31, 2019 
and 2018, respectively, and is recorded within selling, general, and administrative expenses within the consolidated 
statements of operations. 

2016 EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PL AN

The Company adopted the 2016 Employee Stock Option plan on January 16, 2016. The number of options authorized 
for issuance under the plan is 10,000,000. The Company had 8,336,253 and 7,430,000 options issued and outstanding 
as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Additionally, the Company had 350,000 of restricted stock awards 
issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2019. During the year ended December 31, 2019, 882,914 options were 
exercised into 882,914 shares of common stock. 

76

The Way FoRWaRD

For personal use only2019 EQUIT Y INCENTIVE PL AN

The Company adopted the 2019 Equity Incentive plan on June 25, 2019. The number of options authorized for 
issuance under the plan is 10,000,000. The Company had 8,716,250 options and 557,000 restricted stock units issued 
and outstanding as of December 31, 2019. 

The following summarizes the options issued, outstanding, and exercisable as of December 31: 

2018

Weighted 
Average 
Exercise Price 
US$

Number of 
Options

Intrinsic  
Value 
US$

Weighted 
Average 
Remaining Life

Outstanding, beginning of year

752,500

$ 

0.002

$ 

3,315

Granted

Exercised

Forfeited or surrendered

Outstanding, end of year

Exercisable, end of year

6,677,500

0.049

–

–

7,430,000

949,961

–

–

0.044

0.018

–

–

–

44,749

30,761

Expected to vest, end of year

6,480,039

$ 

0.048

$ 

13,988

–

–

–

–

9.48

8.44

9.63

2019

Weighted 
Average 
Exercise Price 
US$

Number of 
Options

Intrinsic  
Value 
US$

Weighted 
Average 
Remaining Life

Outstanding, beginning of year

7,430,000

$ 

0.044

$ 

44,749

Granted

Exercised

Forfeited or surrendered

11,971,250

(882,914)

(1,465,833)

0.891

0.042

0.215

–

1,642,949

–

Outstanding, end of year

17,052,503

0.624

14,895,996

Exercisable, end of year

3,396,325

0.071

4,731,629

Expected to vest, end of year

13,656,178

$ 

0.762

$ 

10,164,367

–

–

–

–

9.18

8.40

9.37

77

ANNUAL REPORT 2019SEZZLE INC.For personal use onlyNotes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

Continued

NOTE 17 – EQUIT Y BASED COMPENSATION CONTINUED

The following table represents the assumptions used for estimating the fair values of stock options granted to 
employees, contractors, and nonemployees of the Company. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury 
yield curve in effect on the grant date. 

2019

2018

1.59%-2.61%

2.26%-2.61%

49.78%-82.88%

44.93%-50.42%

6.00

5.82

0.15

Risk-free interest rate

Expected volatility

Expected life (in years)

Weighted-average estimated fair value of options granted

$ 

0.64

$ 

Restricted stock award and restricted stock unit transactions during the year ended December 31, 2019 are summarized 
as follows:

Unvested shares as of January 1, 2019

Granted

Vested

Forfeited or surrendered

Unvested shares as of December 31, 2019

Weighted 
Average Grant 
Date Fair Value 
US$

Number of 
Shares

–

$ 

907,000

(134,778)

–

772,222

$ 

–

1.14

0.94

–

1.12

During 2019, employees and non-employees received restricted stock grants totaling 907,000 shares, inclusive of 
557,000 restricted stock units and 350,000 restricted stock awards. Vesting of restricted stock units and restricted 
stock awards are totaled 57,000 and 77,778, respectively. All restricted stock awards and 57,000 restricted stock units 
are recorded as issued and outstanding within the consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity. The shares 
underlying the awards were assigned a weighted average fair value of $1.14 per share, for a total value of $1,036,324. 
The restricted stock issuances are scheduled to vest over a range of three to four years.

The Company had no restricted stock awards or restricted stock units issued or outstanding prior to 2019.

As of December 31, 2019, the total compensation cost related to non-vested options, restricted stock awards and 
restricted stock units not yet recognized is $7,720,545 and is expected to be recognized over the weighted average 
remaining recognition period of approximately 3.6 years.

NOTE 18 – LOSSES PER SHARE

The computation for basic loss per share is established by dividing net losses for the period by the weighted average 
shares outstanding during the reporting period. Dilutive losses per share is computed in a similar manner, with 
weighted average shares increasing from the assumed exercise of employee stock options (if dilutive). Given the 
Company is in a loss position, the impact of including assumed exercises of stock options and conversion of future 
equity obligations and preferred stock would have an anti-dilutive impact on the calculation of diluted loss per 
share. Therefore, stock options, restricted stock units, restricted stock awards, convertible notes and preferred stock 
shares are not included in the calculation of diluted loss per share for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.

NOTE 19 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the filing of this report and determined that there  
have been no events that have occurred that would require adjustments to the disclosures in the consolidated 
financial statements.

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For personal use onlyDirectors’ Declaration
For the year ended December 31, 2019

The Directors declare that in the Directors’ opinion:

(a)  The attached financial statements and notes give a true and fair view of the consolidated entity’s financial 

position as of December 31, 2019 and performance for the financial year ended on that date;

(b)  There are reasonable grounds to believe that the consolidated entity will be able to pay its debts as and when 

they become due and payable;

(c)  The attached financial statements and notes comply with accounting principles generally accepted in the  

United States of America (U.S. GAAP) as issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board as described in  
the notes to the financial statements;

(d)  The attached financial statements and notes also comply with mandatory professional reporting requirements, 
including the Corporations Act 2001, the Accounting Standards, and the Corporations Regulations 2001 to the 
extent that the Company is required to comply with such provisions; and

(e)  The remuneration disclosures set out in the Directors’ Report comply with Corporations Regulations 2001 and 
other mandatory professional reporting requirements to the extent that the Company is required to comply  
with such provisions.

The Directors have been given a declaration by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer equivalent  
to section 295(a) of the Corporations Act 2001.

On behalf of the Board,

Charlie Youakim, 
Chairman and CEO

27 February 2020

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ANNUAL REPORT 2019SEZZLE INC.For personal use onlyaSX additional Information

Between the date of the Company’s admission to the official list of the ASX on July 29, 2019 and the end of the 
reporting period on December 31, 2019, the Company used its cash and assets in a form readily convertible to  
cash that it had at the time of admission in a way consistent with its business objectives. 

Additional information required pursuant to ASX Listing Rule 4.10 and not disclosed elsewhere in this report  
is set out below. The information is effective as of February 21, 2020.

CORPOR ATE GOVERNANCE:

The Company’s Corporate Governance Statement for the year ended December 31, 2019 can be found at  
https://sezzle.com/investors

SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDERS:

As a company incorporated in Delaware and listed solely on the ASX, neither Chapter 6 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth.) 
(Corporations Act) or the corresponding provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 dealing with notification  
of substantial holding apply to shareholders in Sezzle. However, as disclosed to the ASX on July 29, 2019, the Company 
has agreed with ASX to release to the market certain information about a person (other than Sezzle itself) becoming 
a substantial holder in the Company within the meaning of section 671B of the Corporations Act, varying its 
substantial holding by 1% or more or ceasing to be a substantial holder. 

Having regard to the qualifications and limitations as disclosed to the ASX, the table below sets out the information 
known to Sezzle as of February 21, 2020 concerning substantial holdings in Sezzle’s CDIs.

Name of Substantial Holder within the meaning of section 671B  
of the Corporations Act

Number 
of CDIs in 
which the 
substantial 
holder holds 
a relevant 
interest

Record 
Holder  
(if different)

% of total 
shares on 
issue

Charlie Youakim

N/A

88,359,809

49.63%

Continental Investment Partners

N/A

10,389,407

5.84%

Paul Paradis

N/A

10,000,000

5.62%

NUMBER OF HOLDERS OF EACH CL ASS OF EQUIT Y SECURITIES:

Category

CHESS Depositary Interests (quoted on ASX)

Unlisted Options (not quoted on ASX)

Restricted Stock Units (not quoted on ASX)

Common Stock (not quoted on ASX)

VOTING RIGHTS:

Number of 
Holders

3,722

129

4

14

Shareholder and CDI Holder voting rights are summarized within section 9 ‘Additional Information’ (page 123)  
of the Company’s Replacement Prospectus dated July 8, 2019 and section 9.4 (b) on page 125.

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For personal use onlyDISTRIBUTION SCHEDULE OF CDI HOLDERS:

Range

1 – 1,000

1,001 – 5,000

5,001 – 10,000

10,001 – 100,000

100,001 Over

Total

Total 
Holders

CDIs

% of CDIs

1,196

634,902

1,302

3,379,925

585

580

4,687,585

13,704,433

59

155,278,719

0.36

2.10

2.63

7.70

87.21

3,722

178,045,564

100.00

UNMARKETABLE PARCELS:

There were 304 holders of less than a marketable parcel of CDIs, comprising a total of 62,324 CDIs (0.035% of CDIs  
on issue), being a parcel of less than 274 CDIs based on a closing price of AUD$1.83 per CDI on February 21, 2020.

TOP 20 CDI HOLDERS:

Name

CHARLES G YOUAKIM

CONTINENTAL INVESTMENT PARTNERS LLC

PAUL PARADIS

KILLIAN BRACKEY

NATIONAL NOMINEES LIMITED

CITICORP NOMINEES PTY LIMITED

MERRILL LYNCH (AUSTRALIA) NOMINEES PTY LIMITED

MR LEE BRADING

UBS NOMINEES PTY LTD

MR BRYAN KRUG

BNP PARIBAS NOMINEES PTY LTD 

JACK ZIEGLER

CARMELA BERNAD

HSBC CUSTODY NOMINEES (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED

BNP PARIBAS NOMINEES PTY LTD HUB24 CUSTODIAL SERV LTD DRP

CS THIRD NOMINEES PTY LIMITED 

MR CHRIS HARDING

BRISPOT NOMINEES PTY LTD 

MR BRYAN CECIL HUNT

RISHI MUKHERJEE

Total Top 20

Total Balance of Holders

Total CDIs

Number of 
CDIs Held

% of CDIs

88,359,809

10,389,407

10,000,000

5,000,000

3,448,542

3,400,722

3,368,341

3,338,517

1,811,158

1,715,041

1,705,563

1,500,000

1,416,666

1,242,000

1,208,415

1,111,816

1,012,508

1,005,514

1,000,000

1,000,000

49.63

5.84

5.62

2.81

1.94

1.91

1.89

1.88

1.02

0.96

0.96

0.84

0.80

0.70

0.68

0.62

0.57

0.56

0.56

0.56

143,034,019

80.34

35,011,545

19.66

178,045,564

100.00

81

ANNUAL REPORT 2019SEZZLE INC.For personal use onlyaSX additional Information

Continued

ESCROWED SECURITIES:

Category

CDIs

CDIs

CDIs

CDIs

CDIs

Options

CDIs

Options

Restricted Stock Units

UNQUOTED SECURITIES:

Category

Options

Restricted Stock Units

Common Stock

BUY-BACK:

Number

ASX or 
Voluntary

End of Escrow Period

9,553,571

Voluntary

March 2, 2020

4,710,724

126,550

226,001

248,346

845,000

93,975,244

2,208,334

350,000

ASX

ASX

ASX

ASX

ASX

ASX

ASX

ASX

March 29, 2020

June 6, 2020

June 23, 2020

July 24, 2020

July 30, 2021

July 30, 2021

Number of 
Units

Number of 
Holders

17,052,503

500,000

885,748

129

4

14

There is no current on-market buy-back.

The Company is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange under the code ‘SZL’.

82

The Way FoRWaRD

For personal use onlyCorporate Directory
Sezzle Inc. ARBN 633 327 358

DIRECTORS

AUDITORS

Charlie Youakim  
(Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer) – USA

Paul Paradis  
(Executive director and Chief Revenue Officer) – USA

Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP

225 South 6th Street, Suite 2300 
Minneapolis, MN 55402

Paul Purcell  
(Independent Non-Executive Director) – USA

Kathleen Pierce-Gilmore  
(Independent Non-Executive Director) – USA

Paul Lahiff  
(Independent Non-Executive Director) – Australia

REGISTERED OFFICE AND  
PRINCIPAL PL ACE OF BUSINESS

UNITED STATES

REGISTERED OFFICE:

A Registered Agent Inc. 
Suite 8A, 8 The Green  
City of Dover, Kent County  
Delaware 19901, USA

PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS:

251 N 1st Ave N, Suite 200  
Minneapolis, MN 55401, USA 
Tel:  + 1 651 504 5402

AUSTR ALIA

REGISTERED OFFICE AND  

PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS:

Suite 6.02, Level 6  
28 O’Connell Street 
Sydney NSW 2000 
Tel:  + 61 2 9048 8856

ASX CODE

SZL

COMPANY SECRETARY

Justin Clyne

Tel:  + 1 612 876 4500 
www.bakertilly.com

SOLICITORS

SQUIRE PAT TON BOGGS

AUSTRALIA

Raine Square 
Level 21, 300 Murray Street 
Perth WA 6000

Tel:  + 61 8 9429 7444 
www.squirepattonboggs.com

UNITED STATES

1801 Page Mill Road #110 
Palo Alto, CA 94304 
Tel:  +1 650 856 6500

SHARE REGISTRY

COMPUTERSHARE INVESTOR   
SERVICES PT Y LIMITED

Yarra Falls 
452 Johnston Street 
Abbotsford VIC 3067

Tel:  + 61 3 9415 5000 
www.computershare.com/au 
Australia

INVESTOR INQUIRIES

investors@sezzle.com

WEBSITE

www.sezzle.com

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ANNUAL REPORT 2019SEZZLE INC.For personal use onlyS E Z Z L E . C O M

For personal use only