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WWE released the following details on the company's connection to Vince McMahon as part of documents filed with the SEC related to TKO's earnings report today, including noting that McMahon has reimbursed the company over $12 million related to the WWE Board of Directors investigation into McMahon that resulted in the Janel Grant lawsuit being filed and his eventual exit post-sale from TKO.
Vince McMahon
Vincent K. McMahon, who served as Executive Chair of the Company’s Board of Directors until January 26, 2024, previously controlled a significant portion of the voting interests of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock. Mr. McMahon has agreed to make future payments to certain counterparties personally. In accordance with the SEC’s Staff Accounting Bulletin Topic 5T, Miscellaneous Accounting, Accounting for Expenses or Liabilities Paid by Principal Stockholders (“Topic 5T”), the Company concluded that these amounts should be recognized by the Company as expenses in the period in which they become probable and estimable. These payments are considered non-cash capital contributions and are included as a component of principal stockholder contributions in our consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity/net parent investment.
In connection with the acquisition of WWE, the Company assumed $3.5 million of liabilities related to future payments owed by Mr. McMahon to certain counterparties. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded $3.5 million of expenses associated with payments made directly by Mr. McMahon to certain counterparties. These costs are included within selling, general and administrative expenses in our consolidated statements of operations. During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, Mr. McMahon made payments of $1.5 million and $5.5 million, respectively, associated with these liabilities to certain counterparties directly. Additionally, during the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded $3.5 million of costs associated with payments made directly by Mr. McMahon related to WWE’s global headquarters lease. These costs are included within finance lease right-of- use assets, net in our consolidated balance sheets. Since these liabilities existed when Mr. McMahon controlled a significant portion of the voting interests of the Company’s common stock, these payments are considered non-cash capital contributions and are included as principal stockholder contributions in our consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity/net parent investment.
In connection with and/or arising from the investigation conducted by a Special Committee of the former WWE board of directors, Mr. McMahon has agreed to reimburse the Company for additional costs incurred in connection with and/or arising from the same matters. During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, Mr. McMahon reimbursed the Company $6.4 million and $5.8 million, respectively, associated with these costs. These payments are considered capital contributions and are included as principal stockholder contributions in our consolidated statements of stockholders' equity/net parent investment.
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