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

FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of April, 2021
Commission File Number: 001-38438
Spotify Technology S.A.
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
42-44, avenue de la Gare
L- 1610 Luxembourg
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
(Address of principal executive office)
___________________________________________________________

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F      Form 40-F  
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):
Yes      No  
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):
Yes      No  










GL2MXKF2QSEN0000011A.JPG
Spotify Technology S.A.
Interim condensed consolidated financial statements
For the three months ended March 31, 2021




Table of contents
 
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41



PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
Interim condensed consolidated statement of operations
(Unaudited)
(in € millions, except share and per share data)
 
    Three months ended March 31,
Note 2021 2020
Revenue 5 2,147  1,848 
Cost of revenue 1,599  1,376 
Gross profit 548  472 
Research and development 196  162 
Sales and marketing 236  231 
General and administrative 102  96 
534  489 
Operating income/(loss) 14  (17)
Finance income 6 104  70 
Finance costs 6 (31) (12)
Finance income/(costs) - net 73  58 
Income before tax 87  41 
Income tax expense 7 64  40 
Net income attributable to owners of the parent 23  1 
Earnings per share attributable to owners of the parent
Basic 8 0.12  0.00
Diluted 8 (0.25) (0.20)
Weighted-average ordinary shares outstanding
Basic 8 190,565,397  185,046,324 
Diluted 8 191,815,695  185,632,113 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

-1-

Interim condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income/(loss)
(Unaudited)
(in € millions)
 
    Three months ended March 31,
Note 2021 2020
Net income attributable to owners of the parent 23  1 
Other comprehensive income/(loss)
Items that may be subsequently reclassified to
   condensed consolidated statement of operations
   (net of tax):
Change in net unrealized gain or loss on short term investments 15, 21 (2)
Change in net unrealized gain or loss on cash flow hedging instruments 15, 21 (6) 11 
Change in foreign currency translation adjustment 41 
Items not to be subsequently reclassified to
   condensed consolidated statement of operations
  (net of tax):
Gains/(losses) in the fair value of long term investments 15, 21 195  (155)
Other comprehensive income/(loss) for the
   period (net of tax)
228  (140)
Total comprehensive income/(loss) for the period
   attributable to owners of the parent
251  (139)
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

- 2 -

Interim condensed consolidated statement of financial position
(in € millions)
Note March 31, 2021 December 31, 2020
(Unaudited)  
Assets    
Non-current assets    
Lease right-of-use assets 9 452  444 
Property and equipment 10 337  313 
Goodwill 11 815  736 
Intangible assets 11 98  97 
Long term investments 21 2,522  2,277 
Restricted cash and other non-current assets 12 82  78 
Deferred tax assets 7 14  15 
4,320  3,960 
Current assets
Trade and other receivables 13 440  464 
Income tax receivable
Short term investments 21 644  596 
Cash and cash equivalents 2,442  1,151 
Other current assets 14 186  151 
3,717  2,366 
Total assets 8,037  6,326 
Equity and liabilities
Equity
Share capital —  — 
Other paid in capital 4,630  4,583 
Treasury shares 15 (171) (175)
Other reserves 15 2,052  1,687 
Accumulated deficit (3,267) (3,290)
Equity attributable to owners of the parent 3,244  2,805 
Non-current liabilities
Exchangeable Notes 17, 21 1,229  — 
Lease liabilities 9 587  577 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities 19 38  42 
Provisions 20
1,857  621 
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables 18 660  638 
Income tax payable 12 
Deferred revenue 424  380 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities 19 1,715  1,748 
Provisions 20 20  20 
Derivative liabilities 21 105  105 
2,936  2,900 
Total liabilities 4,793  3,521 
Total equity and liabilities 8,037  6,326 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim condensed consolidated financial statements.
- 3 -

Interim condensed consolidated statement of changes in equity
(Unaudited)
(in € millions)
Note Share
capital
Other paid in
capital
Treasury
Shares
Other
reserves
Accumulated
deficit
Equity attributable to
owners of the parent
Balance at January 1, 2020 —  4,192  (370) 924  (2,709) 2,037 
Income for the period —  —  —  — 
Other comprehensive loss —  —  —  (140) —  (140)
Issuance of shares upon exercise of stock
options, restricted stock units, and
contingently issuable shares
15 —  (113) 190  —  —  77 
Restricted stock units withheld for employee taxes —  —  —  (3) —  (3)
Share-based compensation 16 —  —  —  39  —  39 
Income tax impact associated with
share-based compensation
7 —  —  —  — 
Balance at March 31, 2020   4,079  (180) 822  (2,708) 2,013 
Balance at January 1, 2021   4,583  (175) 1,687  (3,290) 2,805 
Income for the period —  —  —  —  23  23 
Other comprehensive income —  —  —  228  —  228 
Issuance of shares upon exercise of stock
options, restricted stock units, and
contingently issuable shares
15 —  47  —  —  51 
Restricted stock units withheld for employee taxes —  —  —  (16) —  (16)
Share-based compensation 16 —  —  —  49  —  49 
Income tax impact associated with
share-based compensation
7 —  —  —  104  —  104 
Balance at March 31, 2021   4,630  (171) 2,052  (3,267) 3,244 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim condensed consolidated financial statements.
- 4 -

Interim condensed consolidated statement of cash flows
(Unaudited)
(in € millions)
    Three months ended March 31,
Note 2021 2020
Operating activities    
Net income 23 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows
Depreciation of property and equipment and lease right-of-use assets 9, 10 22  21 
Amortization of intangible assets 11
Share-based compensation expense 16 48  37 
Finance income 6 (104) (70)
Finance costs 6 31  12 
Income tax expense 7 64  40 
Other
Changes in working capital:
Decrease in trade receivables and other assets 15  22 
Decrease in trade and other liabilities (67) (63)
Increase/(decrease) in deferred revenue 37  (4)
Decrease in provisions 20 (1) (1)
Interest paid on lease liabilities 9 (11) (15)
Interest received — 
Income tax paid (2) (1)
Net cash flows from/(used in) operating activities 65  (9)
Investing activities
Business combinations, net of cash acquired 4 (59) (137)
Purchases of property and equipment 10 (24) (12)
Purchases of short term investments 21 (115) (498)
Sales and maturities of short term investments 21 90  477 
Other (6) (14)
Net cash flows used in investing activities (114) (184)
Financing activities
Payments of lease liabilities 9 (8) (4)
Lease incentives received 9 — 
Proceeds from exercise of stock options 16 51  77 
Proceeds from issuance of Exchangeable Notes, net of costs 17 1,223  — 
Other (16) (3)
Net cash flows from financing activities 1,250  77 
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 1,201  (116)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period 1,151  1,065 
Net foreign exchange gains on cash and cash equivalents 90 
Cash and cash equivalents at March 31 2,442  951 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
Non-cash investing and financing activities
Recognition of lease right-of-use asset in exchange for lease liabilities 9 12 
Purchases of property and equipment in trade and other liabilities 10 16  13 
Deferred consideration liability recognized in conjunction with business combination —  32 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim condensed consolidated financial statements.
- 5 -

Notes to the interim condensed consolidated financial statements
(Unaudited)

1.Corporate information
Spotify Technology S.A. (the "Company" or "parent") is a public limited company incorporated and domiciled in Luxembourg. The Company's registered office is 42-44 avenue de la Gare, L-1610, Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
The principal activity of the Company and its subsidiaries (the "Group," "we," "us," or "our") is audio streaming. The Group's premium service ("Premium Service") provides users with unlimited online and offline high-quality streaming access to its catalog of music and podcasts. The Premium Service offers a music listening experience without commercial breaks. The Group's ad-supported service ("Ad-Supported Service," and together with the Premium Service, the "Service") has no subscription fees and provides users with limited on-demand online access to the catalog of music and unlimited online access to the catalog of podcasts. The Group depends on securing content licenses from a number of major and minor content owners and other rights holders in order to provide its service.
2.Basis of preparation and summary of significant accounting policies
The interim condensed consolidated financial statements of Spotify Technology S.A. for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting. The interim financial information is unaudited. The interim financial information reflects all normal recurring adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary to fairly present the information set forth herein. The interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Group's consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2020, as they do not include all the information and disclosures required in the annual consolidated financial statements. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results for a full year. The interim condensed consolidated financial statements are presented in millions of Euros.
New and amended standards and interpretations adopted by the Group

There are no new IFRS or IFRS Interpretation Committee (IFRIC) interpretations effective as of January 1, 2021 that have a material impact to the condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2021.
New standards and interpretations issued not yet effective

In January 2020, the International Accounting Standard Board (“IASB”) issued amendments to paragraphs 69 to 76 of IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements to specify the requirements for classifying liabilities as current or non-current, effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2023. Although the Group is in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption on its condensed consolidated financial statements, the Group believes that the amendment would require the Group to reclassify the Exchangeable Notes (as defined below) as a current liability if the exchange conditions are met, even if no noteholder actually requires us to exchange their notes.

There are no other IFRS or IFRIC interpretations that are not yet effective that are expected to have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.
3.Critical accounting estimates and judgments
Except as noted below, in preparing these interim condensed consolidated financial statements, the significant judgments made by management in applying the Group's accounting policies and the key sources of estimation and uncertainty were the same as those applied to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2020.
On March 2, 2021, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Spotify USA Inc., issued US$1,500 million aggregate principal amount of 0% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2026 (the “Exchangeable Notes”). See Note 17 for additional information including the accounting policy for the Exchangeable Notes.
The fair value of the Exchangeable Notes is estimated using a combination of binomial option pricing model and prices observed for the Exchangeable Notes in an over-the-counter market on the last trading day of the reporting period. See Note 21 for information regarding the key inputs and assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the Exchangeable Notes.
- 6 -

Estimates and judgments are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events.
4.Business combinations
Betty Labs Incorporated
On March 29, 2021, the Group acquired 100% of Betty Labs Incorporated (“Betty Labs”), a technology and content creation company focused on creating groundbreaking live audio experiences. The acquisition allows the Group to accelerate its entry into the live audio space.

The fair value of the purchase consideration was €57 million in cash, paid at closing. The acquisition was accounted for under the acquisition method. Of the total purchase consideration, €52 million has been recorded to goodwill, €2 million to acquired intangible assets, €4 million to cash and cash equivalents, and €1 million to deferred tax liabilities.

The goodwill represents the future economic benefits expected to arise from other intangible assets acquired that do not qualify for separate recognition, including expected future synergies and technical expertise of the acquired workforce. None of the goodwill recognized is expected to be deductible for tax purposes. The goodwill was included in the Ad-Supported segment.

For the three months ended March 31, 2021, revenues and operating results of Betty Labs were not significant to the Group’s condensed consolidated statement of operations.

The amount for business combinations, net of cash acquired, within the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2021 includes €6 million of investing cash outflows for deferred consideration of a previous business combination.
5.Segment information
The Group has two reportable segments: Premium and Ad-Supported. The Premium Service is a paid service in which customers can listen on-demand and offline. Revenue for the Premium segment is generated through subscription fees. The Ad-Supported Service is free to the user. Revenue for the Ad-Supported segment is primarily generated through the sale of advertising across the Group's music and podcast content. Royalty costs are primarily recorded in each segment based on specific rates for each segment agreed to with rights holders. All podcast content costs are recorded in the Ad-Supported segment. The remaining costs that are not specifically associated to either of the segments are allocated based on user activity or the revenue recognized in each segment. The operations of businesses acquired during 2021 and 2020 are included in the Ad-Supported segment. No operating segments have been aggregated to form the reportable segments.
Key financial performance measures of the segments including revenue, cost of revenue, and gross profit/(loss) are as follows:
   Three months ended March 31,
  2021 2020
  (in € millions)
Premium    
Revenue 1,931  1,700 
Cost of revenue 1,393  1,219 
Gross profit 538  481 
Ad-Supported
Revenue 216  148 
Cost of revenue 206  157 
Gross profit/(loss) 10  (9)
Consolidated
Revenue 2,147  1,848 
Cost of revenue 1,599  1,376 
Gross profit 548  472 
- 7 -


Reconciliation of gross profit
 
Operating expenses, finance income, and finance costs are not allocated to individual segments as these are managed on an overall Group basis. The reconciliation between reportable segment gross profit to the Group's income before tax is as follows:
 
  Three months ended March 31,
  2021 2020
  (in € millions)
Segment gross profit 548  472 
Research and development (196) (162)
Sales and marketing (236) (231)
General and administrative (102) (96)
Finance income 104  70 
Finance costs (31) (12)
Income before tax 87  41 
 
Revenue by country
 
   Three months ended March 31,
  2021 2020
  (in € millions)
United States 792  681 
United Kingdom 225  201 
Luxembourg
Other countries 1,129  965 
  2,147  1,848 
 
Premium revenue is attributed to a country based on where the membership originates. Ad-Supported revenue is attributed to a country based on where the advertising campaign is delivered. There are no countries that individually make up greater than 10% of total revenue included in "Other countries."
6.Finance income and costs
  Three months ended March 31,
  2021 2020
  (in € millions)
Finance income    
Fair value movements on derivative liabilities (Note 21) 22  40 
Fair value movements on Exchangeable Notes (Note 21) 49  — 
Interest income
Other finance income
Foreign exchange gains 29  20 
Total 104  70 
Finance costs
Interest expense on lease liabilities (10) (11)
Transaction costs in relation to issuance of Exchangeable Notes (18) — 
Other finance costs (3) (1)
Total (31) (12)
- 8 -

 
7.Income tax
The effective tax rates for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 were 73.8% and 99.1%, respectively. The Group operates in a global environment with significant operations in various jurisdictions outside Luxembourg. Accordingly, the consolidated income tax rate is a composite rate reflecting the Group's earnings and the applicable tax rates in the various jurisdictions where the Group operates.
For the three months ended March 31, 2021, the income tax expense of €64 million was due primarily to reassessment of uncertain tax positions of €38 million arising from new information in the current quarter. In addition, current period share-based compensation deductions recognized in equity resulted in additional tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2021. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, the income tax expense of €40 million was due primarily to the decrease in recognition of deferred taxes as a result of the unrealized decrease in the fair value of the Group's long term investment in Tencent Music Entertainment Group (“TME”).
Transactions recorded through other comprehensive income have been shown net of their tax impact, as applicable, based on currently enacted tax laws.
We are subject to ongoing tax audits in several jurisdictions, and most of these audits involve transfer pricing issues. Tax authorities in certain jurisdictions have challenged our tax positions. We regularly assess the likely outcomes of these audits, taking into account any new information available, in order to determine the appropriateness of our tax reserves. If we conclude that it is not probable that our tax position will be accepted, the effect of that uncertainty is reflected at either the most likely amount or the expected value, taking into account a range of possible outcomes.
Tax provisions in the condensed consolidated statement of financial position were €10 million and €5 million as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. The increase in the quarter primarily reflects estimates of uncertain tax positions that have a gross impact of €38 million (before utilization of loss carry forwards). Interest and penalties included in income tax expense were not material in any of the periods presented. Due to the uncertainty associated with our tax positions, any future agreement with the tax authorities could have a significant impact on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Net deferred tax assets of €14 million and €15 million have been recorded in the condensed consolidated statement of financial position as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. In evaluating the probability of realizing the deferred tax assets, the Group considered all available positive and negative evidence of future tax profit, including past operating results and the forecast of market growth and earnings. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, deferred tax assets of €395 million and €535 million have not been recognized.
8.Earnings/(loss) per share
Basic earnings per share is computed using the weighted-average number of outstanding ordinary shares during the period. Diluted loss per share is computed using the weighted-average number of outstanding ordinary shares and potential outstanding ordinary shares during the period. Potential ordinary shares, which are based on the weighted-average ordinary shares underlying outstanding stock options, restricted stock units, restricted stock awards, other contingently issuable shares, warrants, and Exchangeable Notes and computed using the treasury stock method or the if-converted method, as applicable, are included when calculating diluted earnings/(loss) per share when their effect is dilutive. The computation of earnings/(loss) per share for the respective periods is as follows:
- 9 -

  Three months ended March 31,
  2021 2020
  (in € millions, except share and per share data)
Basic earnings per share    
Net income attributable to owners of the parent 23 
Shares used in computation:
Weighted-average ordinary shares outstanding 190,565,397  185,046,324 
Basic earnings per share
   attributable to owners of the parent
0.12  0.00
Diluted loss per share
Net income attributable to owners of the parent 23 
Fair value gains on dilutive warrants (22) (38)
Fair value gains on dilutive Exchangeable Notes (49) — 
Net loss used in the computation
of diluted loss per share
(48) (37)
Shares used in computation:
Weighted-average ordinary shares outstanding 190,565,397  185,046,324 
Warrants 312,148  585,789 
Exchangeable Notes 938,150  — 
Diluted weighted-average ordinary shares 191,815,695  185,632,113 
Diluted loss per share
   attributable to owners of the parent
(0.25) (0.20)
Potential dilutive securities that were not included in the diluted loss per share calculations because they would be anti-dilutive were as follows:
Three months ended March 31,
2021 2020
Stock options 9,355,458  11,540,227 
Restricted stock units 1,514,918  1,267,421 
Restricted stock awards —  41,280 
Other contingently issuable shares 131,708  156,190 
Warrants —  800,000 

9.Leases
The Group leases certain properties under non-cancellable lease agreements that relate to office space. The expected lease terms are between one and fourteen years. The Group currently does not act in the capacity of a lessor.
- 10 -

Below is the roll-forward of lease right-of-use assets:
Right-of-use assets  
  (in € millions)
Cost  
At January 1, 2021 581 
Increases
Exchange differences 17 
Decreases (2)
At March 31, 2021 603 
Accumulated depreciation
At January 1, 2021 (137)
Depreciation charge (13)
Exchange differences (3)
Decreases
At March 31, 2021 (151)
Cost, net accumulated depreciation
At January 1, 2021 444 
At March 31, 2021 452 
Below is the roll-forward of lease liabilities:
Lease liabilities 2021 2020
(in € millions)
At January 1 608  628 
Increases 12 
Payments (19) (19)
Interest expense 10  11 
Lease incentives received — 
Exchange differences 18  (2)
At March 31 623  637 
Below is the maturity analysis of lease liabilities:
Lease liabilities March 31, 2021
Maturity Analysis (in € millions)
Less than one year 85 
One to five years 342 
More than five years 477 
Total lease commitments 904 
Impact of discounting remaining lease payments (291)
Lease incentives receivable 10 
Total lease liabilities 623 
Lease liabilities included in the condensed consolidated
   statement of financial position
Current 36 
Non-current 587 
Total 623 
Excluded from the lease commitments above are short-term leases. Expenses relating to short term leases were approximately €2 million and €3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Additionally, the
- 11 -

Group has entered into certain lease agreements with approximately €25 million of commitments, which have not commenced as of March 31, 2021, and as such, have not been recognized in the condensed consolidated statement of financial position.
The weighted-average incremental borrowing rate applied to lease liabilities recognized in the condensed consolidated statement of financial position as of March 31, 2021 was 6.3%.
10.Property and equipment
Property and equipment Leasehold
improvements
Total
  (in € millions)
Cost      
At January 1, 2021 56  346  402 
Increases 21  23 
Exchange differences 12  13 
At March 31, 2021 59  379  438 
Accumulated depreciation
At January 1, 2021 (36) (53) (89)
Depreciation charge (2) (7) (9)
Exchange differences (1) (2) (3)
At March 31, 2021 (39) (62) (101)
Cost, net accumulated depreciation
At January 1, 2021 20  293  313 
At March 31, 2021 20  317  337 
The Group had €75 million and €59 million of leasehold improvements that were not placed into service as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.  
11.     Goodwill and intangible assets
  Internal
development
costs and
patents
Acquired
intangible
assets
Total Goodwill Total
  (in € millions)
Cost          
At January 1, 2021 64  91  155  736  891 
Additions —  — 
Acquisition, business combination (Note 4) —  52  54 
Exchange differences —  27  30 
At March 31, 2021 69  96  165  815  980 
Accumulated amortization
At January 1, 2021 (31) (27) (58)   (58)
Amortization charge (4) (4) (8) —  (8)
Exchange differences —  (1) (1) —  (1)
At March 31, 2021 (35) (32) (67)   (67)
Cost, net accumulated amortization
At January 1, 2021 33  64  97  736  833 
At March 31, 2021 34  64  98  815  913 

Amortization charges related to intangible assets of €6 million and €4 million are included in research and development in the condensed consolidated statement of operations during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. There were no impairment charges for goodwill or intangible assets for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.
- 12 -

12.     Restricted cash and other non-current assets
 
March 31, 2021 December 31, 2020
(in € millions)
Restricted cash    
Lease deposits and guarantees 50  48 
Other
Other non-current assets 31  29 
  82  78 
 
13.Trade and other receivables
  March 31, 2021 December 31, 2020
  (in € millions)
Trade receivables 314  323 
Less: allowance for expected credit losses (4) (4)
Trade receivables - net 310  319 
Other 130  145 
  440  464 

14.Other current assets

March 31, 2021 December 31, 2020
(in € millions)
Content assets 107  92 
Prepaid expenses and other 52  47 
Derivative assets 27  12 
186  151 

Content asset amortization of €23 million and €7 million is included in cost of revenue in the condensed consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

15.     Equity and other reserves
As of both March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company had 193,614,910 ordinary shares issued and fully paid, with 2,636,467 and 3,402,063 ordinary shares held as treasury shares, respectively.
For the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company did not repurchase any of its own ordinary shares and reissued 765,596 treasury shares upon the exercise of stock options, restricted stock units, and contingently issuable shares. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company did not repurchase any of its own ordinary shares and reissued 1,628,642 treasury shares upon the exercise of stock options, restricted stock units, and contingently issuable shares.
As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Group's founders held 361,114,840 and 365,014,840 beneficiary certificates, respectively.

- 13 -

Other reserves
  2021 2020
  (in € millions)
Currency translation    
At January 1 (54) (11)
Currency translation 41 
At March 31 (13) (10)
Short term investments
At January 1 5  1 
(Losses)/gains on fair value that may be subsequently reclassified to
   condensed consolidated statement of operations
(2)
Gains reclassified to condensed consolidated statement of operations (1) (1)
Deferred tax (1)
At March 31 3  4 
Long term investments
At January 1 1,059  444 
Gains/(losses) on fair value not to be subsequently reclassified to
   condensed consolidated statement of operations
245  (194)
Deferred tax (50) 39 
At March 31 1,254  289 
Cash flow hedges
At January 1 (3) (4)
(Losses)/gains on fair value that may be subsequently reclassified
   to condensed consolidated statement of operations
(8) 14 
Losses/(gains) reclassified to revenue 12  (1)
(Gains)/losses reclassified to cost of revenue (11)
Deferred tax (3)
At March 31 (9) 7 
Share-based compensation
At January 1 680  494 
Share-based compensation 49  39 
Income tax impact associated with share-based compensation 104 
Restricted stock units withheld for employee taxes (16) (3)
At March 31 817  532 
Other reserves at March 31 2,052  822 
 
16.     Share-based compensation
The expense recognized in the condensed consolidated statement of operations for share-based compensation is as follows:
   Three months ended March 31,
  2021 2020
  (in € millions)
Cost of revenue
Research and development 24  18 
Sales and marketing
General and administrative 13  11 
  48  37 
- 14 -

Activity in the Group's RSUs and other contingently issuable shares outstanding and related information is as follows:
  RSUs Other
  Number of
RSUs
Weighted
average
grant date
fair value
Number of
Awards
Weighted
average
grant date
fair value
    US$   US$
Outstanding at January 1, 2021 1,320,193 155.98  156,190 145.19 
Granted 326,228 321.34  22,988 261.00 
Forfeited (19,174) 174.40  — 
Released (112,329) 155.41  (47,470) 145.20 
Outstanding at March 31, 2021 1,514,918 191.40  131,708 165.41 
 
In the table above, the number of RSUs and other contingently issuable shares released include ordinary shares that the Group has withheld for settlement of employees' tax obligations due upon the vesting of RSUs and other contingently issuable shares.

Activity in the Group's stock options outstanding and related information is as follows:
   Options
  Number of
options
Weighted
average
exercise price
    US$
Outstanding at January 1, 2021 9,041,288 138.60 
Granted 1,056,187 358.48 
Forfeited (73,071) 165.58 
Exercised (666,656) 92.95 
Expired (2,290) 161.66 
Outstanding at March 31, 2021 9,355,458 166.46 
Exercisable at January 1, 2021 4,022,751 113.91 
Exercisable at March 31, 2021 4,024,397 122.41 
The weighted-average contractual life for the stock options outstanding at March 31, 2021 was 3.0 years. The weighted average share price at exercise for options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2021 was US$326.13. The weighted average fair value of options granted during the three months ended March 31, 2021 was US$88.44 per option.
The following table lists the inputs to the Black-Scholes option-pricing models used for share-based compensation for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020:
  Three months ended March 31,
  2021 2020
Expected volatility (%) 34.1 - 42.6 30.0 - 33.4
Risk-free interest rate (%) 0.2 - 0.7 0.9 - 1.7
Expected life of stock options (years) 2.6 - 4.8 2.6 - 4.8
Weighted average share price (US$) 321.40  138.15 
 
17.Exchangeable Notes

On March 2, 2021, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Spotify USA Inc. (the “Issuer”), issued US$1,500 million aggregate principal amount of 0% Exchangeable Notes due 2026, which included the initial purchasers’ exercise in full of their option to purchase an additional US$200 million principal amount of the Exchangeable Notes. The Exchangeable Notes
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will mature on March 15, 2026, unless earlier repurchased, redeemed or exchanged. The Exchangeable Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed, on a senior, unsecured basis by the Company.

The net proceeds from the issuance of the Exchangeable Notes were €1,223 million after deducting transaction costs of €18 million. The transaction costs were immediately expensed and included in finance costs in the condensed consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2021.

The Exchangeable Notes are the Issuer’s senior unsecured obligations and are equal in right of payment with the Issuer's future senior, unsecured indebtedness, senior in right of payment to the Issuer’s future indebtedness that is expressly subordinated to the Exchangeable Notes and effectively subordinated to the Issuer’s future secured indebtedness, to the extent of the value of the collateral securing that indebtedness. The Exchangeable Notes will be structurally subordinated to all future indebtedness and other liabilities, including trade payables, and (to the extent the Issuer is not a holder thereof) preferred equity, if any, of the Issuer’s subsidiaries.

The noteholders may exchange their Exchangeable Notes at their option into consideration that consists, at the Issuer’s election, of cash, ordinary shares of the Company, or a combination of cash and ordinary shares, but only in the following circumstances:

(1) during any calendar quarter commencing after the calendar quarter ending on June 30, 2021, if the last reported sale price per ordinary share exceeds 130% of the exchange price for each of at least 20 trading days during the 30 consecutive trading days ending on, and including, the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter;

(2) during the five consecutive business days immediately after any 10 consecutive trading day period (such 10 consecutive trading day period, the “measurement period”) in which the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of Exchangeable Notes for each trading day of the measurement period was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price per ordinary share on such trading day and the exchange rate on such trading day;

(3) upon the occurrence of certain corporate events or distributions on the ordinary shares as set forth in the indenture governing the Exchangeable Notes (the “Indenture”);

(4) if the Issuer calls such Exchangeable Notes for redemption; and

(5) at any time from, and including, December 15, 2025 until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately before the maturity date.

The initial exchange rate is 1.9410 ordinary shares per US$1,000 principal amount of Exchangeable Notes, which represents an initial exchange price of approximately US$515.20 per ordinary share. The exchange rate and exchange price will be subject to customary adjustments upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the Indenture. In addition, if certain corporate events that constitute a make-whole fundamental change occur as set forth in the Indenture, then the exchange rate will, in certain circumstances, be increased for a specified period of time.

The circumstances required to allow the noteholders to exchange their Exchangeable Notes were not met during the three months ended March 31, 2021.

The Exchangeable Notes will not be redeemable prior to March 20, 2024, except in the event of certain tax law changes as set forth in the Indenture. The Exchangeable Notes will be redeemable, in whole or in part, at the Issuer’s option at any time, and from time to time, on or after March 20, 2024 and on or before the 40th scheduled trading day immediately before the maturity date, at a cash redemption price equal to the principal amount of the Exchangeable Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid special and additional interest, if any, but only if the last reported sale price per ordinary share exceeds 130% of the exchange price on:

(1) each of at least 20 trading days, whether or not consecutive, during the 30 consecutive trading days ending on, and including, the trading day immediately before the date the Issuer sends the related redemption notice; and

(2) the trading day immediately before the date the Issuer sends such notice.

In addition, the Issuer will have the right to redeem all, but not less than all, of the Exchangeable Notes if certain changes in tax law as set forth in the Indenture occur. In addition, calling any Exchangeable Note for redemption will constitute a make-whole fundamental change with respect to that Exchangeable Note, in which case the exchange rate applicable to the
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exchange of that Exchangeable Note will be increased in certain circumstances if it is exchanged after it is called for redemption.

Upon the occurrence of a “fundamental change” as set forth in the Indenture, noteholders may require the Issuer to repurchase their Exchangeable Notes at a cash repurchase price equal to the principal amount of the Exchangeable Notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid special and additional interest, if any, to, but excluding, the fundamental change repurchase date as set forth in the Indenture.

The Group accounted for the Exchangeable Notes at fair value through profit and loss using the fair value option
in accordance with IFRS 9, Financial Instruments. Under this approach, the Exchangeable Notes are accounted for in their entirety at fair value, with any change in fair value after initial measurement being recorded in finance income or cost in condensed consolidated statement of operations, except that changes in fair value that are due to changes in own credit risk are presented separately in other comprehensive income and will not be reclassified to the condensed consolidated statement of operations.
The fair value of the Exchangeable Notes as of March 31, 2021 was €1,229 million. See Note 21 for information regarding the key inputs and assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the Exchangeable Notes.

18.Trade and other payables
   March 31, 2021 December 31, 2020
  (in € millions)
Trade payables 440  434 
Value added tax and sales taxes payable 196  181 
Other current liabilities 24  23 
  660  638 

19.Accrued expenses and other liabilities
  March 31, 2021 December 31, 2020
  (in € millions)
Non-current    
Other accrued liabilities 38  42 
38  42 
Current
Accrued fees to rights holders 1,292  1,265 
Accrued salaries, vacation, and related taxes 69  65 
Accrued social costs for options and RSUs 129  169 
Other accrued expenses 225  249 
  1,715  1,748 

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20.Provisions
  Legal
contingencies
Indirect tax Other Total
  (in € millions)
Carrying amount at January 1, 2021 4  11  7  22 
Charged/(credited) to the condensed statement of operations:
Additional provisions —  — 
Reversal of unutilized amounts —  —  (1) (1)
Carrying amount at March 31, 2021 4  11  7  22 
As at January 1, 2021
Current portion 4  11  5  20 
Non-current portion     2  2 
As at March 31, 2021
Current portion 4  11  4  19 
Non-current portion     3  3 
 
Various legal actions, proceedings, and claims are pending or may be instituted or asserted against the Group. The results of such legal proceedings are difficult to predict and the extent of the Group's financial exposure is difficult to estimate. The Group records a provision for contingent losses when it is both probable that a liability has been incurred, and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated.
21.Financial instruments
Foreign exchange forward contracts
Cash flow hedges
The Group's currency pairs used for cash flow hedges are Euro / U.S. dollar, Euro / Australian dollar, Euro / British pound, Euro / Swedish krona, Euro / Canadian dollar, and Euro / Norwegian krone. The notional principal of foreign exchange contracts hedging the revenue and cost of revenue line items in the condensed consolidated statement of operations was approximately €1,076 million and €762 million, respectively, as of March 31, 2021, and approximately €993 million and €703 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2020.
 
Fair values
 
The carrying amounts of certain financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, trade and other receivables, restricted cash, trade and other payables, and accrued expenses and other liabilities approximate fair value due to their relatively short maturities. All other financial assets and liabilities are accounted for at fair value.
 
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The following tables summarize, by major security type, the Group's financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis, and the category using the fair value hierarchy:
  Quoted Prices in Active
Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant unobservable Inputs (Level 3) March 31, 2021
  (in € millions)
Financial assets at fair value
Cash equivalents:
Money market funds 1,989  —  —  1,989 
Short term investments:
Money market funds 25  —  —  25 
Government securities 206  27  —  233 
Agency securities —  — 
Corporate notes —  275  —  275 
Collateralized reverse purchase agreements —  107  —  107 
Derivatives (designated for hedging):
Foreign exchange forwards —  27  —  27 
Long term investments 2,471  —  51  2,522 
Total financial assets at fair value 4,691  440  51  5,182 
Financial liabilities at fair value
Exchangeable Notes —  —  1,229  1,229 
Derivatives (not designated for hedging):
Warrants —  —  67  67 
Derivatives (designated for hedging):
Foreign exchange forwards —  38  —  38 
Contingent consideration —  —  33  33 
Total financial liabilities at fair value   38  1,329  1,367 

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  Quoted Prices in Active
Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant unobservable Inputs (Level 3) December 31, 2020
  (in € millions)
Financial assets at fair value
Cash equivalents:
Money market funds 685  —  —  685 
Short term investments:
Money market funds 25  —  —  25 
Government securities 198  31  —  229 
Agency securities —  — 
Corporate notes —  276  —  276 
Collateralized reverse purchase agreements —  62  —  62 
Derivatives (designated for hedging):
Foreign exchange forwards —  12  —  12 
Long term investments 2,228  —  49  2,277 
Total financial assets at fair value 3,136  385  49  3,570 
Financial liabilities at fair value
Derivatives (not designated for hedging):
Warrants —  —  89  89 
Derivatives (designated for hedging):
Foreign exchange forwards —  16  —  16 
Contingent consideration —  —  30  30 
Total financial liabilities at fair value   16  119  135 
 
The Group's policy is to recognize transfers into and transfers out of fair value hierarchy levels at the end of each reporting period. During the three months ended March 31, 2021, there were no transfers between levels in the fair value hierarchy.
Recurring fair value measurements
Long term investment - Tencent Music Entertainment Group
The Group's approximate 8% investment in TME is carried at fair value through other comprehensive income. The fair value of ordinary shares of TME is based on the ending New York Stock Exchange American depository share price. The fair value of the investment in TME may vary over time and is subject to a variety of risks including: company performance, macro-economic, regulatory, industry, USD to Euro exchange rate and systemic risks of the equity markets overall.
The table below presents the changes in the investment in TME:
  2021 2020
  (in € millions)
At January 1 2,228  1,481 
Changes in fair value recorded in other
   comprehensive income
243  (191)
At March 31 2,471  1,290 
The impact on the fair value of the Group's long term investment in TME with a decrease or increase of TME's share price used to value the Group's equity interests of 10% results in a range of €2,224 million to €2,718 million at March 31, 2021.
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The following sections describe the valuation methodologies the Group uses to measure its Level 3 financial instruments at fair value on a recurring basis.
Long term investments - Other
The Group has interests in certain long term investments. The majority of these investments are in unlisted equity securities carried at fair value through other comprehensive income. The fair value of these equity investments are generally determined by (i) applying market multiples to the projected financial performance and (ii) discounting the future value to its present value equivalent. The key assumptions used to estimate the fair value of these equity investments include the exit multiple used to estimate business enterprise value and discount rate.
The fair value of the long term investments may vary over time and is subject to a variety of risks including: company performance, macroeconomic, regulatory, industry, USD to Euro exchange rate, and systemic risks of the overall equity markets.
The table below presents the changes in the other long term investments:
2021 2020
(in € millions)
At January 1 49  16 
Initial recognition of long term investment — 
Changes in fair value recorded in other comprehensive income (3)
Changes in fair value recognized in profit or loss (1) — 
Effect of changes in foreign exchange rates — 
At March 31 51  22 
Warrants
As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the number of outstanding warrants was 800,000.
The outstanding warrants are valued using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the warrants in the option pricing model are as follows:
  March 31, 2021
Expected term (years) 1.3 
Risk free rate (%) 0.1 
Volatility (%) 55.0 
Share price (US$) 267.95 
 
The table below presents the changes in the warrants liability:
  2021 2020
  (in € millions)
At January 1 89  98 
Non-cash changes recognized in condensed consolidated
   statement of operations
Changes in fair value (25) (41)
Effect of changes in foreign exchange rates
At March 31 67  58 
 
The impact on the fair value of the outstanding warrants with a decrease or increase in the Company's ordinary share price of 10% results in a range of €53 million to €81 million at March 31, 2021.
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Contingent consideration
On April 1, 2019, the Group acquired Cutler Media, LLC ("Parcast"), a premier storytelling podcast studio. Included in the purchase price was €13 million related to the estimated fair value of contingent consideration. The contingent consideration is valued by the Group using a simulation of user engagement outcomes. The change in the fair value of the contingent consideration is recognized within general and administrative expenses in the condensed consolidated statement of operations.
 
The table below presents the changes in the contingent consideration liability:
  2021 2020
  (in € millions)
At January 1 30  27 
Non-cash changes recognized in condensed consolidated
   statement of operations
Changes in fair value (1)
Effect of changes in foreign exchange rates — 
At March 31 33  26 
As of March 31, 2021, the remaining maximum potential contingent consideration payout is €34 million over the next two years.
Exchangeable Notes
On March 2, 2021, Spotify USA, Inc. issued US$1,500 million principal amount of 0% Exchangeable Notes due in 2026. The Exchangeable Notes are measured on a recurring basis in the condensed consolidated statement of financial position and are Level 3 financial instruments recognized at fair value through the condensed consolidated statement of operations.
The table below presents the changes in the Exchangeable Notes:
2021
(in € millions)
At January 1  
Initial recognition 1,232 
Changes in fair value recognized in condensed consolidated statement of operations (49)
Effect of changes in foreign exchange rates 46 
At March 31 1,229 
The change in estimated fair value is recognized within finance income/(costs) in the condensed consolidated statement of operations, excluding changes in fair value due to changes in the Group’s own credit risk, which are recognized in other comprehensive income and will not be reclassified to the condensed consolidated statement of operations.
The fair value of the Exchangeable Notes were estimated using a combination of a binomial option pricing model and prices observed for the Exchangeable Notes in an over-the-counter market on the last trading day of the reporting period. A weight of 75% was applied to the binomial option pricing model and a weight of 25% was applied to the price of the Exchangeable Notes in the over-the-counter market on the last trading day of the reporting period. The key assumptions used in the binomial option pricing model for the Exchangeable Notes were as follows:
  March 31, 2021
Risk free rate (%) 0.9 
Discount rate (%) 3.7 
Volatility (%) 45.0 
Share price (US$) 267.95 
The impact on the fair value of the Exchangeable Notes of using reasonably possible alternative assumptions with a decrease or increase in volatility of 10% results in a range of €1,193 million to €1,273 million at March 31, 2021. The impact
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on the fair value of the Exchangeable Notes of using reasonably possible alternative assumptions with a decrease or increase in share price of 10% results in a range of €1,205 million to €1,256 million at March 31, 2021.
22.     Commitments and contingencies
Commitments
The Group is subject to the following minimum guarantees relating to the content on its Service, the majority of which relate to minimum royalty payments associated with its license agreements for the use of licensed content:

  March 31, 2021 December 31, 2020
  (in € millions)
Not later than one year 424  317 
Later than one year but not more than 5 years 3,079  3,259 
3,503  3,576 

In addition, the Group is subject to the following various non-cancelable purchase obligations and service agreements with minimum spend commitments, including a service agreement with Google for the use of Google Cloud Platform and certain podcast commitments:

March 31, 2021 December 31, 2020
(in € millions)
Not later than one year 243  279 
Later than one year but not more than 5 years 689  619 
932  898 

Contingencies
Various legal actions, proceedings, and claims are pending or may be instituted or asserted against the Group. These may include, but are not limited to, matters arising out of alleged infringement of intellectual property; alleged violations of consumer regulations; employment-related matters; and disputes arising out of supplier and other contractual relationships. As a general matter, the music and other content made available on the Group's Service are licensed to the Group by various third parties. Many of these licenses allow rights holders to audit the Group's royalty payments, and any such audit could result in disputes over whether the Group has paid the proper royalties. If such a dispute were to occur, the Group could be required to pay additional royalties, and the amounts involved could be material. The Group expenses legal fees as incurred. The Group records a provision for contingent losses when it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. An unfavorable outcome to any legal matter, if material, could have an adverse effect on the Group's operations or its financial position, liquidity, or results of operations.
 
As of April 2019, the Group's settlement of the Ferrick et al. v. Spotify USA Inc., No. 1:16-cv-8412-AJN (S.D.N.Y.), putative class action lawsuit, which alleged that the Group unlawfully reproduced and distributed musical compositions without obtaining licenses, was final and effective. Even with the effectiveness of the settlement, we may still be subject to claims of copyright infringement by rights holders who have purported to opt out of the settlement or who may not otherwise be covered by its terms. The Music Modernization Act of 2018 contains a limitation of liability with respect to such lawsuits filed on or after January 1, 2018. Rights holders may, nevertheless, file lawsuits, and may argue that they should not be bound by this limitation of liability. For example, in August 2019, the Eight Mile Style, LLC et al v. Spotify USA Inc., No. 3:19-cv-00736-AAT, lawsuit was filed against us in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, alleging both that the Group does not qualify for the limitation of liability in the Music Modernization Act and that the limitation of liability is unconstitutional and, thus, not valid law. The Group intends to vigorously defend this lawsuit, including plaintiffs' challenges to the limitation of liability in the Music Modernization Act.

On August 11, 2020, the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued an opinion which, as of the issuance of the formal “mandate” on October 26, 2020, vacated the Copyright Royalty Board’s determination of the royalty rates for applicable mechanical rights in the United States for calendar years 2018 to 2022. These rates apply both to compositions that we license under compulsory license in Section 115 of the Copyright Act of 1976 and to a number of direct licenses that we have with music publishers. Until the rates are determined, our recorded royalty costs both retrospectively and
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prospectively will be based on management estimates of the rates that will apply. When the rates are determined anew, these could either benefit or adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

23.     Events after the reporting period

Subsequent to the end of the reporting period, the Company issued 1,000,000 ordinary shares to its Netherlands subsidiary at par value and subsequently repurchased those shares at the same price. These shares are held in treasury in order to facilitate the fulfillment of option exercises and RSU releases under the Company’s stock option and RSU plans.

Subsequent to the end of the reporting period, the Group signed license agreements with certain music labels, publishers and podcast agreements with creators. Included in these agreements are minimum guarantee and spend commitments of approximately €159 million over the next three years.

During our 2021 annual general meeting on April 21, 2021, shareholders and holders of beneficiary certificates authorized our Board of Directors to repurchase 10,000,000 ordinary shares issued by the Company during a period of five years, for a price that will be determined by the Board of Directors within the following limits: at least the par value and at the most the fair market value.

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Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This discussion and analysis reflects our historical results of operations and financial position and contains estimates and forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. The words "may," "might," "will," "could," "would," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "intend," "seek," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "continue," "contemplate," "possible," and similar words are intended to identify estimates and forward-looking statements.

Our estimates and forward-looking statements are mainly based on our current expectations and estimates of future events and trends, which affect or may affect our businesses and operations. Although we believe that these estimates and forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, they are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties and are made in light of information currently available to us. Many important factors may adversely affect our results as indicated in forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to:

our ability to attract prospective users and to retain existing users;
competition for users, user listening time, and advertisers;
risks associated with our international expansion and our ability to manage our growth;
our ability to predict, recommend, and play content that our users enjoy;
our ability to effectively monetize our Service;
our ability to generate sufficient revenue to be profitable or to generate positive cash flow and grow on a sustained basis;
risks associated with the expansion of our operations to deliver non-music content, including podcasts, including increased business, legal, financial, reputational, and competitive risks;
potential disputes or liabilities associated with content made available on our Service;
risks relating to the acquisition, investment, and disposition of companies or technologies;
our dependence upon third-party licenses for most of the content we stream;
our lack of control over the providers of our content and their effect on our access to music and other content;
our ability to comply with the many complex license agreements to which we are a party;
our ability to accurately estimate the amounts payable under our license agreements;
the limitations on our operating flexibility due to the minimum guarantees required under certain of our license agreements;
our ability to obtain accurate and comprehensive information about the compositions embodied in sound recordings in order to obtain necessary licenses or perform obligations under our existing license agreements;
new copyright legislation and related regulations that may increase the cost and/or difficulty of music licensing;
assertions by third parties of infringement or other violations by us of their intellectual property rights;
our ability to protect our intellectual property;
the dependence of streaming on operating systems, online platforms, hardware, networks, regulations, and standards that we do not control;
potential breaches of our security systems;
interruptions, delays, or discontinuations in service in our systems or systems of third parties;
changes in laws or regulations affecting us;
risks relating to privacy and protection of user data;
our ability to maintain, protect, and enhance our brand;
payment-related risks;
ability to hire and retain key personnel;
our ability to accurately estimate our user metrics and other estimates;
risks associated with manipulation of stream counts and user accounts and unauthorized access to our services;
tax-related risks;
the concentration of voting power among our founders who have and will continue to have substantial control over our business;
risks related to our status as a foreign private issuer;
international, national or local economic, social or political conditions;
risks associated with accounting estimates, currency fluctuations and foreign exchange controls;
the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and operations, including any adverse impact on advertising sales or subscriber revenue;
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risks related to our debt, including limitations on our cash flow for operations and our ability to satisfy our obligations under the Exchangeable Notes;
our ability to raise the funds necessary to repurchase the Exchangeable Notes for cash, under certain circumstances, or to pay any cash amounts due upon exchange;
provisions in the indenture governing the Exchangeable Notes (the “Indenture”) delaying or preventing an otherwise beneficial takeover of us; and
any adverse impact on our reported financial condition and results from the accounting methods for the Exchangeable Notes.

We operate in an evolving environment. New risk factors and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for our management to predict all risk factors and uncertainties, nor are we able to assess the impact of all of these risk factors on our business or the extent to which any risk factor, or combination of risk factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.

We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements. For additional information, refer to the risk factors discussed under Part II, Item 1A. "Risk Factors" below, Item 3.D. "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2020 ("Annual Report on Form 20-F"), and in our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").

You should read this discussion and analysis completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from our expectations.

Investors and others should note that we announce material financial information to our investors using our Investors website (investors.spotify.com), SEC filings, press releases, public conference calls, and webcasts. We use these channels, as well as social media, to communicate with our users and the public about our company, our Services, and other issues. It is possible that the information we post on these channels could be deemed to be material information. Therefore, we encourage investors, the media, and others interested in our Company to review the information we post on the channels listed on our Investors website.

Overview

Our mission is to unlock the potential of human creativity by giving a million creative artists the opportunity to live off their art and billions of fans the opportunity to enjoy and be inspired by these creators.

We are the most popular global audio streaming subscription service with a presence in 178 countries and territories and growing, including our February 2021 launch in South Korea and 85 other countries and territories across Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, and Latin America. Our platform includes 356 million monthly active users ("MAUs") and 158 million Premium Subscribers (as defined below) as of March 31, 2021.

We currently monetize our Service through both subscriptions and advertising. Our Premium Subscribers have grown 21% year-over-year, as of March 31, 2021, to 158 million. Our 356 million MAUs have grown 24% year-over-year, as of March 31, 2021.
Our results reflect the effects of our bi-annual trial programs, both discounted and free trials, in addition to seasonal trends in user behavior and, with respect to our Ad-Supported segment, advertising behavior. Historically, Premium Subscriber growth accelerates when we run bi-annual trial programs in the summer and winter, which typically begin in the middle of the second and fourth quarters.

For our Ad-Supported segment, typically we experience higher advertising revenue in the fourth quarter of each calendar year due to greater advertising demand during the holiday season. However, in the first quarter of each calendar year, we typically experience a seasonal decline in advertising revenue due to reduced advertiser demand.
Acquisition
On March 29, 2021, we acquired Betty Labs for a total purchase consideration of €57 million. The acquisition allows us to accelerate our entry into the live audio space.

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Exchangeable Notes
On March 2, 2021, Spotify USA Inc. issued US$1,500 million in aggregate principal amount of 0% Exchangeable Notes due 2026. Net proceeds from the issuance of the Exchangeable Notes were €1,223 million after deducting the transaction costs. We intend to use the net proceeds for general corporate purposes. See Note 17 to our interim condensed consolidated financial statements for further information regarding our Exchangeable Notes.
Employee Matters

During and subsequent to the end of the reporting period, we entered into collective bargaining agreements with the employees of Ringer.com LLC and Gimlet LLC, respectively, representing approximately 115 employees. As of March 31, 2021, we are in the process of negotiating a collective bargaining agreement with approximately 52 employees of Parcast LLC.

Key Performance Indicators

We use certain key performance indicators to monitor and manage our business. We use these indicators to evaluate our business, measure our performance, identify trends affecting our business, formulate business plans, and make strategic decisions. We believe these indicators provide useful information to investors in understanding and evaluating our operating results in the same manner we do.

MAUs
We track MAUs as an indicator of the size of the audience engaged with our Service. We define MAUs as the total count of users of our Ad-Supported Service ("Ad-Supported Users") and Premium Subscribers that have consumed content for greater than zero milliseconds in the last thirty days from the period-end indicated. Reported MAUs may overstate the number of unique individuals who actively use our Service within a thirty-day period as one individual may register for, and use, multiple accounts. Additionally, fraud and unauthorized access to our Service may contribute, from time to time, to an overstatement of MAUs, if undetected. Fraudulent accounts typically are created by bots to inflate content licensing payments to individual rights holders. We strive to detect and minimize these fraudulent accounts. Our MAUs in the tables below are inclusive of users that may have employed methods to limit or otherwise avoid being served advertisements. For additional information, refer to the risk factors discussed under Item 3.D. "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 20-F.
 
The table below sets forth our monthly active users as of March 31, 2021 and 2020.
  As of March 31    
  2021 2020 Change
(in millions, except percentages)
MAUs 356  286  70  24  %
 
MAUs were 356 million as of March 31, 2021 and 286 million as of March 31, 2020, which represented an increase of 24%. MAUs benefited from our continued investment in driving the growth of our Service, both through geographic expansion and consumer marketing. MAUs also benefited from continued investment in content and features on our platform, including featured playlists, artist marketing campaigns, podcasts, and original content, to drive increased user engagement and customer satisfaction.

Premium Subscribers
We define Premium Subscribers as users that have completed registration with Spotify and have activated a payment method for Premium Service. Our Premium Subscribers include all registered accounts in our Family Plan and Duo Plan. Our Family Plan consists of one primary subscriber and up to five additional sub-accounts, allowing up to six Premium Subscribers per Family Plan Subscription. Our Duo Plan consists of one primary subscriber and up to one additional sub-account, allowing up to two Premium Subscribers per Duo Plan Subscription. Premium Subscribers includes subscribers in a grace period of up to 30 days after failing to pay their subscription fee.

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The table below sets forth our Premium Subscribers as of March 31, 2021 and 2020.
  As of March 31    
  2021 2020 Change
(in millions, except percentages)
Premium Subscribers 158  130  28  21  %

Premium Subscribers were 158 million as of March 31, 2021 and 130 million as of March 31, 2020, which represented an increase of 21%. The Family Plan was a meaningful contributor of total gross added Premium Subscribers, while our free trial offers and global campaigns also accounted for a significant portion of gross added Premium Subscribers. In addition, there was an increase in the number of Premium Subscribers on our Duo Plan.

Ad-Supported MAUs
We define Ad-Supported MAUs as the total count of Ad-Supported Users that have consumed content for greater than zero milliseconds in the last thirty days from the period-end indicated.

The table below sets forth our Ad-Supported MAUs as of March 31, 2021 and 2020.
  As of March 31    
  2021 2020 Change
(in millions, except percentages)
Ad-Supported MAUs 208  163  45  27  %

Ad-Supported MAUs were 208 million as of March 31, 2021 and 163 million as of March 31, 2020, which represented an increase of 27%. Ad-Supported MAUs benefited from our continued investment in driving the growth of our Ad-Supported Service, both through geographic expansion and consumer marketing. Ad-Supported MAUs also benefited from continued investment in content and features on our platform, including featured playlists, artist marketing campaigns, podcasts, and original content, to drive increased Ad-Supported User engagement and customer satisfaction.

Premium ARPU
Premium average revenue per user ("ARPU") is a monthly measure defined as Premium revenue recognized in the quarter indicated divided by the average daily Premium Subscribers in such quarter, which is then divided by three months.

The table below sets forth our average Premium ARPU for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020.
  Three months ended March 31,    
  2021 2020 Change
Premium ARPU 4.12  4.42  (0.30) (7) %

For the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, Premium ARPU was €4.12 and €4.42, respectively, which represented a decrease of 7%. The decrease was due principally to movements in foreign exchange rates, reducing Premium ARPU by €0.23, and a change in Premium Subscriber mix, reducing Premium ARPU by €0.06.

How We Generate Revenue

We operate and manage our business in two reportable segments - Premium and Ad-Supported. We identify our reportable segments based on the organizational units used by management to monitor performance and make operating decisions. See Note 5 to our interim condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding our reportable segments.

Premium
We generate revenue for our Premium segment through the sale of the Premium Service. The Premium Service is sold directly to end users and through partners who are generally telecommunications companies that bundle the subscription with their own services or collect payment for the stand-alone subscriptions from the end user. We also bundle the Premium Service with third-party services and products.

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Ad-Supported
We generate revenue for our Ad-Supported segment from the sale of display, audio, and video advertising delivered through advertising impressions and podcast downloads. We generally enter into arrangements with advertising agencies that purchase advertising on our platform on behalf of the agencies' clients and directly with some large advertisers. Additionally, we generate Ad-Supported revenue through arrangements with certain advertising automated exchanges, internal self-serve, and advertising marketplace platforms to distribute advertising inventory for purchase on a cost-per-thousand basis.
Components of our Operating Results
Cost of Revenue. Cost of revenue consists predominantly of royalty and distribution costs related to content streaming. We incur royalty costs, which we pay to certain record labels, music publishers, and other rights holders, for the right to stream music to our users. Royalties are typically calculated monthly based on the combination of a number of different elements. Generally, Premium Service royalties are based on the greater of a percentage of revenue and a per user amount. Royalties for the Ad-Supported Service are typically a percentage of relevant revenue, although certain agreements are based on the greater of a percentage of relevant revenue and an amount for each time a sound recording and musical composition is streamed. We have negotiated lower per user amounts for our lower priced subscription plans such as Family Plan, Duo Plan, and Student Plan users. In our agreements with certain record labels, the percentage of revenue used in the calculation of royalties is generally dependent upon certain targets being met. The targets can include such measures as the number of Premium Subscribers, the ratio of Ad-Supported Users to Premium Subscribers, and/or the rates of Premium Subscriber churn. In addition, royalty rates vary by country. Some of our royalty agreements require that royalty costs be paid in advance or are subject to minimum guaranteed amounts. For the majority of royalty agreements, incremental costs incurred due to un-recouped advances and minimum guarantees have not been significant to date. We also have certain so-called most favored nation royalty agreements, which require us to record additional costs if certain material contract terms are not as favorable as the terms we have agreed to with similar licensors.

Cost of revenue also includes credit card and payment processing fees for subscription revenue, customer service, certain employee compensation and benefits, cloud computing, streaming, facility, and equipment costs, as well as the amortization of podcast content assets. Amortization of podcast content assets is recorded over the shorter of the estimated useful economic life or the license period (if relevant), and begins at the release of each episode. Cost of revenue also includes discounted trial costs.

Research and Development. We invest heavily in research and development in order to drive user engagement and customer satisfaction on our platform, which we believe helps drive organic growth in MAUs, which, in turn, drives additional growth in, and better retention of, Premium Subscribers, as well as increased advertising opportunities to Ad-Supported Users. We aim to design products and features that create and enhance user experiences, and new technologies are at the core of many of these opportunities. Expenses primarily comprise costs incurred for development of products related to our platform and Service, as well as new advertising products and improvements to our mobile application and desktop application and streaming services. The costs incurred include related facility costs, consulting costs, and employee compensation and benefits costs. We expect engineers to represent a significant portion of our employees over the foreseeable future.

Many of our new products and improvements to our platform require large investments and involve substantial time and risks to develop and launch. Some of these products may not be well received or may take a long time for users to adopt. As a result, the benefits of our research and development investments are difficult to forecast.

Sales and Marketing. Sales and marketing expenses primarily comprise employee compensation and benefits, public relations, branding, consulting expenses, customer acquisition costs, advertising, live events and trade shows, amortization of trade name intangible assets, the cost of working with music record labels, publishers, songwriters, and artists to promote the availability of new releases on our platform, and the costs of providing free trials of Premium Services. Expenses included in the cost of providing free trials are derived primarily from per user royalty fees determined in accordance with the rights holder agreements.

General and Administrative. General and administrative expenses primarily comprise employee compensation and benefits for functions such as finance, accounting, analytics, legal, human resources, consulting fees, and other costs including facility and equipment costs, officers' liability insurance, director fees, and fair value adjustments on contingent consideration.

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Results of Operations

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has created significant volatility, uncertainty, and economic disruption. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have taken a number of actions focused on protecting the health and safety of our employees, maintaining business continuity, and supporting the global music community, including extending the work-from-home arrangement for employees that began in March 2020 until September 1, 2021 and launching the Spotify COVID-19 Music Relief Project, through which we matched donations to organizations that offer financial relief to those in the music community most in need around the world for a total contribution of $10 million.

The full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, financial condition, and results of operations will depend on numerous evolving factors that we may not be able to accurately predict and that will vary by market, including the duration and scope of the pandemic, including any resurgences, the impact of the pandemic on economic activity, and actions taken by governments, businesses, and individuals in response. Refer to Item 3.D. "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for further discussion of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, operating results, and financial condition.

Revenue
Three months ended March 31,    
  2021 2020 Change
(in € millions, except percentages)
Premium 1,931  1,700  231  14  %
Ad-Supported 216  148  68  46  %
Total 2,147  1,848  299  16  %
 
Premium revenue
For the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, Premium revenue comprised 90% and 92% of our total revenue, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2021 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020, Premium revenue increased €231 million, or 14%. The increase was attributable primarily to a 21% increase in the number of Premium Subscribers, partially offset by a decrease in Premium ARPU of 7%, as noted above.

Ad-Supported revenue
For the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, Ad-Supported revenue comprised 10% and 8% of our total revenue, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2021 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020, Ad-Supported revenue increased €68 million, or 46%. This increase was due primarily to an increase in the number of impressions sold in our direct and programmatic channels, which grew revenue by €36 million, or 26%, year-over-year. The majority of the remaining increase is attributable to Megaphone and The Ringer acquisitions and exclusive licensing of the Joe Rogan Experience, subsequent to the three months ended March 31, 2020. Ad-Supported revenue during the three months ended March 31, 2020 was impacted by COVID-19.

Foreign exchange impact on total revenue
The general strengthening of the Euro relative to certain foreign currencies, primarily the U.S. Dollar and Brazilian Real for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as compared to the same period in 2020, had an unfavorable net impact on our revenue. We estimate that total revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2021 would have been approximately €114 million higher, if foreign exchange rates had remained consistent with foreign exchange rates for the comparable period in 2020.


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Cost of revenue
Three months ended March 31,    
  2021 2020 Change
(in € millions, except percentages)
Premium 1,393  1,219  174  14  %
Ad-Supported 206  157  49  31  %
Total 1,599  1,376  223  16  %

Premium cost of revenue
For the three months ended March 31, 2021 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020, Premium cost of revenue increased €174 million, or 14%, and Premium cost of revenue as a percentage of Premium revenue remained flat at 72%. The increase in Premium cost of revenue was driven primarily by growth and mix of Premium Subscribers resulting in higher royalty costs, payment transaction fees, and streaming delivery costs of €185 million, €5 million, and €6 million, respectively. The three months ended March 31, 2020 included a net €10 million charge relating to settlements with rights holders and changes in prior period estimates for rights holder liabilities.

Ad-Supported cost of revenue
For the three months ended March 31, 2021 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020, Ad-Supported cost of revenue increased €49 million, or 31%, and Ad-Supported cost of revenue as a percentage of Ad-Supported revenue decreased from 107% to 96%. The increase in Ad-Supported cost of revenue was driven primarily by an increase in podcast costs of €26 million and higher royalty costs of €24 million due to growth in both advertising revenue and streams. The three months ended March 31, 2020 included a charge of €5 million relating to changes in prior period estimates for rights holder liabilities.

Foreign exchange impact on total cost of revenue
The general strengthening of the Euro relative to certain foreign currencies, primarily the U.S. Dollar and Brazilian Real for the three months ended March 31, 2021 as compared to the same period in 2020, had a favorable net impact on our cost of revenue. We estimate that total cost of revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2021 would have been approximately €86 million higher if foreign exchange rates had remained consistent with foreign exchange rates for the comparable period in 2020.

Gross profit/(loss) and gross margin
Three months ended March 31,
  2021 2020 Change
(in € millions, except percentages)
Gross profit/(loss)
Premium 538  481  57  12  %
Ad-Supported 10  (9) 19  (211) %
Consolidated 548  472  76  16  %
Gross margin
Premium 28  % 28  %
Ad-Supported % (7) %
Consolidated 26  % 26  %
 
Premium gross profit and gross margin
For the three months ended March 31, 2021 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020, Premium gross profit increased by €57 million, and Premium gross margin remained flat at 28%. Premium gross margin remained flat due primarily to increased royalties offset by settlements with rights holders and changes in prior period estimates for rights holder liabilities during the three months ended March 31, 2020.

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Ad-Supported gross profit/(loss) and gross margin
For the three months ended March 31, 2021 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020, Ad-Supported gross profit increased by €19 million, and gross margin increased from (7)% to 4%. The increase in Ad-Supported gross margin was due primarily to an increase in revenue that outpaced streams growth and delivery costs, while podcast costs growth modestly outpaced podcast revenue growth. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, reduced advertising demand due to COVID 19 resulted in unfavorable impacts to Ad-Supported gross margin, as an increase in streams outpaced revenue growth.
Consolidated Operating expenses

Research and development
Three months ended March 31,    
  2021 2020 Change
(in € millions, except percentages)
Research and development 196  162  34  21  %
As a percentage of revenue 9  % 9  %

For the three months ended March 31, 2021 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020, research and development costs increased €34 million, or 21%, as we continually enhance our platform to retain and grow our user base. The increase was due primarily to an increase in personnel-related costs of €29 million, which included increased salaries, share-based compensation, and other employee benefits of €15 million, €5 million, and €8 million, respectively, as a result of increased headcount to support our growth. In addition, there was an increase in information technology costs of €8 million due to an increase in our usage of cloud computing services and additional software license fees.

Sales and marketing
Three months ended March 31,
  2021 2020 Change
(in € millions, except percentages)
Sales and marketing 236  231  %
As a percentage of revenue 11  % 13  %

For the three months ended March 31, 2021 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020, sales and marketing expense increased by €5 million, or 2%. The increase was due primarily to an increase in advertising costs of €22 million for marketing campaigns. There was also an increase in personnel-related costs of €12 million, which included increased salaries and other employee benefits of €7 million and €3 million, respectively, as a result of increased headcount to support our growth. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in the cost of providing free trials of €25 million as a result of changes in our free trial campaigns.

General and administrative
Three months ended March 31,
  2021 2020 Change
  (in € millions, except percentages)
General and administrative 102  96  %
As a percentage of revenue 5  % 5  %
 
For the three months ended March 31, 2021 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020, general and administrative expense increased by €6 million, or 6%. The increase was due primarily to an increase in personnel-related costs of €10 million, which included increased salaries, share-based compensation, and other employee benefits of €4 million, €2 million, and €2 million, respectively, as a result of increased headcount to support our growth.

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Finance income
Finance income consists of fair value adjustment gains on certain financial instruments, interest income earned on our cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments, and foreign currency gains.
Three months ended March 31,
  2021 2020 Change
(in € millions, except percentages)
Finance income 104  70  34  49  %
As a percentage of revenue 5  % 4  %
 
For the three months ended March 31, 2021 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020, finance income increased €34 million due primarily to a fair value gain recorded for the Exchangeable Notes of €49 million. There was also an increase of €9 million in foreign exchange gains on the remeasurement of monetary assets and liabilities in a transaction currency other than the functional currency. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in fair value gains recorded for warrants of €18 million.

Finance costs
Finance costs consist of fair value adjustment losses on certain financial instruments, interest expense, transaction costs on the issuance of Exchangeable Notes, and foreign currency losses.
Three months ended March 31,
  2021 2020 Change
(in € millions, except percentages)
Finance costs (31) (12) (19) 158  %
As a percentage of revenue (1) % (1) %

For the three months ended March 31, 2021 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020, finance costs increased €19 million. The increase was due primarily to €18 million of transaction costs recorded in connection with the issuance of the Exchangeable Notes.

Income tax expense
  Three months ended March 31,
  2021 2020 Change
(in € millions, except percentages)
Income tax expense 64  40  24  60  %
As a percentage of revenue 3  % 2  %

For the three months ended March 31, 2021, income tax expense increased €24 million due primarily to reassessment of uncertain tax positions of €38 million arising from new information in the current quarter. In addition, current period share-based compensation deductions recognized in equity resulted in additional tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2021.

Non-IFRS Financial Measure
We have reported our financial results in accordance with IFRS as issued by IASB. In addition, we have discussed our results using the non-IFRS measure of Free Cash Flow as discussed below.

We define "Free Cash Flow" as net cash flows from operating activities less capital expenditures and change in restricted cash. We believe Free Cash Flow is a useful supplemental financial measure for us and investors in assessing our ability to pursue business opportunities and investments. Free Cash Flow is not a measure of our liquidity under IFRS and should not be considered as an alternative to net cash flows from operating activities.

Free Cash Flow is a non-IFRS measure and is not a substitute for IFRS measures in assessing our overall financial performance. Because Free Cash Flow is not a measurement determined in accordance with IFRS, and is susceptible to varying calculations, it may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures presented by other companies. You should not consider Free Cash Flow in isolation, or as a substitute for an analysis of our results as reported on our interim condensed consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this document.
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Set forth below is a reconciliation of Free Cash Flow to net cash flows from operating activities for the periods presented.
   Three months ended March 31,
  2021 2020
(in € millions)
Net cash flows from operating activities 65  (9)
Capital expenditures (24) (12)
Free Cash Flow 41  (21)

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our principal sources of liquidity are our cash and cash equivalents, short term investments, and cash generated from operating activities. Cash and cash equivalents and short term investments consist mostly of cash on deposit with banks, investments in money market funds, investments in government securities, corporate debt securities, and collateralized reverse purchase agreements. Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments increased by €1,339 million from €1,747 million as of December 31, 2020 to €3,086 million as of March 31, 2021.
We believe our existing cash and cash equivalent balances, and the cash flow we generate from our operations will be sufficient to meet our working capital and capital expenditure needs for at least the next 12 months. However, our future capital requirements may be materially different than those currently planned in our budgeting and forecasting activities and depend on many factors, including our rate of revenue growth, the timing and extent of spending on content and research and development, the expansion of our sales and marketing activities, the timing of new product introductions, market acceptance of our products, our continued international expansion, competitive factors, the COVID-19 pandemic, and global economic conditions. To the extent that current and anticipated future sources of liquidity are insufficient to fund our future business activities and requirements, we may be required to seek additional equity or debt financing. The sale of additional equity would result in additional dilution to our shareholders, while the incurrence of debt financing would result in debt service obligations. Such debt instruments also could introduce covenants that might restrict our operations. We cannot assure you that we could obtain additional financing on favorable terms, or at all. While the COVID-19 pandemic has not materially impacted our liquidity and capital resources to date, it has led to increased disruption and volatility in capital markets and credit markets. The pandemic and resulting economic uncertainty could adversely affect our liquidity and capital resources in the future. Based on past performance and current expectations, we believe our strong cash and cash equivalents and investments position are critical at this time of uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and allow us to use our cash resources for working capital needs, capital expenditures, investment requirements, contractual obligations, commitments, and other liquidity requirements associated with our operations. For additional information, refer to the risk factors discussed under Item 3.D. "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 20-F.

We have planned capital expenditures of approximately €67 million in the next 12 months associated with the build-out of office space in Los Angeles, Miami, Berlin, and Stockholm, among others. 

While we continue to make investments in offices and information technology infrastructure through purchases of property and equipment and lease arrangements to provide capacity for the growth of our business, we may slow the pace of our investments due to COVID-19. We may also see a shift in investments due to our newly implemented Work From Anywhere program which allows most employees to elect their work location from physical office space and home mix options.
 
Exchangeable Notes

On March 2, 2021, Spotify USA Inc. issued US$1,500 million in aggregate principal amount of 0% Exchangeable Notes due 2026. Net proceeds from the issuance of the Exchangeable Notes were €1,223 million after deducting the transaction costs. We intend to use the net proceeds for general corporate purposes. See Note 17 to our interim condensed consolidated financial statements for further information regarding our Exchangeable Notes.
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Cash Flow
   Three months ended March 31,
  2021 2020
(in € millions)
Net cash flows from/(used in) operating activities 65  (9)
Net cash flows used in investing activities (114) (184)
Net cash flows from financing activities 1,250  77 
Free Cash Flow(1)
41  (21)

(1)For a discussion of the limitations associated with using Free Cash Flow rather than IFRS measures, and a reconciliation of Free Cash Flow to net cash flows from operating activities, see "Non-IFRS Financial Measure" above.

Operating activities
Net cash flows from operating activities increased by €74 million to €65 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020. The increase was due primarily to an increase in operating income of €31 million, partially offset by non-cash items including depreciation, amortization, and share-based compensation expense. The increase was also due to favorable changes in working capital of €30 million, principally deferred revenue, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020.

Investing activities
Net cash flows used in investing activities decreased by €70 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020. The decrease was due primarily to a decrease in cash used in business combinations, net of cash acquired, of €78 million, partially offset by an increase in capital expenditures of €12 million.

Financing activities
Net cash flows from financing activities increased by €1,173 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020. The increase was due primarily to net proceeds of €1,233 million from the issuance of Exchangeable Notes, partially offset by a decrease in proceeds from the exercise of stock options of €26 million.

Free Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow increased by €62 million to €41 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020, due primarily to an increase in net cash flows from operating activities of €74 million, as described above, partially offset by an increase in capital expenditures of €12 million.

Restrictions on Subsidiaries to Transfer Funds
The payment of dividends and the making, or repayment, of loans and advances to the Company by the Company's direct subsidiaries and such payments by its indirect subsidiaries to their respective parent entities are subject to various restrictions. Future indebtedness of these subsidiaries may prohibit the payment of dividends or the making, or repayment, of loans or advances to the Company. In addition, the ability of any of the Company's direct or indirect subsidiaries to make certain distributions may be limited by the laws of the relevant jurisdiction in which the subsidiaries are organized or located, including financial assistance rules, corporate benefit laws, liquidity requirements, requirements that dividends must be paid out of reserves available for distribution, and other legal restrictions which, if violated, might require the recipient to refund unlawful payments. Spotify AB, which, directly or indirectly through its subsidiaries, conducts much of the Group's business, may only make dividends to the Company if there would continue to be full coverage of its restricted equity following such dividend, and only if doing so would be considered prudent under Swedish law given the needs of Spotify AB and its subsidiaries. Loans and other advances from Spotify AB to the Company may be subject to essentially the same restrictions as dividends. Since the Company is expected to rely primarily on dividends from its direct and indirect subsidiaries to fund its financial and other obligations, restrictions on its ability to receive such funds may adversely impact the Company's ability to fund its financial and other obligations.

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Indebtedness
As of March 31, 2021, our outstanding indebtedness, other than lease liabilities, consisted primarily of the Exchangeable Notes that mature on March 15, 2026 and bear no interest. See Note 17 to our interim condensed consolidated financial statements for further information regarding our Exchangeable Notes. We may from time to time seek to incur additional indebtedness. Such indebtedness, if any, will depend on prevailing market conditions, our liquidity requirements, contractual restrictions, and other factors.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As of March 31, 2021, we do not have transactions with unconsolidated entities, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, whereby we have financial guarantees, subordinated retained interests, derivative instruments, or other contingent arrangements that expose us to material continuing risks, contingent liabilities, or any other obligation under a variable interest in an unconsolidated entity that provides financing, liquidity, market risk, or credit risk support to us.

Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations
The following table sets forth our contractual obligations and commercial commitments as of March 31, 2021:
Payments due by period
Contractual obligations: Total Less than
1 year
1-3 years 3-5 years More than
5 years
(in € millions)
Minimum guarantees (1)
3,503  424  2,978  101  — 
Exchangeable Notes (2)
1,279  —  —  1,279  — 
Lease obligations (3)
932  88  180  178  486 
Purchase obligations (4)
932  243  689  —  — 
Deferred and contingent consideration (5)
71  24  36  11  — 
Total 6,717  779  3,883  1,569  486 
 
(1)We are subject to minimum royalty payments associated with our license agreements for the use of licensed content. See risk factors discussed under Item 3.D. "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 20-F.
(2)Consists of principal on our 0.00% Exchangeable Notes due March 15, 2026.
(3)Included in the lease obligations are short term leases and certain lease agreements that we have entered into, but have not yet commenced as of March 31, 2021. Lease obligations relate to our office space. The lease terms are between one and fourteen years. See Note 9 to the interim condensed consolidated financial statements for further details regarding leases.
(4)We are subject to various non-cancelable purchase obligations and service agreements with minimum spend commitments, including a service agreement with Google for the use of Google Cloud Platform and certain podcast commitments.
(5)Included in deferred consideration are obligations to transfer €37 million of cash consideration over the next four years to former owners of certain entities we have acquired. Included in contingent consideration is the obligation to transfer a maximum of €34 million of contingent cash payment consideration over the next two years to former owners of an entity we acquired if specified user engagement targets are achieved.

Subsequent to the end of the reporting period, we signed license agreements with certain music labels, publishers and podcast agreements with creators. Included in these agreements are minimum guarantee and spend commitments of approximately €159 million over the next three years.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Our activities expose us to a variety of market risks. Our primary market risk exposures relate to currency, interest rate, share price, and investment risks. To manage these risks and our exposure to the unpredictability of financial markets, we seek to minimize potential adverse effects on our financial performance and capital.

Volatile market conditions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic may result in significant changes in foreign exchange rates, interest rates, and share prices, both our own and those used to value certain of our long-term investments. Refer to Item 3.D. "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for further discussion on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, operating results, and financial condition.

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Currency Risk

Currency risk manifests itself in transaction exposure, which relates to business transactions denominated in foreign currency required by operations (purchasing and selling) and/or financing (interest and amortization). The volatility in foreign exchange rates due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular a weakening of foreign currencies relative to the Euro may negatively affect our revenue. Our general policy is to hedge transaction exposure on a case-by-case basis. Translation exposure relates to net investments in foreign operations. We do not conduct translation risk hedging.

We are subject to deferred tax as a result of foreign exchange movements between USD, EUR, and SEK, primarily related to our investment in TME.

Transaction Exposure Sensitivity

In most cases, our customers are billed in their respective local currency. Major payments, such as salaries, consultancy fees, and rental fees are settled in local currencies. Royalty payments are primarily settled in Euros and U.S. dollars. Hence, the operational need to net purchase foreign currency is due primarily to a deficit from such settlements.

The table below shows the immediate impact on income before tax of a 10% strengthening of foreign currencies relative to the Euro in the closing exchange rate of significant currencies to which we have transaction exposure, at March 31, 2021. The sensitivity associated with a 10% weakening of a particular currency would be equal and opposite. This assumes that each currency moves in isolation.
USD SEK
Increase/(decrease) in income before tax 108  (13)

Translation Exposure Sensitivity

The impact on our equity would be approximately €95 million if the Euro weakened by 10% against all translation exposure currencies, based on the exposure at March 31, 2021. 

Interest Rate Risk

Interest rate risk is the risk that changes in interest rates will have a negative impact on earnings and cash flow. Our exposure to interest rate risk is related to our interest-bearing assets, primarily our short term debt securities. Fluctuations in interest rates impact the yield of the investment. The sensitivity analysis considered the historical volatility of short term interest rates and determined that it was reasonably possible that a change of 100 basis points could be experienced in the near term. A hypothetical 100 basis point increase in interest rates would have impacted interest income by €2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021.

Share Price Risk

Share price risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate due to changes in the fair value of the Company's ordinary share price. Our exposure to this risk relates primarily to the Exchangeable Notes and outstanding warrants.

The impact on the fair value of the Exchangeable Notes of using reasonably possible alternative assumptions with a decrease or increase in share price of 10% results in a range of €1,205 million to €1,256 million at March 31, 2021.

The impact on the fair value of the outstanding warrants with a decrease or increase in the Company's ordinary share price of 10% results in a range of €53 million to €81 million at March 31, 2021.

The impact on the accrual for social costs on outstanding share-based compensation awards of a decrease or increase in the Company's ordinary share price of 10% would both result in a change of €23 million at March 31, 2021. 

Investment Risk
We are exposed to investment risk as it relates to changes in the market value of our long term investments, due primarily to volatility in the share price used to measure the investment and exchange rates. The majority of our long term
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investments relate to TME. The impact on the fair value of our long term investment in TME with a decrease or increase of TME's share price used to value our equity interest of 10% results in a range of €2,224 million to €2,718 million at March 31, 2021.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
We prepare our interim condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB. Preparing these financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, equity, revenue, expenses, and related disclosures. We evaluate our estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis. Our estimates are based on historical experience and various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Our actual results may differ from these estimates.

We believe that the assumptions and estimates associated with revenue, share-based compensation, content, warrants, exchangeable notes, business combinations, determining the incremental borrowing rate, and income taxes have the greatest potential impact on our interim condensed consolidated financial statements. Therefore, we consider these to be our critical accounting policies and estimates.

Except for the Exchangeable Notes presented below, there have been no material changes or additions to our critical accounting policies and estimates as compared to the critical accounting policies and estimates described in our Annual Report on Form 20-F.

Exchangeable Notes
We accounted for the Exchangeable Notes at fair value through profit and loss using the fair value option in accordance with IFRS 9 Financial Instruments. Under this approach, the Exchangeable Notes are accounted for in their entirety at fair value, with any change in fair value after initial measurement being recorded in finance income or cost in the condensed consolidated statement of operations, except that changes in fair value that are due to changes in own credit risk will be presented separately in other comprehensive income and will not be reclassified to the condensed consolidated statement of operations.
The fair value of the Exchangeable Notes is estimated using a combination of binomial option pricing model and prices observed for the Exchangeable Notes in an over-the-counter market on the last trading day of the reporting period. The key inputs and assumptions, which involve inherent uncertainties and management judgement, to the fair value of the Exchangeable Notes have been discussed in Note 21 to our condensed consolidated financial statements included in this document.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 2 to our interim condensed consolidated financial statements included in this document for recently adopted accounting pronouncements and recently issued accounting pronouncements not yet adopted, if material, as of the dates of the statement of financial position included in this document.
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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings
 
We are from time to time subject to various claims, lawsuits and other legal proceedings. Some of these claims, lawsuits and other legal proceedings involve highly complex issues, and often these issues are subject to substantial uncertainties. Accordingly, our potential liability with respect to a large portion of such claims, lawsuits and other legal proceedings cannot be estimated with certainty. Management, with the assistance of legal counsel, periodically reviews the status of each significant matter and assesses potential financial exposure. We recognize provisions for claims or pending litigation when it determines that an unfavorable outcome is probable and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. Due to the inherent uncertain nature of litigation, the ultimate outcome or actual cost of settlement may materially vary from estimates. If management's estimates prove incorrect, current reserves could be inadequate and we could incur a charge to earnings which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows.
 
For a discussion of legal proceedings in which we are involved, see Note 22 to our interim condensed consolidated financial statements included in this report.

Item 1A. Risk Factors
 
Part I, Item 3.D. “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F includes a discussion of our risk factors. The information presented below updates, and should be read in conjunction with, the risk factors and information disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 20-F. Except as presented below, there have been no material changes to our risk factors since those reported in Annual Report on Form 20-F.

Our indebtedness and liabilities could limit the cash flow available for our operations, expose us to risks that could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and impair our ability to satisfy our obligations under the Exchangeable Notes.

As of March 31, 2021, we had $1,500 million principal amount of indebtedness as a result of the Exchangeable Notes offering. We may also incur additional indebtedness to meet future financing needs. Our indebtedness could have significant negative consequences for our security holders and our business, results of operations and financial condition by, among other things:

increasing our vulnerability to adverse economic and industry conditions;
limiting our ability to obtain additional financing;
requiring the dedication of a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to service our indebtedness, which will reduce the amount of cash available for other purposes;
limiting our flexibility to plan for, or react to, changes in our business;
diluting the interests of our existing shareholders as a result of issuing ordinary shares upon exchange of the Exchangeable Notes; and
placing us at a possible competitive disadvantage with competitors that are less leveraged than us or have better access to capital.

Our business may not generate sufficient funds, and we may otherwise be unable to maintain sufficient cash reserves, to pay amounts due under our indebtedness, including the Exchangeable Notes, and our cash needs may increase in the future. In addition, future indebtedness that we may incur may contain financial and other restrictive covenants that limit our ability to operate our business, raise capital or make payments under our other indebtedness. If we fail to comply with these covenants or to make payments under our indebtedness when due, we would be in default under that indebtedness, which could, in turn, result in that and our other indebtedness becoming immediately payable in full.

We may be unable to raise the funds necessary to repurchase the Exchangeable Notes for cash following certain fundamental change as set forth in the Indenture, or to pay any cash amounts due upon exchange, and our future indebtedness may limit our ability to repurchase the Exchangeable Notes or pay cash upon their exchange.

Holders of the Exchangeable Notes may, subject to a limited exception under the Indenture, require us to repurchase their Exchangeable Notes following certain fundamental change under the Indenture at a cash repurchase price generally equal to the principal amount of the Exchangeable Notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid special and additional interest, if any. In addition, upon exchange, we will satisfy part or all of our exchange obligation in cash unless we elect to settle exchanges solely in ordinary shares. We may not have enough available cash or be able to obtain financing at the time we are
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required to repurchase the Exchangeable Notes or pay any cash amounts due upon exchange. In addition, applicable law, regulatory authorities and the agreements governing our future indebtedness may restrict our ability to repurchase the Exchangeable Notes or pay any cash amounts due upon exchange. Our failure to repurchase the Exchangeable Notes or pay any cash amounts due upon exchange when required will constitute a default under the Indenture. A default under the Indenture or the fundamental change itself could also lead to a default under agreements governing our future indebtedness, which may result in that future indebtedness becoming immediately payable in full. We may not have sufficient funds to satisfy all amounts due under the future indebtedness and the Exchangeable Notes.

Provisions in the Indenture could delay or prevent an otherwise beneficial takeover of us.

Certain provisions in the Exchangeable Notes and the Indenture could make it more difficult or expensive for a third party who attempts to acquire us. For example, if a takeover constitutes a fundamental change, then noteholders will have the right to require us to repurchase their Exchangeable Notes for cash. In addition, if a takeover constitutes a make-whole fundamental change, then we may be required to temporarily increase the exchange rate. In either case, and in other cases, our obligations under the Exchangeable Notes and the Indenture could increase the cost of acquiring us or otherwise discourage a third party from acquiring us or removing incumbent management, including in a transaction that noteholders or holders of ordinary shares may view as favorable.

The accounting method for the Exchangeable Notes could adversely affect our reported financial condition and results.

The Exchangeable Notes have been designated at fair value through profit and loss using the fair value option in accordance with IFRS. Under this treatment, the exchange feature contained in the Exchangeable Notes is reflected in the overall fair value of the Exchangeable Notes, which is marked-to-market at the end of each reporting period. For each financial statement period while the Exchangeable Notes remain outstanding, a gain or loss will be reported in our consolidated statement of operations to the extent the fair value changes from the end of the previous period, except that changes in fair value that are due to changes in own credit risk will be presented separately in other comprehensive income. The gains and losses relating to the Exchangeable Notes may be significant. Accordingly, this accounting treatment may subject our reported net income (loss) and our financial position to significant variability. Furthermore, if a fundamental change occurs, we may be required in accordance with IFRS to reclassify the carrying value of the Exchangeable Notes as a current, rather than a non-current, liability. This reclassification could be necessary even if no noteholder actually requires us to repurchase their Exchangeable Notes and could materially reduce our reported working capital. Amendments to IAS 1, which will become effective during the term of the Exchangeable Notes would also require us to reclassify the Exchangeable Notes as a current liability if the exchange conditions are met, even if no noteholder actually requires us to exchange their notes.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
 
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
 
There was no share repurchase activity during the three months ended March 31, 2021.

Subsequent to March 31, 2021, the Company issued 1,000,000 ordinary shares to its Netherlands subsidiary at par value and subsequently repurchased those shares at the same price. These shares are held in treasury in order to facilitate the fulfillment of option exercises and RSU releases under the Company’s stock option and RSU plans.

During our 2021 annual general meeting on April 21, 2021, shareholders and holders of beneficiary certificates authorized our Board of Directors to repurchase 10,000,000 ordinary shares issued by the Company during a period of five years, for a price that will be determined by the Board of Directors within the following limits: at least the par value and at the most the fair market value.


Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
 
None.

Item 5. Other Information
 
None.
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SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
  Spotify Technology S.A.
     
Date: April 28, 2021
By: /s/ Paul Vogel
  Name: Paul Vogel
  Title: Chief Financial Officer


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