zd-202408070001084048false00010840482024-08-072024-08-07
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (date of earliest event reported) August 7, 2024
Ziff Davis, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware | | 0-25965 | | 47-1053457 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | | (Commission File Number) | | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
114 5th Avenue, 15th Floor New York, New York 10011
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (212) 503-3500
Former name or former address, if changed since last report: Not Applicable
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
Common Stock, $0.01 par value | ZD | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
On August 7, 2024, Ziff Davis, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release (the “Press Release”) announcing its preliminary unaudited financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024 and reaffirming its financial guidance for fiscal year 2024.
A copy of the Press Release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
On August 8, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time, the Company will host its second quarter 2024 earnings conference call and webcast. Via the webcast, the Company will present portions of its August 2024 Investor Presentation, which contains a summary of the Company’s preliminary unaudited financial results for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2024, financial estimates for fiscal year 2024, and certain other financial and operating information regarding the Company. A copy of this presentation is furnished as Exhibit 99.2 to this Form 8-K.
NOTE: The information in Item 2.02 and Item 7.01 and the accompanying exhibits 99.1 and 99.2 are being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.
Item 8.01 Other Events.
On August 2, 2024, the Board of Directors of Ziff Davis (the “Board”), authorized (i) an increase in its existing share repurchase program pursuant to which the Company may purchase up to an additional 5 million shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”) (the “Additional Authorization”) and (ii) an extension of the expiration date of the share repurchase program from August 6, 2025 to August 2, 2029. As a result of the Additional Authorization, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock under the repurchase program increased from up to 10 million shares of Common Stock to up to 15 million shares of Common Stock, with 8,241,308 shares of Common Stock remaining under the repurchase program as of August 2, 2024. The share repurchase program does not obligate the Company to purchase any particular number of shares of Common Stock. The share repurchase program may be terminated, suspended, increased or decreased by the Board in its discretion at any time. Under the stock repurchase program, the Company may repurchase shares through open market purchases, privately-negotiated transactions, block purchases or otherwise in accordance with applicable federal securities laws, including Rule 10b-18 of the Exchange Act.
The Company is also authorized to enter into written trading plans under Rule 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act. Adopting a trading plan that satisfies the conditions of Rule 10b5-1 allows a company to repurchase its shares at times when it might otherwise be prevented from doing so due to self-imposed trading blackout periods or pursuant to insider trading laws. Under any Rule 10b5-1 trading plan, the Company’s third-party broker, subject to Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) regulations regarding certain price, market, volume and timing constraints, would have authority to purchase the Company’s Common Stock in accordance with the terms of the plan. The Company has previously entered into and may from time to time in the future enter into Rule 10b5-1 trading plans to facilitate the repurchase of its Common Stock pursuant to its share repurchase program.
The Company cannot predict when or if it will repurchase any additional shares of Common Stock as such repurchases will depend on a number of factors, including constraints specified in any Rule 10b5-1 trading plans, price, general business and market conditions, and alternative investment opportunities. Information regarding share repurchases is available in the Company’s periodic reports on Form 10-Q and 10-K filed with the SEC as required by the applicable rules of the Exchange Act.
Forward-looking Statements
“Safe Harbor” Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Certain statements in this Form 8-K are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements relating to the Company’s plans regarding share repurchases. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations or beliefs and are subject to numerous assumptions, risks, and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These factors and uncertainties include the Company’s ability to implement its plans regarding share repurchases, market conditions, and, among other items: the Company’s ability to grow advertising, licensing, and subscription revenues, profitability, and cash flows, particularly in light of an uncertain U.S. or worldwide economy, including the possibility of economic downturn or recession; the Company’s ability to make interest and debt payments; the Company’s ability to identify, close, and successfully transition acquisitions; customer growth and retention; the Company’s ability to create compelling content; its reliance on third-party platforms; the
threat of content piracy and developments related to artificial intelligence; increased competition and rapid technological changes; variability of the Company’s revenue based on changing conditions in particular industries and the economy generally; protection of the Company’s proprietary technology or infringement by the Company of intellectual property of others; the risk of losing critical third-party vendors or key personnel; the risks associated with fraudulent activity, system failure, or a security breach; risks related to the Company’s ability to adhere to its internal controls and procedures; the risk of adverse changes in the U.S. or international regulatory environments, including but not limited to the imposition or increase of taxes or regulatory-related fees; the risks related to supply chain disruptions, inflationary conditions, and rising interest rates; the risk of liability for legal and other claims; and the numerous other factors set forth in the Company’s filings with the SEC. For a more detailed description of the risk factors and uncertainties affecting the Company, refer to its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and the other reports filed by the Company from time-to-time with the SEC, each of which is available at www.sec.gov. The forward-looking statements included in this Form 8-K speak only as of the date of this Form 8-K, and the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update these statements.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
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Exhibit Number | | Description |
99.1 | | |
99.2 | | |
104 | | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
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 hereunto duly authorized.
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| | Ziff Davis, Inc. (Registrant) |
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Date: | August 7, 2024 | By: | /s/ Jeremy Rossen |
| | | Jeremy Rossen Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |