v3.25.1
Held for Sale, Discontinued Operations, Disposals, and Licenses
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2025
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]  
Held for Sale, Discontinued Operations, Disposals, and Licenses Held for Sale, Discontinued Operations, Disposals, and Licenses
Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations:
Complex Disposition
As of December 31, 2023, the Company determined the assets of Complex Networks, excluding the First We Feast brand, met the criteria for classification as held for sale. The Company disposed of Complex Networks in order to refocus its business around scalable, high-margin, and tech-led revenue streams. As such, the Company concluded the ultimate disposal represented a strategic shift that had a major effect on the Company’s operations and financial results. Therefore, the historical results of Complex Networks are classified as discontinued operations for the three months ended March 31, 2024.
On February 21, 2024, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company entered into the Complex Sale Agreement with Commerce Media, providing for the sale of certain assets relating to the business of Complex Networks (i.e., the Complex Disposition). Pursuant to the Complex Sale Agreement, Commerce Media purchased certain assets, and assumed certain liabilities, related to the business of Complex Networks, excluding the business operating under the First We Feast brand and as otherwise set forth in the Complex Sale Agreement, for an aggregate purchase price of $108.6 million, which was received in cash upon closing on February 21, 2024.
In connection with the Complex Disposition, the Company was required to (i) repurchase approximately $30.9 million of Notes, and (ii) repay approximately $33.8 million outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility, plus accrued and unpaid interest of $0.7 million (such amounts were repurchased / repaid shortly after the Complex Disposition; refer to note 8 herein for additional details). The Company terminated the Revolving Credit Facility, except for the $15.5 million in letters of credit then-outstanding. The Company incurred a $0.5 million early termination fee and a standby letter of credit fee of $0.5 million, both of which were paid upon closing of the Complex Disposition on February
21, 2024. Additionally, as described in Note 8 herein, on February 28, 2024, the indenture governing the Notes was amended to, among other things, provide that 95% of the net proceeds of future asset sales must be used to repay the Notes.
All historical interest expense associated with the Revolving Credit Facility and 20.6% of the historical interest expense associated with the Notes were allocated to the discontinued operations of the Complex Disposition.
Details of net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, were as follows (for the Complex Disposition):
Three Months Ended March 31,
2024
Revenue$2,115 
Costs and Expenses
Cost of revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization3,500 
Sales and marketing1,046 
General and administrative225 
Research and development344 
Total costs and expenses5,115 
Loss from discontinued operations(3,000)
Loss on partial debt extinguishment(4,919)
Gain on remeasurement of classification to held for sale854 
Other expense, net(292)
Interest expense, net(1,230)
Loss from discontinued operations before income taxes (8,587)
Income tax provision626 
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax$(9,213)
Financial results of Complex Networks for the three ended March 31, 2024 are through the date of the Complex Disposition, February 21, 2024. Allocated general corporate overhead costs do not meet the criteria to be presented within net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, and were excluded from all figures presented in the table above.
For the three months ended March 31, 2024, there was tax expense in discontinued operations as a result of the (i) tax effect of a pre-tax loss, (ii) a valuation allowance against net deferred tax assets that were not realizable on a more-likely-than-not basis, and (iii) permanent items and state taxes related to the Complex Disposition.
The Company recorded a valuation allowance against the assets held for sale to reflect the write-down of the carrying value to fair value less estimated costs to sell. The non-cash valuation allowance of $9.5 million was recorded within gain (loss) from classification to held for sale in the summarized financial information of discontinued operations for the year ended December 31, 2023. The Company completed the Complex Disposition during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and recorded a final gain on remeasurement of classification to held for sale of $0.9 million after recording final transaction and related expenses (for a total loss on disposal of approximately $8.6 million).
The Company had continuing involvement with Commerce Media through a transition services agreement, through which the Company and Commerce Media provided certain services to each other for a period of time following the Disposition (specifically, from February 21, 2024 until August 31, 2024). Furthermore, the Company and Commerce Media entered into a space sharing agreement whereby Commerce Media paid the Company a one-time fee of approximately $2.8 million for use of certain office space in the Company’s corporate headquarters from February 21, 2024 until June 30, 2025 (or such earlier date that the underlying sublease or master lease either expires or is terminated).
First We Feast Disposition
As of December 1, 2024, the Company determined the assets and liabilities (disposal group) of First We Feast met the criteria for classification as held for sale. The Company sold First We Feast to finalize its strategy to refocus its business around higher-margin revenue streams such as programmatic advertising and affiliate commerce, as well as tech-
led initiatives. As such, the Company determined the ultimate disposal represented a strategic shift that had a major effect on the Company’s operations and financial results. Therefore, the historical results of First We Feast are classified as discontinued operations for the three months ended March 31, 2024.
On December 11, 2024, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Asset Purchase Agreement”) with FEAST OPCO LLC (the “Purchaser”), providing for the sale by the Company to the Purchaser of certain assets and liabilities related to the Company’s business operating under the “First We Feast” brand (i.e., the First We Feast Disposition). The First We Feast Disposition closed on December 11, 2024, immediately following entry into the Asset Purchase Agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the Asset Purchase Agreement, the Purchaser purchased certain assets and assumed certain liabilities related to the business of First We Feast, and, at the Closing (as defined in the Asset Purchase Agreement), paid a purchase price of $82.5 million, which gives effect to certain closing adjustments for net working capital and accrued employee compensation.
Pursuant to the indenture governing the Notes, the Company is required to remit 95% of the net proceeds of asset sales to the holders of the Notes. Prior to the sale of the First We Feast brand, on December 10, 2024, the Company entered into privately negotiated transactions with certain holders of the Notes, in which the Company agreed to repurchase approximately $12.0 million aggregate principal amount of Notes from such holders on December 11, 2024. After giving effect to such private repurchase of $12.0 million of the Notes (together with accrued and unpaid interest), the Company redeemed $75.6 million of Notes with 95% of the net proceeds of the First We Feast Transaction (together with accrued and unpaid interest) and redeemed / repurchased $1.2 million of Notes with cash on hand (together with accrued and unpaid interest). Refer to Note 8 herein for additional details.
Details of net income from discontinued operations, net of tax, are as follows (for the First We Feast Disposition):
Three Months Ended March 31,
2024
Revenue$7,746 
Costs and Expenses
Cost of revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization3,924 
Sales and marketing767 
Depreciation and amortization402 
Total costs and expenses5,093 
Income from discontinued operations2,653 
Interest expense, net(2,272)
Income from discontinued operations before income taxes 381 
Income tax provision— 
Net income from discontinued operations, net of tax$381 
Allocated general corporate overhead costs do not meet the criteria to be presented within net income from discontinued operations, net of tax, and were excluded from all figures presented in the table above. 63.6% of the historical interest expense associated with the Notes was allocated to the discontinued operation of First We Feast.
For the three months ended March 31, 2024, there was no income tax provision in First We Feast’s discontinued operations as a result of the valuation allowance against net deferred tax assets that were not realizable on a more-likely-than-not basis.
The Company has continuing involvement with the Purchaser through a transition services agreement, pursuant to which the Company and the Purchaser provided certain services to each other for a period of time following the First We Feast disposition (specifically for an initial term from December 12, 2024 through June 11, 2025, unless earlier terminated or extended pursuant to the terms therein). For the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Company collected a total of $0.5 million pursuant to the transition services agreement. Additionally, the Company and the Purchaser entered into space sharing licensing agreements pursuant to which the Purchaser licensed the use of certain office space within the Company’s
offices in New York, New York, and Los Angeles, California, for $0.1 million per month through May 31, 2025, unless earlier terminated in accordance with such agreements.
License of BuzzFeed, Tasty, and HuffPost’s U.K. Operations
On March 28, 2024, BuzzFeed Media Enterprises, Inc., BuzzFeed UK Ltd., and TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc., all of which are wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company, entered into a license agreement and an ancillary asset purchase and employee transfer agreement and IT services agreement with Independent Digital News and Media Limited (“IDNM”). Under the license agreement, the above-referenced entities have granted IDNM a license to use the intellectual property, websites, social media accounts, and content of the BuzzFeed, Tasty, and HuffPost brands in the U.K. The initial term is five years, unless earlier terminated pursuant to the terms of the license agreement. All employees who supported the BuzzFeed, Tasty, and HuffPost brands were transferred to IDNM as of April 1, 2024. Pursuant to the license agreement, IDNM will pay an annual license fee of between £0.3 million and £0.5 million (or approximately between $0.3 million and $0.6 million as of March 31, 2025), plus a net revenue share of 25% if certain criteria are met, as set forth in the license agreement.
Sale of BringMe Brand
On June 13, 2024, the Company sold 100% of the assets related to the digital media brand known as BringMe for approximately $1.3 million in cash consideration, which is payable in installments through 2028 ($0.7 million has been received as of March 31, 2025). As disclosed in Note 8 herein, the Company is required to repay 95% of the net proceeds for any asset sales to the holders of the Notes. As such, approximately $0.3 million of the Notes were repurchased on February 25, 2025, and the remainder will be repaid in-line with the aforementioned installment schedule. BringMe did not have a material impact on the Company’s net loss for any period presented herein.