v3.26.1
Debt
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2026
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
Debt Debt
Standby Letters of Credit
During the second quarter of 2024, the Company entered into an agreement with a financial institution for standby letters of credit in the amount of $15.5 million, which were issued during the second quarter of 2024 in favor of certain of the Company’s landlords and remain outstanding as of March 31, 2026. Additionally, during the first quarter of 2025, the Company entered into an agreement with a financial institution for a standby letter of credit in the amount of approximately $2.9 million, which was issued in the first quarter of 2025 in favor of the Company’s landlord for its corporate headquarters, and remains outstanding as of March 31, 2026. Refer to Note 13 herein for additional details with respect to this lease.
Convertible Notes
In June 2021, in connection with the entry into the merger agreement pursuant to which the Business Combination was consummated, the Company entered into subscription agreements with certain investors to sell $150.0 million aggregate principal amount of unsecured convertible notes due 2026 (i.e., the Notes). In connection with the closing of the Business
Combination, the Company issued, and those investors purchased, the Notes, which were governed by an indenture, dated December 3, 2021, which was amended on each of July 10, 2023, February 28, 2024, October 28, 2024, and December 10, 2024 (the “Indenture”). The Notes were convertible into shares of our Class A common stock at an initial conversion price of approximately $50.00 and bore interest at a rate of 8.5% per annum, payable semi-annually.
During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company repurchased / redeemed $120.0 million of the Notes in connection with various transactions. The Company repurchased / redeemed the remaining $30.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2025 (approximately $0.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2025, and the remaining $29.7 million during the second quarter of 2025). A loss on early extinguishment of debt of approximately $5.5 million was recorded in other expense, net, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 (none for the three months ended March 31, 2025).
Term Loan
On May 23, 2025 (the “Closing Date”), the Company entered into a credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with a financial institution that provides for, among other things, an asset-backed term loan (i.e., the Term Loan), with a commitment amount of the greater of $40.0 million and a borrowing base calculated as a percentage of the face amount of certain eligible receivables, plus an overadvance amount of up to $25.0 million from August 25, 2025 through April 30, 2026 (as discussed below), $20.0 million through August 31, 2026, and thereafter $10.0 million until the second anniversary of the Closing Date, and $5.0 million thereafter. The Company borrowed $40.0 million on the Closing Date. The Term Loan matures on May 23, 2028, and bears interest at the rate of Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), plus 6.5% per annum, subject to a SOFR floor of 3.5% (the interest rate was approximately 12.2% at March 31, 2026, which includes the incremental interest described below). The Company is required to repay $15.0 million of the Term Loan on August 31, 2026, upon the contractual expiration of certain of its outstanding standby letters of credit. The Term Loan is guaranteed by certain of the Company’s domestic and Canadian subsidiaries. The Term Loan’s lender has a first lien on substantially all assets of the Company and the Guarantors (as defined in the Credit Agreement). Pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the Company must maintain minimum liquidity of $5.0 million ($3.5 million through April 30, 2026, as described below). No other financial maintenance covenants are applicable, and the Company was in compliance with the aforementioned covenant as of March 31, 2026.
On August 25, 2025, the Company entered into the Amendment No. 2 to Credit Agreement (the “Second Amended Credit Agreement,” as amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time prior to the Second Amended Credit Agreement, the “Credit Agreement”), which provided for an incremental loan commitment of $5.0 million, which was required to be repaid in full on February 20, 2026. The Company borrowed the incremental $5.0 million on August 25, 2025. As a result of this modification, the Company determined the modified debt terms were not substantially different from the original debt terms and applied modification accounting. The Company incurred debt discount / issuance fees paid to the creditor of approximately $0.2 million associated with this modification.
The Second Amended Credit Agreement also provided for a permitted overadvance of $25.0 million from August 25, 2025, through February 20, 2026 (the Third Amended Credit Agreement extended the $25.0 million overadvance through April 30, 2026, as discussed below).
On February 20, 2026, the Company entered into a consent letter with the Term Loan’s lenders and agent, thereby extending the repayment date until February 27, 2026. On February 27, 2026, the Company entered into a second consent letter with the Term Loan’s lenders and agents, thereby further extending the repayment date until March 6, 2026.
On March 11, 2026, the Company entered into Amendment No. 3 to Credit Agreement (the “Third Amended Credit Agreement,” as amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time prior to the Third Amended Credit Agreement, the “Credit Agreement”), which provided for an extension of the $5.0 million due date to April 30, 2026, and during the period from, and including March 6, 2026 to and including the date the $5.0 million is repaid, an incremental 2.0% rate of interest will apply (above the rate otherwise applicable under the Credit Agreement). Additionally, the minimum liquidity covenant of $5.0 million was reduced to $3.5 million at all times on or prior to April 30, 2026, and then it reverts back to $5.0 million at all times thereafter. The Third Amended Credit Agreement incurred a non-refundable amendment fee of approximately $0.2 million, which was paid in March 2026. Additionally, the Third Amended Credit Agreement established four operational milestones, three of which were required to be achieved by March 31, 2026 and the remaining milestone by April 30, 2026, each subject to a penalty of approximately $0.2 million if not satisfied by the specified deadline. One operational milestone was not achieved as of March 31, 2026, and therefore the Company was required to remit $0.2 million to the Lender (paid in April 2026). As a result of this modification, the Company determined
the modified terms were not substantially different from the original debt terms and applied modification accounting, utilizing the original cash flows in the cash flow test since the debt was modified more than once in one year.
The final operational milestone dated April 30, 2026 was not met, and therefore the Company was required to remit $0.2 million to the Lender (paid in May 2026).
Refer to Note 19 herein for details surrounding the Fourth Amended Credit Agreement (as defined therein), which extends the $5.0 million due date to May 18, 2026, among other things.
$45.0 million aggregate principal amount of indebtedness associated with the Term Loan remains outstanding as of March 31, 2026.
The Credit Agreement, as amended, also contains customary representations and warranties, events of default, financial reporting requirements, and affirmative and negative covenants, including restrictive covenants that, among other things, limit the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to incur additional debt or liens, make acquisitions, make investments, pay dividends or buy back capital stock, dispose of assets or enter into transactions with affiliates, subject in each case to exceptions. The Company may prepay the Term Loan in whole or in part at any time after May 23, 2026 upon at least one business day’s notice together with accrued interest and a prepayment premium on the amount repaid equal to 2.5% until the second anniversary of the closing date and 1.0% thereafter.
Total debt discount / issuance costs related to the Term Loan totaled $3.0 million, and the unamortized amounts will be amortized to interest expense using the effective interest method over the contractual term.
Interest expense on the Term Loan is recognized at an effective interest rate of approximately 14.2% and totaled $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026, of which amortization of the debt discount and issuance costs comprised $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026.
The net carrying amount of the Term Loan as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025 was:
March 31, 2026December 31, 2025
Principal outstanding$45,000 $45,000 
Unamortized debt discount and issuance costs(2,090)(1,848)
Net carrying value$42,910 $43,152 
$19.1 million and 19.2 million of the net carrying value of the Term Loan was classified as current debt and the remaining $23.8 million and $24.0 million was classified as non-current debt within the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively. The estimated fair value of the Term Loan approximates the carrying value because the variable interest rate approximates current market rates.
Girls Like Girls Film Inc. Indebtedness
On June 26, 2025, BuzzFeed Studios Canada, Inc., an indirectly held subsidiary of the Company, acquired a majority stock interest (i.e., 70%) in Girls Like Girls Film Inc. Upon acquisition, Girls Like Girls Film Inc. had debt of approximately $4.8 million (CAD $6.6 million) (the “Girls Like Girls’ Indebtedness”), of which $4.0 million was required to be repaid with proceeds from a contract with a third party for distribution rights for a feature film, and the remaining $0.8 million was due when Girls Like Girls Film Inc. received expected production tax credits. $3.6 million was repaid in September 2025, and approximately $1.0 million was repaid in December 2025, resulting in a remaining balance of approximately $0.2 million as of December 31, 2025. The remaining balance was paid in February 2026, and this debt facility is now closed.
Film Financing Arrangements
The Company, through indirectly held subsidiaries, enters into various film financing arrangements in order to cash flow feature films in various phases of production. These arrangements commonly utilize both short-term and long-term debt instruments, including both general credit facilities as well as financing secured by anticipated future cash flows, such as expected production tax credits or the value of current and prospective contractual arrangements with third parties. The
lenders of these film financing arrangements often have a first priority lien in all of the aforementioned indirectly held subsidiaries’ assets until all outstanding indebtedness is repaid. Furthermore, these film financing arrangements are often funded in installments over time, and often require repayment in installments or tranches. Interest and other fees are often fixed, unless in the event of default. Some of these arrangements require funds to be remitted directly to the lenders from tax authorities or from the Company’s customers.
As interest expense associated with film financing arrangements is generally fixed, debt discount / issuance costs are capitalized and included in film costs, net within the condensed consolidated balance sheets. These capitalized costs are amortized to cost of revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization, using the individual film forecast method, under which amortization is recognized in proportion to the ratio of current period revenue recognized to the film’s estimated remaining ultimate revenues (i.e., the total revenue to be received over the period of 10 years following release). The Company amortized $0.1 million and $nil of film-related interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, respectively.
A summary of these film financing arrangements outstanding as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025 is as follows (dollars in thousands):
As of March 31, 2026As of December 31, 2025
Film Financing Arrangement
 Range of Contractual Maturity Dates(1)
Principal Outstanding / Carrying Value
Total Capitalized Debt Discount / Issuance Costs(2)
Remaining Capitalized Debt Discount / Issuance CostsPrincipal Outstanding / Carrying Value
Total Capitalized Debt Discount / Issuance Costs(2)
Remaining Capitalized Debt Discount / Issuance Costs
2X Blind Partners, Inc.March 2026 through September 2026$5,207 $715 $479 $5,207 $715 $479 
Adulting, Inc.February 2026 through February 20291,394 206 187 1,394 206 187 
Gloria De Film, Inc.August 2026 through July 20273,599 520 442 3,599 520 520 
Clover Film, Inc.August 2026 through December 20275,236 1,615 1,615 4,815 1,615 1,615 
Total$15,436 $3,056 $2,723 $15,015 $3,056 $2,801 
______________________________
(1)The contractual maturity dates for 2X Blind Partners, Inc. are as follows: $2.6 million on March 16, 2026, $2.4 million on August 14, 2026, $0.2 million on September 14, 2026, and $0.2 million on September 17, 2026. For 2X Blind Partners, Inc., as of March 31, 2026, there was an additional $0.1 million of indebtedness available, but not yet incurred. In April 2026, in exchange for fees of $0.2 million, the Company and the lender for 2X Blind Partners, Inc. agreed to the following updated maturity schedules (this film financing indebtedness is repaid directly from customers and tax credit authorities): $1.4 million on May 15, 2026, $1.1 million on July 1, 2026, $2.0 million on August 14, 2026, and $0.5 million on September 14, 2026. The September 17, 2026 due date of $0.2 million remains unchanged.
The contractual maturity dates for Adulting, Inc. are as follows: $0.1 million on February 14, 2026, $0.9 million on May 1, 2026, $0.2 million on September 17, 2026, and the remaining $0.3 million between May 15, 2028 and February 15, 2029. With respect to the February 14, 2026 contractual maturity date, these funds are remitted directly from a customer to the lender, and those parties are working together to resolve. Accordingly, the Company does not believe this delay represents a default under the terms of the financing.
The contractual maturity dates for Gloria De Film, Inc. are as follows: $0.4 million on August 5, 2026, $0.8 million on October 15, 2026, $0.2 million on November 14, 2026, $0.5 million on May 15, 2027, $1.6 million on July 29, 2027 (the earlier of July 29, 2027, or the date tax credit proceeds are received, which are expected within 12 months from March 31, 2026), and $0.4 million on July 31, 2027. For Gloria De Film, Inc., as of March 31, 2026, there was an additional $0.3 million of indebtedness available, but not yet incurred.
The contractual maturity dates for Clover Film, Inc. are as follows: $0.3 million on August 15, 2026, $0.1 million between May 15, 2027 and November 15, 2027, $1.9 million on June 19, 2027 (the earlier of June 19, 2027, or the date tax credit proceeds are received, which are expected within 12 months from March 31, 2026), and the remaining $2.9 million on December 23, 2027.
Totals may not foot due to rounding.

(2)Interest is fixed, unless in the event of default.
As of March 31, 2026, the carrying value / principal amount of short-term debt and long-term debt associated with film financing arrangements totaled $11.1 million and $4.3 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2025, the carrying value / principal amount of short-term debt and long-term debt associated with film financing arrangements totaled $11.1 million and $3.9 million, respectively.
Future Principal Payments of Total Debt
The following table summarizes future principal payments of total debt outstanding as of March 31, 2026:
YearAmount
Remainder of 2026$31,122 
20274,022 
202825,039 
2029253 
2030— 
Total$60,436 
Of the principal repayments in 2026, approximately $1.2 million and $1.9 million relate to Gloria De Film, Inc. and Clover Film, Inc., respectively. While these obligations have contractual maturity dates in 2027, the underlying debt agreements contain on-demand repayment provisions requiring tax credit proceeds to be remitted directly from various tax authorities to the lenders. As these tax credit collections are anticipated within the next 12 months, the associated balances have been classified as current as of both March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025.
Weighted-Average Interest Rate on Short-Term Borrowings
As of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, the weighted average interest rate on short-term borrowings was approximately 11.2% and 11.0%, respectively.