BuzzFeed sells entertainment media brand Complex to ecommerce platform NTWRK for $108 million
BuzzFeed, Inc. has announced the closing of its sale of Complex to NTWRK to form a new and wide-ranging destination for the future of commerce and media, in an $108.6 million all cash deal.
In addition to the $108.6 million purchase price, the company received approximately $5.7 million related to the use of the company’s NY offices and severance- and other employment-related costs. Refer to the Company’s 8-K filed with the SEC on February 21, 2024 for additional details.
The divestiture of Complex is expected to enhance the company’s profitability and allow for greater focus on BuzzFeed, HuffPost, First We Feast (including Hot Ones) and Tasty.
The company also announced a planned strategic restructuring intended to reduce expenses by implementing a 16% reduction in the remaining workforce, which is expected to yield approximately $23 million in annualized compensation cost savings.
The company’s restructuring, the details of which will be shared on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, is designed to reduce centralized costs and to allow the company to become more agile, sustainable, and profitable. Overall, the company will focus on optimizing sustainable revenue streams with the highest margins. BuzzFeed, First We Feast, HuffPost and Tasty will each operate entrepreneurially with individual strategies and revenue lines tailored to market and audience dynamics.
Additionally, the cash proceeds from the sale of Complex will enable BuzzFeed, Inc. to take meaningful steps toward strengthening its balance sheet and improving liquidity. The proceeds will be used to:
Redeem a portion ($30.9 million) of the company’s convertible notes due 2026,
Eliminate the company’s revolving credit facility by repaying it in full ($35.5 million, which includes the amount outstanding plus accrued interest and certain fees),
Finance the strategic restructuring to occur on February 28, and Optimize working capital.
Jonah Peretti, CEO, BuzzFeed, Inc: “The sale of Complex represents an important strategic step for BuzzFeed, Inc. as we adapt our business to be more profitable, more nimble, and more innovative. This is also an opportunity to unlock greater value for the Complex brand by combining it with NTWRK’s expansive, commerce-driven business.”
Peretti: “The changes we announced today will enable an exciting next stage for our company, with increased focus on our iconic brands — BuzzFeed, HuffPost, First We Feast and Hot Ones, and Tasty; a more efficient cost structure and operational model; and the ability to accelerate innovation powered by AI and interactive content formats. I look forward to sharing more in the coming months.”
As of December 31, 2023, the company concluded that Complex was classified as a held for sale asset in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Today the company also issued new financial guidance for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2023 on a continuing operations basis, which excludes expected fourth quarter contributions from Complex.
Fourth quarter revenues on a continuing operations basis are now expected to be in the range of $73 million to $78 million (and revenue generated from the discontinued operation is now expected to be $14 million to $18 million), as compared to the financial outlook of $99 million to $110 million, provided by the company in its third quarter 2023 earnings release on November 2, 2023.
Fourth quarter Adjusted EBITDA on a continuing operations basis is now expected to be in the range of $15 million to $20 million, as compared to the financial outlook of $20 million to $30 million, provided by the company in its third quarter 2023 earnings release on November 2, 2023.
Matt Omer, CFO, BuzzFeed, Inc: “During the fourth quarter our experiential business was impacted in the form of lower sponsorship revenues for the brand’s annual flagship event, ComplexCon, we believe as a result of the Complex asset being held for sale. Further, our overall revenue performance reflects the challenges of delivering against our bundled go-to-market strategy in a tighter digital advertising market. As a result, we have made the decision to reduce the size of our centralized operations enabling our individual brands to operate with more autonomy and deliver against their differentiated value propositions for advertisers.”
