BARK (NYSE: BARK) gets insider-led $0.90 cash proposal and forms special committee

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

BARK, Inc. disclosed that it received a preliminary, non-binding proposal from Great Dane Ventures, LLC to acquire all outstanding shares of its common stock that are not already beneficially owned by a group of existing stockholders for $0.90 per share in cash. This stockholder group includes Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman Matt Meeker and several investment firms.

The company’s Board of Directors has created a special committee of independent and disinterested directors to carefully evaluate this proposal and any alternative proposals from other parties. The special committee will determine whether a potential transaction is in the best interests of BARK and all of its stockholders.

Positive

• Receipt of preliminary cash acquisition proposal: Great Dane Ventures, LLC and a group of existing stockholders, including the CEO, submitted a non-binding indication to acquire all remaining BARK common shares for $0.90 per share in cash, signaling interest in a potential take-private transaction.

Negative

• None.

Insights

M&A and corporate governance analyst

BARK received a take-private cash proposal and formed a special committee to evaluate it.

BARK, Inc. received a preliminary, non-binding indication from Great Dane Ventures, LLC to buy all common shares not already held by a stockholder group at $0.90 per share in cash. The proposing group includes existing investors and CEO and Executive Chairman Matt Meeker, which means the offer comes from insiders already familiar with the business.

The Board established a special committee of independent and disinterested directors to review the proposal and any alternative bids. That committee structure is standard when insiders are involved and is meant to help address conflicts and ensure the terms are evaluated for all stockholders, not only the proposing group.

The proposal is explicitly described as preliminary, non-binding and indicative, so there is no assurance a definitive agreement or transaction will result. Future disclosures, including any updates from the special committee or revised terms, would shape how this potential transaction proceeds.

8-K Event Classification

2 items: 8.01, 9.01

2 items

Item 8.01 Other Events Other

Voluntary disclosure of events the company deems important to shareholders but not covered by other items.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits Exhibits

Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.

Understanding 8-K Material Events →

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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 Earliest Event Reported):

January 09, 2026

BARK, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

001-39691

85-1872418

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

(Commission File Number)

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

120 Broadway, Floor 12 New York, NY

10271 (Zip Code)

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(855) 501-2275

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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:

☐			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:

Title of each class

Trading Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, par value $0.0001

BARK

New York Stock Exchange

Warrants, each warrant exercisable for one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share

BARK WS

New York Stock Exchange

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. ☐

Item 8.01 Other Events.

On January 9, 2026, BARK, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release regarding a preliminary non-binding indicative proposal letter (the “Letter”) submitted to the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) by Great Dane Ventures, LLC (“Great Dane”), comprised of a group of the Company’s current stockholders, including Matt Meeker, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman of the Board, RRE Ventures, Resolute Ventures, Founders Circle Capital and Ironbound Partners Fund (the “Stockholder Group”). The Letter proposes that Great Dane would acquire all of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock not already beneficially owned by the Stockholder Group or their affiliates, in an all-cash transaction, for $0.90 per share (the “Proposal”). The Company further announced that the Board has formed a special committee of independent and disinterested directors in response to the Proposal, which will carefully evaluate the Proposal from Great Dane and any proposals from other parties and consider whether they are in the best interests of the Company and all its stockholders. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01    Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits

Exhibit No.						Description
99.1						Press release dated as of January 09, 2026
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.

BARK, Inc.
By:			/s/ Allison Koehler
			Name: Allison Koehler
			Title: Chief Legal Officer

Date: January 09, 2026

FAQ

What major proposal did BARK (BARK) disclose?

BARK disclosed that Great Dane Ventures, LLC submitted a preliminary non-binding indicative proposal to acquire all outstanding shares of BARK common stock not already beneficially owned by a group of existing stockholders, for $0.90 per share in cash.

Who is included in the stockholder group behind the BARK proposal?

The stockholder group includes Great Dane Ventures, LLC and several of BARK’s current stockholders, including Matt Meeker (Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman), RRE Ventures, Resolute Ventures, Founders Circle Capital, and Ironbound Partners Fund.

Is the $0.90 per share proposal for BARK binding or final?

No. The company describes the proposal letter as preliminary, non-binding and indicative, meaning it is an expression of interest and not a definitive or binding agreement at this stage.

How is BARK’s Board responding to the take-private proposal?

BARK’s Board of Directors has formed a special committee of independent and disinterested directors to carefully evaluate the proposal from Great Dane and any proposals from other parties, and to consider whether any transaction is in the best interests of the company and all stockholders.

Will BARK consider other offers besides the Great Dane proposal?

Yes. The company states that the special committee will evaluate the Proposal from Great Dane and any proposals from other parties in determining what is in the best interests of BARK and its stockholders.

Where can investors find more detail about BARK’s proposal announcement?

BARK attached a press release dated January 09, 2026 as Exhibit 99.1, which provides additional information and is incorporated by reference.