Every 8-K that Lee Enterprises, Inc. (LEE) has filed with the SEC in the last 24 months is listed below, newest first, and each one links through to the document itself with the summary and the scores our analysis gives it.
A 8-K covers material events a company has to report between its quarterly reports, so if you follow LEE and want that one kind of document rather than the whole filing history, this is the page to keep. The company's other filings, of every form, are on the full LEE filings page.
Lee Enterprises appointed Gregory Hoffmann, age 37, to its Board effective immediately. He will serve until the 2028 annual meeting and until a successor is duly elected and qualified, or his earlier departure, and has joined the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Gregory Hoffmann is the son of Board Chairman and majority stockholder David Hoffmann. He will participate in the non-employee director compensation program on the same basis as other directors, with compensation prorated as applicable.
David Hoffmann purchased 10,909,440 Lee shares in a private placement completed February 5, 2026. On May 14, 2026, Lee entered a five-year management agreement with Hoffmann Media Group, beneficially owned by David Hoffmann, to manage certain group-owned newspaper publications and digital properties. Lee receives a fixed fee of $135,000 per fiscal quarter, a variable fee equal to 20% of prior-quarter EBITDA attributable to publications the group acquires after the agreement’s effective date, and reimbursement of certain shared-service costs at cost.
LEE ENTERPRISES, Inc (LEE) reported that its Audit and Risk Management Committee approved the dismissal of BDO USA, P.C. as independent registered public accounting firm, effective after completion of BDO’s audit of the fiscal year ending September 27, 2026 and the filing of the related Form 10-K.
BDO’s audit reports for the fiscal years ended September 28, 2025 and September 29, 2024 contained no adverse opinions, disclaimers, or qualifications, and the company reports no disagreements or other reportable events with BDO, other than a previously disclosed material weakness in internal control over financial reporting that existed through June 23, 2024 and was remediated as of September 29, 2024.
The Audit Committee approved the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as the new independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending September 26, 2027, subject to completion of customary client acceptance procedures, and states that neither the company nor its representatives consulted Grant Thornton on accounting or auditing matters during the past two fiscal years.
Lee Enterprises, Incorporated approved one-time transition equity awards for President and CEO Nathan E. Bekke and Vice President, CFO and Treasurer Joshua P. Rinehults under its 2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan. The awards have target values of $1.75 million for Bekke and $900,000 for Rinehults and are separate from annual long-term incentives. Each award is split 50% into performance stock units and 50% into restricted stock. Performance stock units are tied 50% to stock price performance and 50% to Adjusted EBITDA through a performance period ending in September 2028, with payouts from 0% to 200% of target. Restricted stock vests in three equal annual installments, subject to continued service. The company also adopted a revised annual long-term incentive framework, setting target award values of 300%, 225% and 175% of base compensation for the CEO, CFO and Chief Revenue Officer, respectively, delivered as 40% restricted stock, 40% performance stock units and 20% stock options.
Lee Enterprises reported preliminary third-quarter fiscal 2026 results showing a return to profitability and stronger cash generation. Total operating revenue was $126 million, with total digital revenue of $72 million representing 57% of revenue. Net income was $5 million, an improvement of $7 million over the prior-year quarter, and Adjusted EBITDA rose 23% to $18 million, aided by disciplined cost control and lower restructuring charges.
Operating expenses were $118 million and Cash Costs fell 14% year over year to $109 million. Interest expense declined 45%, or $5 million, following a February 2026 private placement that reduced the term loan rate to 5% for five years on $455 million of debt. The company ended the quarter with $59 million in cash and 584,000 digital-only subscribers. Management increased its fiscal 2026 Adjusted EBITDA outlook to year-over-year growth of 22–28%, noting underlying growth near 10% excluding $6.4 million of business interruption insurance reimbursements related to a 2025 cyber event.
Lee Enterprises, Incorporated reports that director Herbert W. Moloney III has retired from its Board of Directors, effective July 28, 2026. He informed the Board of his decision on that date, and the company states that his retirement does not involve any disagreements regarding its operations, policies, or practices.
The report is authorized on behalf of the company by Joshua P. Rinehults, who serves as Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, acting as the principal financial and accounting officer.
Lee Enterprises, Incorporated entered into a First Amendment to its Stock Purchase Agreement with several existing investors originally party to an agreement dated December 30, 2025. The amendment revises standstill provisions that govern how many shares investors may buy during the standstill period.
Investors that beneficially own more than 10% of outstanding common stock may continue to purchase up to 600,000 shares in open-market transactions during the standstill. These investors may also exceed 600,000 shares if additional purchases occur under a qualified Rule 10b5-1 trading plan approved by the company. Other terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement remain unchanged.
Lee Enterprises, Incorporated reports that director Mary Junck has informed the Board that she will retire from the Board of Directors effective July 31, 2026. The company states there are no disagreements with her as contemplated by the relevant disclosure rules, and the information is provided as a director departure under Item 5.02(b) of the Exchange Act.
Lee Enterprises entered into a Management Agreement with Hoffmann Media Group under which Lee will manage certain Hoffmann newspaper publications and related digital properties. The agreement runs from June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2031, with optional one-year renewals.
Hoffmann will pay Lee a fixed management fee of $135,000 per fiscal quarter for existing publications, plus a variable fee equal to 20% of the prior quarter’s EBITDA from publications Hoffmann acquires after the start date. Hoffmann keeps all publication revenue and remains responsible for working capital, payables, payroll and taxes.
The arrangement is a related party transaction because David Hoffmann, a principal of Hoffmann Media Group, is Lee’s majority shareholder and Board Chairman. Lee’s Board reviewed and approved the agreement under its related party policies, and Mr. Hoffmann recused himself from deliberations and voting. The contract includes customary confidentiality, indemnification, and termination provisions, including a right to terminate if annual EBITDA falls below $1.0 million.
Lee Enterprises reported preliminary second quarter 2026 results showing sharply improved profitability despite lower revenue. Total operating revenue was about $122 million, down from roughly $137 million a year earlier, as print advertising and subscription sales continued to decline.
Profitability improved meaningfully. Adjusted EBITDA rose to $15 million, up 95% year over year, helped by $4 million of business interruption insurance reimbursements and substantial cost cuts that reduced operating expenses by 20%. Even excluding these reimbursements, management highlighted 45% Adjusted EBITDA growth.
The company narrowed its net loss to $2 million, an improvement of $10 million from the prior-year quarter. Digital revenue reached $68 million, representing 56% of total revenue, with 591,000 digital-only subscribers. Lee ended the quarter with $53 million in cash and $455 million of debt, after an amendment that cut its term-loan rate to 5% from 9%, which is expected to save about $18 million of interest annually. Management reaffirmed guidance for year-over-year Adjusted EBITDA growth in fiscal 2026.
Lee Enterprises, Inc. announced permanent leadership appointments following a recent strategic investment. The Board named Nathan E. Bekke as President and Chief Executive Officer and Joshua P. Rinehults as Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, after both had served in these roles on an interim basis.
Bekke, who joined Lee in 1988, previously served as Chief Operating Officer and has held multiple leadership roles over more than three decades. Rinehults has held finance leadership roles at Lee and predecessor organizations since 2007.
The Board’s Executive Compensation Committee set Bekke’s annual base salary at $700,000 with a target annual bonus equal to 100% of base salary, and Rinehults’ base salary at $450,000 with a target bonus equal to 50% of base salary. For each executive, half of the target bonus is payable in cash and half in restricted stock awards under the company’s equity incentive plan. Long-term equity award levels will be determined later and disclosed when finalized.
Lee Enterprises, Incorporated reported the final voting results from its 2026 annual meeting of stockholders held on April 6, 2026. Stockholders elected Ronald J. Kruszewski and Madeline E. McIntosh as directors for three-year terms expiring at the 2029 annual meeting.
All 22,229,939 shares of common stock were entitled to one vote per share, and 19,715,634 shares, or 88.68% of those entitled, were represented by proxy, establishing a quorum. Stockholders gave majority support in a non-binding vote for executive compensation and approved the Second Amendment to the 2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
They also ratified the appointment of BDO USA, P.C. as the company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending September 27, 2026, confirming the existing audit relationship.
Lee Enterprises, Incorporated is moving its 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to April 6, 2026, a date more than 30 days earlier than the prior year’s meeting. Because of this schedule change, the company has set a new deadline for shareholder proposals.
Stockholder proposals intended for inclusion in the company’s 2026 proxy statement under SEC Rule 14a-8 must be received at Lee’s principal executive offices by March 2, 2026. The company will disclose the record date, time, and location of the meeting in its forthcoming proxy statement.
Lee Enterprises reported preliminary first-quarter fiscal 2026 results showing a net loss of $5.1 million but significantly stronger operating performance. Total revenue was $130.1 million, down about 10% from a year earlier, while Adjusted EBITDA rose to $12.3 million, an increase of $4.7 million or roughly 61%, helped by a $2 million cyber insurance reimbursement and cost reductions.
Digital businesses continued to reshape the company: total digital revenue was $70.3 million, or 54% of total revenue, with digital-only subscription revenue of $22.7 million and 609,000 digital-only subscribers. The company closed a $50 million private placement of common stock and amended its Berkshire Hathaway–backed credit agreement, cutting the interest rate on its $455 million term loan to 5% from 9% for five years. Lee expects this to save about $18 million of interest annually and up to $90 million over five years, supporting its digital transformation and balance sheet.
Lee Enterprises completed a private placement that transferred majority ownership to investor David Hoffmann while reshaping its capital structure and leadership. The company sold 15,384,615 common shares at $3.25 per share and issued 615,385 additional shares as fee reimbursement, creating a change of control on February 5, 2026, with Hoffmann and affiliates holding about 52% of outstanding stock. Stockholders approved a charter amendment increasing authorized common shares from 12,000,000 to 40,000,000, and the company terminated its rights agreement, eliminating the associated preferred stock designation. A credit agreement amendment reduced the margin on the 25‑year term loan from 9.00% to 5.00% for five years, with expected interest savings of approximately $18 million annually and up to $90 million over that period. CEO Kevin Mowbray retired, COO Nathan Bekke became interim CEO, CFO Timothy Millage resigned for personal reasons, and Josh Rinehults was appointed interim CFO and Treasurer.
Lee Enterprises, Incorporated reported that its board of directors decided on December 18, 2025 to cancel a previously scheduled special meeting of stockholders that had been set for December 19, 2025. The company has also withdrawn from consideration all proposals that were included in the related definitive proxy statement filed on November 13, 2025. The company states that it continues to consider various potential strategic and financing transactions and has canceled the stockholder meeting at this time to continue and facilitate that process.
Lee Enterprises, Incorporated filed a Form 8-K announcing it has reported preliminary results for its fourth quarter ended September 28, 2025, and has released an accompanying earnings news release and investor presentation. These materials, including the news release as Exhibit 99.1 and presentation materials as Exhibit 99.2, were also used during the company’s earnings conference call and posted on its investor website.
The presentation materials include information and financial figures that describe the company’s expectation that it can become sustainable without relying on print media within five years, underscoring an emphasis on its long-term digital and non-print business model.
Lee Enterprises, Incorporated reported that its Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer, Timothy R. Millage, has decided to resign to pursue an opportunity in church ministry. His resignation will be effective February 28, 2026, and he will continue to provide consulting services through May 31, 2026.
The company states that Mr. Millage’s decision is for personal reasons and not due to any disagreement with its operations, policies, or practices. Lee Enterprises has begun a search process to identify a new chief financial officer, aiming to manage the transition in its financial leadership.
Under a separation agreement dated November 20, 2025, Mr. Millage will receive full compensation through his consulting period, a severance payment equal to twenty-six weeks of base salary, accelerated vesting of all unvested stock awards on February 28, 2026, and continued indemnification protections.
Lee Enterprises (LEE) announced plans to pursue a rights offering and call a Special Meeting of stockholders, as disclosed in an 8-K. The company posted a press release on its website (Exhibit 99.1) and noted the communication is furnished under Item 7.01. The filing is also marked as soliciting material under Rule 14a-12.
The company filed a preliminary proxy statement on November 3, 2025 and intends to file and distribute a definitive proxy statement for the Special Meeting. Stockholders will be asked to consider proposals related to these actions. Lee stated that definitive materials will be available through the SEC’s website and its investor relations page.
On 7 Aug 2025 Lee Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: LEE) furnished an 8-K announcing preliminary results for the quarter ended 29 Jun 2025. The company released an earnings news release (Ex. 99.1) and a management slide deck (Ex. 99.2), both posted on investors.lee.net and discussed on its earnings call. These exhibits contain the detailed financial data and forward-looking commentary.
Management’s presentation states an expectation that Lee can operate sustainably without reliance on print media within five years, underscoring its ongoing digital transformation strategy. The information is provided under Items 2.02 and 7.01 and is deemed “furnished” rather than “filed,” limiting liability under Exchange Act §18. No specific revenue, earnings or cash-flow figures appear in the body of the 8-K itself.