comScore amends financing to allow Series C issuance; board nomination rights outlined
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
comScore, Inc. entered into Exchange Agreements with Charter Communications Holding Company, Liberty Broadband Corporation, and Pine Investor, LLC to exchange a total of 31,928,301 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock for 4,223,621 shares of a newly designated Series C Convertible Preferred Stock and 3,286,825 shares of common stock. The Series C shares will be convertible into common stock under a Certificate of Designations. Each Stockholder will receive a one-time cash payment of $2,000,000 on June 30, 2028. The agreements grant Stockholders limited board nomination rights (one Additional Director when certain ownership thresholds—7.5% and 22.5%—are met) and impose customary restrictions on solicitations and change-of-control actions. The Series C includes a Change of Control Put and a Change of Control Call, with unpaid amounts accruing interest at 9.5% per annum. The company amended its Financing Agreement to permit the Exchange and issuance of Series C Preferred Stock and will retire and eliminate the Series B designation from its Certificate of Incorporation.
Positive
- Exchange permits conversion of Series B into Series C and common stock, simplifying capital structure
- $2,000,000 one-time cash payment to each participating Stockholder provides a clear cash component
- Financing Agreement amended to expressly permit the Exchange and issuance of Series C Preferred Stock
- Retirement and elimination of Series B from the Certificate of Incorporation formalizes the restructuring
Negative
- Change of Control obligations include Put and Call rights that may require repurchase or redemption
- Unpaid Change of Control amounts accrue 9.5% interest, creating a material post-closing interest exposure
- Stockholder restrictions bar solicitation, proxy contests, and certain change-of-control actions, limiting activist options
Insights
TL;DR The exchange restructures preferred holdings, adds convertible securities and a cash payment, with financing amended to permit the transaction.
The transaction converts outstanding Series B preferred into a smaller number of Series C preferred shares plus common stock and includes a guaranteed cash payment of $2.0 million per participating Stockholder. The Financing Agreement was amended to permit issuance of Series C, indicating lender consent for the recapitalization. The inclusion of Change of Control Put/Call mechanics and 9.5% interest on unpaid amounts creates contingent obligations that could affect cash needs on a sale or redemption event.
TL;DR Stockholders gain limited board representation and governance protections tied to ownership thresholds, with explicit non-solicitation covenants.
The agreements allow Stockholders holding at least 7.5% (on an as-converted basis) to secure an Additional Director and to have that director designated as Board chair while aggregate holdings are at or above 22.5%. Restrictions prevent Stockholders from soliciting proxies, calling stockholder meetings, or pursuing certain change-of-control activities. The retirement and elimination of Series B from the charter centralizes the new governance framework under Series C terms.