Gannett Co Inc

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY

(a) For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, Other comprehensive income is net of an income tax provision of $0.2 million and $2.4 million, respectively.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1 — Description of business and basis of presentation

Description of business

Gannett Co., Inc. ("Gannett", "we", "us", "our", or the "Company") is a diversified media company with expansive reach at the national and local level dedicated to empowering and enriching communities. We seek to inspire, inform, and connect audiences as a sustainable, growth focused media and digital marketing solutions company. We endeavor to deliver essential content, marketing solutions, and experiences for curated audiences, advertisers, consumers, and stakeholders by leveraging our diverse teams and suite of products to enrich the local communities and businesses we serve.

Our current portfolio of trusted media brands includes the USA TODAY NETWORK, comprised of the national publication, USA TODAY, and local media organizations in the United States (the "U.S."), and Newsquest, a wholly-owned subsidiary operating in the United Kingdom (the "U.K."). Our digital marketing solutions brand, LocaliQ, uses innovation and software to enable small and medium-sized businesses ("SMBs") to grow, and USA TODAY NETWORK Ventures, our events division, creates impactful consumer engagements, promotions, and races.

Through USA TODAY, our network of local properties, and Newsquest, we deliver high-quality, trusted content with a commitment to balanced, unbiased journalism, where and when consumers want to engage. We have strong relationships with hundreds of thousands of local and national businesses in both our U.S. and U.K. markets due to our large local and national sales forces and a robust advertising and digital marketing solutions product suite. Our strategy prioritizes maximizing the monetization of our audience through the growth of increasingly diverse and highly recurring digital businesses. We deliver value to our customers, advertisers, partners and shareholders with essential content, joyful experiences, and relevant digital solutions.

The Company reports inthree segments: Domestic Gannett Media, Newsquest and Digital Marketing Solutions ("DMS"). We also have a Corporate and other category that includes activities not directly attributable to a specific reportable segment and includes broad corporate functions, such as legal, human resources, accounting, analytics, finance, marketing and technology, as well as other general business costs. A full description of our reportable segments is included in Note 12 — Segment reporting.

Basis of presentation

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP") for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. As permitted under those rules, certain notes or other financial information that are normally required by U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted from these interim financial statements. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should therefore be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.

In the opinion of management, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2024 include all the assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses, and cash flows of entities which Gannett controls due to ownership of a majority voting interest ("subsidiaries"). In addition, in the opinion of management, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2024 reflect all necessary adjustments for a fair statement of the results for the interim period. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation, and the Company consolidates its subsidiaries.

Use of estimates

The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

Significant estimates inherent in the preparation of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include pension and postretirement benefit obligation assumptions, income taxes, goodwill and intangible asset impairment analysis, valuation of property, plant, and equipment and the mark to market of the conversion feature associated with the convertible debt.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior year unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements to conform to classifications used in the current year. Beginning in the first quarter of 2024, the Company updated the presentation of its revenues to reflect the disaggregation between Digital revenues and Print and commercial revenues. These reclassifications had no impact on net income (loss), stockholders' equity or cash flows as previously reported.

Recent accounting pronouncements not yet adopted

Disclosure improvements

In November 2023, the FASB issued guidance, ASU 2023-07, which will improve reportable segment disclosure requirements primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. ASU 2023-07 applies to all public entities that are required to report segment information in accordance with ASC 280, "Segment Reporting." The Company will be required to report these enhanced segment disclosures starting in annual periods beginning after December 15, 2023 and requires retrospective application to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

In November 2023, the FASB issued guidance, ASU 2023-09, which enhances annual income tax disclosures. ASU 2023-09 requires disaggregated information about a reporting entity's effective tax rate reconciliation as well as information on income taxes paid. ASU 2023-09 will be effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of the updated guidance and assessing the impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

NOTE 2 — Revenues

Revenues are recognized when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services.

The Company's condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) present revenues disaggregated by revenue type. Sales taxes and other usage-based taxes are excluded from revenues. The following tables present our revenues disaggregated by segment and revenue type:

Revenues generated from international operations comprised 11.0% and 10.2% of total revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Deferred revenues

The Company records deferred revenues when cash payments are received in advance of the Company's performance obligation. The Company's primary source of deferred revenues is from circulation subscriptions paid in advance of the service provided, which represents future delivery of publications (the performance obligation) to subscription customers. The Company expects to recognize the revenue related to unsatisfied performance obligations over the nextone totwelve months in accordance with the terms of the subscriptions.

The Company's payment terms vary by the type and location of the customer and the products or services offered. The period between invoicing and when payment is due is not significant. For certain products or services and customer types, the Company requires payment before the products or services are delivered to the customer. The majority of our subscription customers are billed and pay on monthly terms.

The following table presents the change in the deferred revenues balance:

NOTE 3 — Accounts receivable, net

Receivables are presented net of allowances, which reflect the Company's expected credit losses based on historical experience as well as current and expected economic conditions. The following table presents changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts:

For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company recorded $0.6 million and $1.4 million in bad debt expense, respectively. Bad debt expense is included in Selling, general and administrative expenses on the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).

NOTE 4 — Goodwill and intangible assets

Goodwill and intangible assets consisted of the following:

The Company performs its annual goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible impairment assessments as of November 30. In addition to the annual impairment test, the Company is required to regularly assess whether a triggering event has occurred under both ASC 350 "Intangibles - Goodwill and Other" ("ASC 350"), and ASC 360 "Property, Plant and Equipment" ("ASC 360"), which would require interim impairment testing.

As of March 31, 2024, the Company performed a review of potential impairment indicators under both ASC 350 and ASC 360, and it was determined thatno indicators of impairment were present.

NOTE 5 — Integration and reorganization costs, and asset impairments

Integration and reorganization costs

Integration and reorganization costs include severance costs as well as other reorganization costs associated with individual restructuring programs, designed primarily to right-size the Company's employee base, consolidate facilities and improve operations. These initiatives impact all the Company's operations and can be influenced by the terms of union contracts. Costs related to these programs, which primarily include severance and other restructuring-related expenses, are accrued when probable and reasonably estimable or at the time of program announcement.

Severance-related expenses

The Company recorded severance-related expenses by segment as follows:

A roll-forward of the accrued severance and related expenses included in Accounts payable and accrued liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets for the three months ended March 31, 2024 is as follows:

Other restructuring-related expenses

Other restructuring-related expenses represent costs for consolidating operations, systems implementation, outsourcing of corporate functions and facility consolidations. The Company recorded Other restructuring-related costs as follows:

(a) For the three months ended March 31, 2024, Other restructuring-related costs at the Domestic Gannett Media segment primarily reflected $9.7 million expensed as of the cease-use date related to certain licensed content. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, Other restructuring-related costs at the Domestic Gannett Media segment primarily reflected the reversal of a withdrawal liability related to a multiemployer pension plan of $2.0 million based on the settlement of the withdrawal liability.

Asset impairments

Corporate office relocation

On March 1, 2024, we exited and ceased use of our leased facility in McLean, Virginia and moved our corporate headquarters to our existing office space in New York. We will continue to seek subleases for the leased facility in McLean. As a result of the headquarters relocation, we recorded an impairment charge of approximately $46.0 million during the three months ended March 31, 2024 related to the McLean operating lease right-of-use asset and the associated leasehold improvements. The fair value was measured using a discounted cash flow model based on market rents projected over the remaining lease term.

NOTE 6 — Debt

The Company's debt consisted of the following:

Senior Secured Term Loan

On October 15, 2021, Gannett Holdings LLC ("Gannett Holdings"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into thefive-year senior secured term loan facility in an original aggregate principal amount of $516.0 million (the "Senior Secured Term Loan") with Citibank N.A., as collateral agent and administrative agent for the lenders. On January 31, 2022, Gannett Holdings entered into an amendment (the "Term Loan Amendment") to the Senior Secured Term Loan to provide for new incremental senior secured term loans (the "Incremental Term Loans") in an aggregate principal amount of $50 million. The Incremental Term Loans have substantially identical terms as the Senior Secured Term Loan and are treated as a single tranche with the Senior Secured Term Loan. The Term Loan Amendment also amended the Senior Secured Term Loan to transition the interest rate base from the London Inter-bank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") to the Adjusted Term Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("Adjusted Term SOFR"). During 2022, Gannett Holdings entered intotwo separate amendments to the Senior Secured Term Loan to provide for incremental senior secured term loans totaling an aggregate principal amount of $30.0 million (collectively, the "Exchanged Term Loans"). The Exchanged Term Loans have substantially identical terms as the Senior Secured Term Loan and Incremental Term Loans and are treated as a single tranche with the Senior Secured Term Loan and the Incremental Term Loans.

The Senior Secured Term Loan bears interest at a per annum rate equal to the Adjusted Term SOFR (which shall not be less than 0.50% per annum) plus a margin equal to 5.00% or an alternate base rate (which shall not be less than 1.50% per annum) plus a margin equal to 4.00%. Loans under the Senior Secured Term Loan may be prepaid, at the option of Gannett Holdings, at any time without premium. In addition, we are required to repay the Senior Secured Term Loan from time to time with (i) the proceeds of non-ordinary course asset sales and casualty and condemnation events, (ii) the proceeds of indebtedness not permitted under the Senior Secured Term Loan, and (iii) the aggregate amount of cash and cash equivalents on hand at the Company and its restricted subsidiaries in excess of $100 million at the end of each fiscal year of the Company. Subsequent to the amendment effective as of April 8, 2022, the Senior Secured Term Loan is amortized at $15.1 million per quarter (or, if the ratio of debt secured on an equal basis with the Senior Secured Term Loan less unrestricted cash of the Company and its restricted subsidiaries to Consolidated EBITDA (as such terms are defined in the Senior Secured Term Loan)(such ratio, the "First Lien Net Leverage Ratio"), for the most recently ended period of four consecutive fiscal quarters is equal to or less than 1.20 to 1.00, $7.6 million per quarter). All obligations under the Senior Secured Term Loan are secured by all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and the wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries of the Company (the "Senior Secured Term Loan Guarantors"). The obligations of Gannett Holdings under the Senior Secured Term Loan are guaranteed on a senior secured basis by the Company and the Senior Secured Term Loan Guarantors.

The Senior Secured Term Loan contains usual and customary covenants for credit facilities of this type, including a requirement to have minimum unrestricted cash of $30 million as of the last day of each fiscal quarter, and restricts, among other things, our ability to incur debt, grant liens, sell assets, make investments and pay dividends, in each case with customary exceptions, including an exception that permits dividends and repurchases of outstanding junior debt or equity in (i) an amount of up to $25 million per fiscal quarter if the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio for such fiscal quarter is equal to or less than 2.00 to 1.00, (ii) an amount of up to $50 million per fiscal quarter if the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio for such fiscal quarter is equal to or less than 1.50 to 1.00, and (iii) an unlimited amount if First Lien Net Leverage Ratio for such fiscal quarter is equal to or less than 1.00 to 1.00. As of March 31, 2024, the Company was in compliance with all of the covenants and obligations under the Senior Secured Term Loan.

As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Senior Secured Term Loan was recorded at carrying value, which approximated fair value, in the condensed consolidated balance sheets and was classified as Level 2.

During the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company received a waiver from certain lenders of the Senior Secured Term Loan that reduced the scheduled quarterly amortization payments payable to those lenders by approximately $12.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 (the "First Quarter 2024 Waiver"), and which was the amount used by the Company to repurchase a portion of its 2026 Senior Notes (defined below). For the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company made payments of $3.3 million of our Senior Secured Term Loan (net of the First Quarter 2024 Waiver), including quarterly amortization payments, which were classified as financing activities in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.

For the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company recognized interest expense of $9.3 million and paid cash interest of $9.3 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company recognized interest expense of $10.3 million and paid cash interest of $10.4 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company recognized amortization of original issue discount of $0.6 million and amortization of deferred financing costs of $0.1 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company recognized amortization of original issue discount of $0.8 million and amortization of deferred financing costs of $0.1 million. Additionally, for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company recognized losses on the early extinguishment of debt, which were immaterial and $0.4 million, respectively, related to the write-off of original issue discount and deferred financing costs as a result of prepayments on the Senior Secured Term Loan. As of March 31, 2024, the effective interest rate for the Senior Secured Term Loan was 11.2%.

Senior Secured Notes due 2026

On October 15, 2021, Gannett Holdings completed a private offering of $400 million aggregate principal amount of 6.00% first lien notes due November 1, 2026 (the "2026 Senior Notes"). The 2026 Senior Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture, dated October 15, 2021 (the "2026 Senior Notes Indenture") among Gannett Holdings, the Company, the guarantors from time to time party thereto (the "2026 Senior Notes Guarantors"), U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, and U.S. Bank National Association, as collateral agent, registrar, paying agent and authenticating agent. During 2022, the Company exchanged an aggregate principal amount equal to $30.0 million of the 2026 Senior Notes for $30.0 million of the Exchanged Term Loans.

Interest on the 2026 Senior Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears, beginning on May 1, 2022. The 2026 Senior Notes mature on November 1, 2026, unless redeemed or repurchased earlier pursuant to the 2026 Senior Notes Indenture. The 2026 Senior Notes may be redeemed at the option of Gannett Holdings, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time after November 1, 2023, at the redemption prices set forth in the 2026 Senior Notes Indenture. If certain changes of control with respect to Gannett Holdings or the Company occur, Gannett Holdings must offer to purchase the 2026 Senior Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof on the date of purchase, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of purchase.

The 2026 Senior Notes are unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on a senior secured basis by the 2026 Senior Notes Guarantors. The 2026 Senior Notes and such guarantees are secured on a first-priority basis by the collateral, consisting of substantially all of the assets of Gannett Holdings and the 2026 Senior Notes Guarantors, subject to certain intercreditor arrangements.

The 2026 Senior Notes Indenture limits the Company and its restricted subsidiaries' ability to, among other things, make investments, loans, advances, guarantees and acquisitions; incur or guarantee additional debt and issue certain disqualified equity interests and preferred stock; make certain restricted payments, including a limit on dividends on equity securities or payments to redeem, repurchase or retire equity securities or other indebtedness; dispose of assets; create liens on assets to secure debt; engage in transactions with affiliates; enter into certain restrictive agreements; and consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of their or the 2026 Senior Notes Guarantor's assets. These covenants are subject to a number of limitations and exceptions. The 2026 Senior Notes Indenture also contains customary events of default.

As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the 2026 Senior Notes were recorded at carrying value in the condensed consolidated balance sheets, which did not approximate fair value. The 2026 Senior Notes were classified as Level 2, and based on unadjusted quoted prices in the active market obtained from third-party pricing services, the Company determined that the estimated fair value of the 2026 Senior Notes was $254.5 million and $256.6 million as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, and was primarily affected by fluctuations in market interest rates.

In March 2024, the Company entered into a privately negotiated agreement with certain holders of our 2026 Senior Notes, and for the three months ended March 31, 2024, repurchased $13.0 million of principal of our outstanding 2026 Senior Notes at a discount to par value. In connection with repurchase of our 2026 Senior Notes in March 2024, the Company received the First Quarter 2024 Waiver from certain lenders of the Senior Secured Term Loan, which was used to reduce the scheduled quarterly amortization payments payable to those lenders by approximately $12.0 million. As a result of this repurchase of our 2026 Senior Notes, the Company recognized a gain on the early extinguishment of debt of approximately $0.6 million during the three months ended March 31, 2024, which included the write-off of unamortized original issue discount and deferred financing costs. Additionally, for the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company recognized a gain on the early extinguishment of debt of approximately $0.9 million, which included the write-off of unamortized original issue discount and deferred financing costs.

The unamortized original issue discount and deferred financing costs will be amortized over the remaining contractual life of the 2026 Senior Notes using the effective interest method. For the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company recognized interest expense of $4.4 million and paid cash interest of $0.3 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company recognized interest expense of $5.0 million and paid cash interest of $0.1 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company recognized amortization of original issue discount of $0.5 million and amortization of deferred financing costs of $0.4 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company recognized amortization of original issue discount of $0.6 million and amortization of deferred financing costs of $0.5 million. As of March 31, 2024, the effective interest rate on the 2026 Senior Notes was 7.3%.

Senior Secured Convertible Notes due 2027

The $497.1 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.0% Senior Secured Convertible Notes due 2027 (the "2027 Notes") were issued pursuant to an Indenture dated as of November 17, 2020, as amended by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 21, 2020 and the Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of February 9, 2021 (collectively, the "2027 Notes Indenture"), between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee.

In connection with the issuance of the 2027 Notes, the Company entered into an Investor Agreement (the "Investor Agreement") with the holders of the 2027 Notes (the "Holders") establishing certain terms and conditions concerning the rights and restrictions on the Holders with respect to the Holders' ownership of the 2027 Notes. The Company also entered into an amendment to the Registration Rights Agreement dated November 19, 2019, between the Company and FIG LLC.

Interest on the 2027 Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears. The 2027 Notes mature on December 1, 2027, unless earlier repurchased or converted. The 2027 Notes may be converted at any time by the holders into cash, shares of the Company's common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Stock") or any combination of cash and Common Stock, at the Company's election. The initial conversion rate is 200 shares of Common Stock per $1,000 principal amount of the 2027 Notes, which is equal to a conversion price of $5.00 per share of Common Stock (the "Conversion Price").

The conversion rate is subject to customary adjustment provisions as provided in the 2027 Notes Indenture. In addition, the conversion rate will be subject to adjustment in the event of any issuance or sale of Common Stock (or securities convertible into Common Stock) at a price equal to or less than the Conversion Price in order to ensure that following such issuance or sale, the 2027 Notes would be convertible into approximately 42% (adjusted for repurchases and certain other events that reduce the outstanding amount of the 2027 Notes) of the Common Stock after giving effect to such issuance or sale (assuming the initial principal amount of the 2027 Notes remains outstanding). After giving effect to the repurchase of $11.8 million in aggregate principal amount of outstanding 2027 Notes during the year ended December 31, 2021, such percentage was approximately 41%.

Upon the occurrence of a "Make-Whole Fundamental Change" (as defined in the 2027 Notes Indenture), the Company will in certain circumstances increase the conversion rate for a specified period of time. If a "Fundamental Change" (as defined in the 2027 Notes Indenture) occurs, the Company will be required to offer to repurchase the 2027 Notes at a repurchase price of 110% of the principal amount thereof.

Holders of the 2027 Notes will have the right to put up to approximately $100 million of the 2027 Notes at par on or after the date that is 91 days after the maturity date of the Senior Secured Term Loan.

Under the 2027 Notes Indenture, the Company can only pay cash dividends up to an agreed-upon amount, provided the ratio of consolidated debt to EBITDA (as such terms are defined in the 2027 Notes Indenture) does not exceed a specified ratio. In addition, the 2027 Notes Indenture provides that, at any time that the Company's Total Gross Leverage Ratio (as defined in the 2027 Notes Indenture) exceeds 1.5 and the Company approves the declaration of a dividend, the Company must offer to purchase a principal amount of 2027 Notes equal to the proposed amount of the dividend.

Until thefour-year anniversary of the issuance date, the Company will have the right to redeem for cash up to approximately $99.4 million of the 2027 Notes at a redemption price of 130% of the principal amount thereof, with such amount reduced ratably by any principal amount of 2027 Notes that has been converted by the holders or redeemed or purchased by the Company.

The 2027 Notes are guaranteed by Gannett Holdings and any subsidiaries of the Company that guarantee the Senior Secured Term Loan. The 2027 Notes are secured by the same collateral that secures the Senior Secured Term Loan. The 2027 Notes rank as senior secured debt of the Company and are secured by a second priority lien on the same collateral package that secured the indebtedness incurred in connection with the Senior Secured Term Loan.

The 2027 Notes Indenture includes affirmative and negative covenants, including limitations on liens, indebtedness, dispositions, loans, advances and investors, sale and leaseback transactions, restricted payments, transactions with affiliates, restrictions on dividends and other payment restrictions affecting restricted subsidiaries, negative pledges, and modifications to certain agreements. The 2027 Notes Indenture also requires that the Company maintain, as of the last day of each fiscal quarter, at least $30.0 million of Qualified Cash (as defined in the 2027 Notes Indenture). The 2027 Notes Indenture includes customary events of default.

The 2027 Notes havetwo components: (i) a debt component, and (ii) an equity component. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the debt component of the 2027 Notes was recorded at carrying value in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The carrying value of the 2027 Notes reflected the balance of the unamortized discount related to the value of the conversion feature assessed at inception. As of March 31, 2024, the carrying value of the 2027 Notes approximated fair value. The 2027 Notes were classified as Level 2, and based on unadjusted quoted prices in the active market obtained from third-party pricing services, the Company determined that the estimated fair value of the 2027 Notes was $434.0 million and $395.6 million as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, and was primarily affected by fluctuations in market interest rates and the price of the Company's Common Stock. The fair value of the equity component was classified as Level 3 because it was measured at fair value using a binomial lattice model using assumptions based on market information and historical data, and significant unobservable inputs. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the amount of the conversion feature recorded in Additional paid-in capital was $279.6 million.

For the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company recognized interest expense of $7.2 million and paidno cash interest. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company recognized interest expense of $7.2 million and paidno cash interest. In addition, during the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company recognized amortization of the original issue discount of $3.6 million and animmaterial amount of amortization of deferred financing costs. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company recognized amortization of original issue discount of $3.2 million and animmaterial amount of amortization of deferred financing costs. As of March 31, 2024, the effective interest rate on the liability component of the 2027 Notes was 10.5%.

For the three months ended March 31, 2024, no shares were issued upon conversion, exercise, or satisfaction of the required conditions. Refer to Note 10 — Supplemental equity and other information for details on the impact of the 2027 Notes to diluted earnings per share under the if-converted method.

Senior Convertible Notes due 2024

The $3.3 million principal value of the remaining 4.75% convertible senior notes were due and repaid on April 15, 2024 (the "2024 Notes"). As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the 2024 Notes were reported within the Current portion of long-term debt in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. As of March 31, 2024, the effective interest rate on the 2024

Notes was 6.0%. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the 2024 Notes were recorded at carrying value, which approximated fair value, in the condensed consolidated balance sheets and were classified as Level 2.

NOTE 7 — Pensions and other postretirement benefit plans

We, along with our subsidiaries, sponsor various defined benefit retirement plans, including plans established under collective bargaining agreements. Our retirement plans include the Gannett Retirement Plan (the "GR Plan"), the Newsquest and Romanes Pension Schemes in the U.K., and other defined benefit and defined contribution plans. We also provide health care and life insurance benefits to certain retired employees who meet age and service requirements.

Retirement plan costs include the following components:

Contributions

We are contractually obligated to contribute to our pension and postretirement benefit plans. During the three months ended March 31, 2024, we contributed $6.6 million and $1.8 million to our pension and other postretirement plans, respectively. Beginning with the quarter ended December 31, 2022, and ending with the quarter ending September 30, 2024, the GR Plan's appointed actuary has and will certify the GR Plan's funded status for each quarter (the "Quarterly Certification") in accordance with U.S. GAAP. If the GR Plan is less than 100% funded, the Company will make a $1.0 million contribution to the GR Plan no later than 60 days following the receipt of the Quarterly Certification, provided, however, that the Company's obligation to make additional contractual contributions will terminate the earlier of (a) the day following the date that a contractual contribution would be due for the quarter ending September 30, 2024, and (b) the date the Company has made a total of $5.0 million of contractual contributions subsequent to June 30, 2022. As of March 31, 2024, the GR Plan was more than 100% funded.

NOTE 8 — Fair value measurement

In accordance with ASC 820, "Fair Value Measurement," fair value measurements are required to be disclosed using a three-tiered fair value hierarchy which distinguishes between assumptions based on market data (observable inputs) and the Company's own assumptions (unobservable inputs). Level 1 refers to fair values determined based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities, Level 2 refers to fair values estimated using significant other observable inputs and Level 3 includes fair values estimated using significant unobservable inputs.

As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, assets and liabilities recorded at fair value and measured on a recurring basis primarily consist of pension plan assets. As permitted by U.S. GAAP, we use net asset values ("NAV") as a practical expedient to determine the fair value of certain investments. These investments measured at NAV have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy.

The Company's debt is recorded on the condensed consolidated balance sheets at carrying value. Refer to Note 6 — Debt for additional discussion regarding fair value of the Company's debt instruments.

Certain assets are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis; that is, the instruments are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis but are subject to fair value adjustments only in certain circumstances (for example, when there is evidence of impairment). Assets held for sale (Level 3), which are recorded in Other current assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheets, are measured on a nonrecurring basis and are evaluated using executed purchase agreements, letters of intent or third-party valuation analyses when certain circumstances arise.

The Company performs its annual goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible impairment assessment during the fourth quarter of the year. Any resulting asset impairment would require that the asset be recorded at its fair value. The resulting fair value measurements of the assets are considered to be Level 3 measurements. Refer to Note 4 — Goodwill and intangible assets for additional discussion regarding the annual impairment assessment.

NOTE 9 — Income taxes

The following table outlines our pre-tax net loss and income tax amounts:

The provision for income taxes is calculated by applying the projected annual effective tax rate for the year to the current period income or loss before tax plus the tax effect of any significant or unusual items (discrete events), and changes in tax laws. The provision for income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2024, was mainly driven by the pre-tax book loss, the increase in valuation allowances on non-deductible U.S. interest expense carryforwards, the global intangible low-taxed income inclusion and state tax expense. The provision was calculated using an estimated annual effective tax rate of negative 11.1%. The estimated annual effective tax rate is principally impacted by valuation allowances on non-deductible interest expense carryforwards, foreign tax expense, and the global intangible low-taxed income inclusion, partially offset by the benefit of U.S. pre-tax book loss. The estimated annual effective tax rate is based on the projected tax expense for the full year.

The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, may impact the effective tax rate was approximately $52.9 million and $52.6 million as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. It is reasonably possible that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits related to certain of the Company's uncertain tax positions could decrease by as much as $10 million to $16 million within the next twelve months as a result of ongoing audits, foreign judicial proceedings, lapses of statutes of limitations, or regulatory developments. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefit as a component of income tax expense. The amount of accrued interest and penalties payable related to unrecognized tax benefits was $4.8 million and $4.6 million as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.

The benefit for income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2023, was mainly driven by the tax benefit of the pre-tax book loss, the change in valuation allowances on non-deductible U.S. interest expense carryforwards, the global intangible low-taxed income inclusion and stock compensation. The benefit was calculated using the estimated annual effective tax rate of negative 273.3%.

U.S. and international tax legislation

On August 16, 2022, the U.S. government enacted the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the "Inflation Reduction Act"), which includes, among other provisions, changes to the U.S. corporate income tax system, including a 15% minimum tax based on "average adjusted financial statement income" exceeding $1 billion for any three consecutive years preceding the tax year and a 1% excise tax on net repurchases of stock in excess of $1 million after December 31, 2022. During the three months ended March 31, 2024, we did not experience a material financial impact from the Inflation Reduction Act. Additionally, we do not anticipate a material financial impact from the Inflation Reduction Act for the remainder of 2024.

We are subject to income taxes and various other taxes in the U.S. and in many foreign jurisdictions; therefore, changes in both domestic and international tax laws or regulations have affected and may affect our effective tax rate, results of operations, and cash flows. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (the "OECD")/G20 Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting has agreed on a two-pillar approach to address tax challenges arising from the digitalization of the global economy by (i) allocating profits to market jurisdictions ("Pillar One") and (ii) ensuring multinational enterprises pay a minimum level of tax regardless of where the headquarters are located or the jurisdictions in which the company operates ("Pillar Two"). Pillar One targets multinational groups with global revenue exceeding €20 billion and a profit-to-revenue ratio of more than 10%. Companies subject to Pillar One will be required to allocate profits and pay taxes to market jurisdictions.

Based on the current proposed revenue and profit thresholds, we do not expect to be subject to tax changes associated with Pillar One. Pillar Two focuses on global profit allocation and a global minimum tax rate. In December 2022, the European Union ("EU") Member States formally adopted the EU's Pillar Two Directive, which generally provides for a minimum effective tax rate of 15%, as established by the OECD Pillar Two Framework that was supported by over 130 countries worldwide. The EU Pillar Two Directive became effective on January 1, 2024. Pillar Two did not have a material impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements.

NOTE 10 — Supplemental equity and other information

(Loss) income per share

The following table sets forth the information to compute basic and diluted (loss) income per share:

The Company excluded the following securities from the computation of diluted (loss) income per share because their effect would have been antidilutive:

(a)The warrants expired on November 26, 2023.

(b)Includes restricted stock awards ("RSAs"), restricted stock units ("RSUs") and performance stock units ("PSUs").

(c)Represents the total number of shares that would be convertible at March 31, 2024 and 2023 as stipulated in the 2027 Notes Indenture.

The 2027 Notes may be converted at any time by the holders into cash, shares of the Company's Common Stock or any combination of cash and Common Stock, at the Company's election. Conversion of all of the 2027 Notes into Common Stock (assuming the maximum increase in the conversion rate as a result of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change but no other adjustments to the conversion rate), would result in the issuance of an aggregate of 287.2 million shares of Common Stock. The Company has excluded approximately 190.1 million shares from theloss per share calculation, representing the difference between the total number of shares that would be convertible at March 31, 2024 and the total number of shares issuable assuming the maximum increase in the conversion rate.

Share-based compensation

Share-based compensation expense was $2.8 million and $3.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and is included in Selling, general and administrative expenses on the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).

The total compensation cost not yet recognized related to non-vested awards as of March 31, 2024 was $12.8 million, and is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.4 years through August 2025.

Equity awards

There wereno RSAs granted during the three months ended March 31, 2024.

Cash awards

The Company grants certain employees either long-term cash awards ("LTCAs") or cash performance units ("CPUs"). During 2023, our LTCAs and CPUs were granted during the first quarter, and in the future we anticipate the majority of our LTCAs and CPUs to be granted in the third quarter of our fiscal year. CPUs generally vest and pay out in cash on the third anniversary of the grant date based upon the achievement of threshold goals depending on actual performance against financial objectives over a three-year period. LTCAs generally vest and pay out in cash on the first, second and third anniversaries of the date of grant. As of March 31, 2024, there was approximately $8.7 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to cash awards.

Preferred stock

The Company has authorized 300,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, issuable in one or more series designated by the Company's Board of Directors. There wereno issuances of preferred stock during the three months ended March 31, 2024.

Stock repurchase program

On February 1, 2022, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $100 million (the "Stock Repurchase Program") of the Company's Common Stock. Repurchases may be made from time to time through open market purchases or privately negotiated transactions, pursuant to one or more plans established pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or by means of one or more tender offers, in each case, as permitted by securities laws and other legal requirements. The amount and timing of the purchases, if any, will depend on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the price and availability of the Company's shares, trading volume, capital availability, Company performance and general economic and market conditions. The Stock Repurchase Program may be suspended or discontinued at any time. Further, future repurchases under our Stock Repurchase Program may be subject to various conditions under the terms of our various debt instruments and agreements, unless an exception is available or we obtain a waiver or similar relief.

During the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company didnot repurchase any shares of Common Stock under the Stock Repurchase Program. As of March 31, 2024, the remaining authorized amount under the Stock Repurchase Program was approximately $96.9 million.

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

The following tables summarize the components of, and the changes in, Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax:

(a)Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income are included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost. See Note 7 — Pensions and other postretirement benefit plans.

(b)Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income are recorded net of tax impacts of $35 thousand and $6 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

NOTE 11 — Commitments, contingencies, and other matters

Legal proceedings

The Company is and may become involved from time to time in legal proceedings in the ordinary course of its business, including, but not limited to, matters such as libel, invasion of privacy, intellectual property infringement, wrongful termination actions, complaints alleging employment discrimination, and regulatory investigations and inquiries. In addition, the Company is involved from time to time in governmental and administrative proceedings concerning employment, labor, environmental, and other claims. Insurance coverage mitigates potential loss for certain of these matters. Historically, such claims and proceedings have not had a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated results of operations or financial position.

We are also defendants in judicial and administrative proceedings involving matters incidental to our business. Although the Company is unable to predict with certainty the eventual outcome of any litigation, regulatory investigation or inquiry, in the opinion of management, the Company does not expect its current and any threatened legal proceedings to have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial position or consolidated results of operations. Given the inherent unpredictability of these types of proceedings, however, it is possible that future adverse outcomes could have a material effect on the Company's financial results.

On June 20, 2023, the Company filed a civil action against Google LLC and Alphabet Inc. (together, "Google") in the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York seeking injunctive relief and damages for the anticompetitive monopolization of advertising technology markets and for deceptive commercial practices. The Company's complaint details more than a dozen anticompetitive and deceptive acts that the Company believes demonstrate Google's unfair control and manipulation of all sides of each online advertising transaction. The Company intends to vigorously pursue this action. However, at this stage, the Company is unable to predict the outcome or impact on its business and financial results. The Company is accounting for this matter as a gain contingency, and will record any such gain in future periods, if and when the contingency is resolved, in accordance with ASC 450 "Contingencies." We do not expect pursuing this lawsuit to be a significant cost to us.

The Company was a defendant in a lawsuit titled Scott O. Sapulpa ("Plaintiff") v. Gannett Co., Inc. in the District Court in the State of Oklahoma. In February 2024, a jury found for the Plaintiff and awarded compensatory damages of $5 million and $20 million in punitive damages. While we cannot predict with certainty the ultimate outcome of this action, the Company filed an appeal of the case in March 2024. We are currently unable to estimate a range of reasonably possible loss; however, we believe that damages, if any, would be covered by the Company's insurance policies. As a result, we believe the outcome will not have a material impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.

NOTE 12 — Segment reporting

We define our reportable segments based on the way the Chief Operating Decision Maker ("CODM"), which is our Chief Executive Officer, manages the operations for purposes of allocating resources and assessing performance. Our reportable segments include the following:

•Domestic Gannett Media is comprised of our portfolio of domestic local, regional, and national newspaper publishers. The results of this segment include Digital revenues mainly derived from digital advertising offerings such as classified advertisements and display advertisements run on our platforms as well as third-party sites, digital marketing services delivered by our DMS segment, digital distribution of our publications and digital content syndication and affiliate and partnership revenues and Print and commercial revenues mainly derived from the sale of local, national, and classified print advertising products, the sale of both home delivery and single copies of our publications, as well as commercial printing and distribution arrangements, and revenues from our events business.

•Newsquest is comprised of our portfolio of international newspaper publishers. The results of this segment include Digital revenues mainly derived from digital advertising offerings such as classified advertisements and display advertisements run on our platforms as well as third-party sites, digital marketing services delivered by our DMS segment, digital distribution of our publications and digital syndication revenues and Print and commercial revenues mainly derived from the sale of local, classified, and national advertising as well as niche publications, the sale of both home delivery and single copies of our publications, as well as commercial printing.

•Digital Marketing Solutions is comprised of our digital marketing services companies under the brand LocaliQ. The results of this segment include Digital revenues derived from digital marketing services generated through multiple services, including search advertising, display advertising, search optimization, social media, website development, web presence products, customer relationship management, and software-as-a-service solutions.

In addition to the reportable segments above, we have a Corporate and other category that includes activities not directly attributable to a specific reportable segment. This category primarily consists of broad corporate functions, including legal, human resources, accounting, analytics, finance, marketing and technology, as well as other general business costs.

In the ordinary course of business, our reportable segments enter into transactions with one another. While intersegment transactions are treated like third-party transactions to determine segment performance, the revenues and expenses recognized by the segment that is the counterparty to the transaction are eliminated in consolidation and do not affect consolidated results.

The CODM uses Adjusted EBITDA to evaluate the performance of the segments and allocate resources. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial performance measure we believe offers a useful view of the overall operation of our businesses and may be different than similarly-titled measures used by other companies. We define Adjusted EBITDA as Net income (loss) attributable to Gannett before (1) Income tax expense (benefit), (2) Interest expense, (3) Gains or losses on the early extinguishment of debt, (4) Non-operating pension income, (5) Loss on convertible notes derivative, (6) Depreciation and amortization, (7) Integration and reorganization costs, (8) Third-party debt expenses and acquisition costs, (9) Asset impairments, (10) Goodwill and intangible impairments, (11) Gains or losses on the sale or disposal of assets, (12) Share-based compensation, (13) Other non-operating (income) expense, net, and (14) Non-recurring items.

Management considers Adjusted EBITDA to be an important metric to evaluate and compare the ongoing operating performance of our segments on a consistent basis across reporting periods as it eliminates the effect of items that we do not believe are indicative of each segment's core operating performance.

(a)Third-party debt expenses and acquisition costs are included in Other operating expenses on the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).

Asset information by segment is not a key measure of performance used by the CODM function. Accordingly, we have not disclosed asset information by segment. Additionally, equity income in unconsolidated investees, net, interest expense, other non-operating items, net, and provision for income taxes, as reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements, are not part of operating income and are primarily recorded at the corporate level.

NOTE 13 — Other supplemental information

Cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash

Cash equivalents represent highly liquid certificates of deposit which have original maturities of three months or less. Restricted cash is held as cash collateral for certain business operations. Restricted cash primarily consists of funding for letters of credit, cash held in an irrevocable grantor trust for our deferred compensation plans and cash held with banking institutions for insurance.

The following table presents a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash:

Supplemental cash flow information

The following table presents supplemental cash flow information, including non-cash investing and financing activities:

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

A breakout of Accounts payable and accrued liabilities is presented below: