NEW YORK, October 14, 2024 — Permira, the global investment firm, today announced the success of its funds’ cash tender offer for all outstanding shares of common stock of Squarespace, Inc. (NYSE: SQSP). The tender offer expired one minute after 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on October 11, 2024.
As of expiration, 46,971,451 shares had been validly tendered and not withdrawn from the tender offer. The tendered shares together with the shares rolled over, or sold directly, by affiliates of Anthony Casalena, General Atlantic and Accel represent approximately 97.5 percent of the aggregate voting power of Squarespace’s total outstanding shares, 84.4 percent of the aggregate voting power of Squarespace’s total outstanding Class A shares, and 100 percent of the aggregate voting power of Squarespace’s total outstanding Class B shares.
The tendered shares included approximately 77.7 percent of the aggregate voting power of Squarespace’s total outstanding shares held by Squarespace’s unaffiliated shareholders. All shares that were validly tendered will be accepted for purchase on October 14, 2024. Payment for those shares will be made in accordance with the terms of the tender offer.
The Permira funds will proceed to complete a second-step merger in which any remaining shares of Squarespace common stock will be converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to the per share price paid in the tender offer, without interest and less any required withholding taxes. Upon completion of the transaction, which is expected to happen on October 17, 2024, Squarespace will become a privately held company.
Advisors
J.P. Morgan is acting as financial advisor to Squarespace, and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is acting as legal counsel to Squarespace.
Centerview Partners LLC is acting as financial advisor, and Richards, Layton & Finger is acting as legal counsel, to the Special Committee of the Squarespace Board of Directors.
Goldman Sachs & Co LLC is acting as financial advisor to Permira, Latham & Watkins LLP is acting as legal counsel to Permira, and Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP is acting as special tax counsel to Permira. Blackstone Credit & Insurance ("BXCI"), Blue Owl Capital, and Ares Capital Corp are acting as Joint Lead Arrangers on the debt financing.