Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
The following discussion of the market risks we face contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those discussed in forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s opinions only as of the date hereof. Ziff Davis undertakes no obligation to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements. Readers should carefully review the risk factors described in this document as well as in other documents we file from time to time with the SEC, including the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and any Current Reports on Form 8-K filed or to be filed by us in 2022.
Interest Rate Risk
Our exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to our investment portfolio and borrowings under our Credit Facility that bear variable market interest rates. The primary objectives of our investment activities are to preserve our principal while at the same time maximizing yields without significantly increasing risk. To achieve these objectives, we maintain our portfolio of cash equivalents and investments in a mix of instruments that meet high credit quality standards, as specified in our investment policy or otherwise approved by the Board of Directors. Our cash and cash equivalents are not subject to significant interest rate risk due to the short maturities of these instruments. As of December 31, 2021, the carrying value of our cash and cash equivalents approximated fair value. Our return on these investments is subject to interest rate fluctuations.
As of December 31, 2021, we had investments in debt securities with effective maturities greater than one year of zero. As of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, we had cash and cash equivalent investments primarily in money market funds with maturities of 90 days or less of $694.8 million and $176.4 million, respectively. We do not have interest rate risk on our outstanding long-term debt as these arrangements have fixed interest rates.
On April 7, 2021, the Company entered into a Credit Agreement (“Credit Agreement”) with certain lenders from time to time party thereto (collectively, the “Lenders”) and MUFG Union Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, collateral agent and sole lead arranger for the Lenders (the “Agent”). Pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the Lenders provided the Company with a revolving credit facility of $100 million (the “Credit Facility”). Subject to customary conditions, the Company may, from time to time, request increases in the commitments under the Credit Agreement in an aggregate amount up to $250 million, for a total aggregate commitment of up to $350 million. The proceeds of the Credit Facility are intended to be used for working capital and general corporate purposes of the Company and its subsidiaries, including to finance certain permitted acquisitions and capital expenditures in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement.
At the Company’s option, amounts borrowed under the Credit Agreement will bear interest at either (i) a base rate equal to the greatest of (x) the Federal Funds Effective Rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement) in effect on such day plus ½ of 1% per annum, (y) the rate of interest per annum most recently announced by the Agent as its U.S. Dollar “Reference Rate” and (z) one month LIBOR plus 1.00% or (ii) a rate per annum equal to LIBOR divided by 1.00 minus the LIBOR Reserve Requirements (as defined in the Credit Agreement), in each case, plus an applicable margin. The applicable margin relating to any base rate loan will range from 0.50% to 1.25% and the applicable margin relating to any LIBOR loan will range from 1.50% to 2.25%, in each case, depending on the total leverage ratio of the Company. The final maturity of the Credit Facility will occur on April 7, 2026. The Company is permitted to make voluntary prepayments of the Credit Facility at any time without payment of a premium or penalty.
On June 2, 2021, June 21, 2021, August 20, 2021 and September 16, 2021, the Company entered into First, Second, Third and Fourth Amendments (together the “Amendments”) to the Credit Agreement. The Amendments (i) provided for the issuance of a senior secured term loan under the Credit Agreement, in an aggregate principal amount of $485.0 million (the “Bridge Loan Facility”), (ii) permitted the spin-off of the Company’s cloud fax business into a new publicly traded company, and (iii) provided for certain other changes to the Credit Agreement. During the third quarter of 2021, the Company drew on the full amount of the Bridge Loan Facility with $485.0 million outstanding (later extinguished as described below). The proceeds of the Bridge Loan Facility were used to redeem the Company’s 3.25% Convertible Notes. See Note 10 - Debt of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is incorporated herein by reference.
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The loans under the Bridge Loan Facility (the “Bridge Loans”) bore interest at a rate per annum equal to (i) initially upon funding of the Bridge Loans, either a base rate plus 2.00%, or a LIBOR rate plus 3.00%, (ii) from six months after the funding date of the Bridge Loans until twelve months after the funding date of the Bridge Loans, either a base rate plus 2.50%, or a LIBOR rate plus 3.50%, and (iii) from twelve months after the funding date of the Bridge Loans until repayment of the Bridge Loans, either a base rate plus 3.00% or a LIBOR rate plus 4.00%. The Bridge Loan Facility was to mature on the date that was 364 days after the funding date of the Bridge Loans, with two automatic extensions, each for an additional three months, if SEC approval of the spin-off transaction was still outstanding.
On October 7, 2021, in exchange for the equity interest in Consensus, Consensus issued $500.0 million of senior notes due 2028 to Ziff Davis which Ziff Davis then exchanged such notes with the lenders under the Credit Agreement and Credit Agreement Amendments by and among the subsidiaries of Ziff Davis party thereto as guarantors, Citicorp North America Inc. and MUFG Union Bank, N.A. and MUFG Union Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for the lenders, in exchange for extinguishment of outstanding indebtedness under the Bridge Loan Facility. Such lenders or their affiliates agreed to resell the 2028 notes to qualified institutional buyers in the United States pursuant to Rule 144A.
We cannot ensure that future interest rate movements will not have a material adverse effect on our future business, prospects, financial condition, operating results and cash flows. To date, we have not entered into interest rate hedging transactions to control or minimize certain of these risks.
Market Risk
In connection with the Separation, the Company retained a 19.9% interest in Consensus, which as of December 31, 2021, was valued at approximately $229.2 million based upon the quoted market price of Consensus common stock. The Company’s results of operations and financial condition have been and may be materially impacted by increases or decreases in the price of Consensus common stock, which is traded on Nasdaq. The Company recorded an unrealized gain of approximately $298.5 million on its investment in Consensus for the year ended December 31, 2021. The carrying value of the Company’s investment in Consensus at December 31, 2021 was $229.2 million, or approximately 6.1% of the Company’s consolidated total assets. A $2.00 increase or decrease in the share price of Consensus common stock would result in an unrealized gain or loss, respectively of approximately $7.9 million.
Foreign Currency Risk
We conduct business in certain foreign markets, primarily in Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and the European Union. Our principal exposure to foreign currency risk relates to investment and inter-company debt in foreign subsidiaries that transact business in functional currencies other than the U.S. Dollar, primarily the Australian Dollar, the Canadian Dollar, the Euro, the Hong Kong Dollar, the Japanese Yen, the New Zealand Dollar, the Norwegian Kroner and the British Pound Sterling. If we are unable to settle our short-term intercompany debts in a timely manner, we remain exposed to foreign currency fluctuations.
As we expand our international presence, we become further exposed to foreign currency risk by entering new markets with additional foreign currencies. The economic impact of currency exchange rate movements is often linked to variability in real growth, inflation, interest rates, governmental actions and other factors. These changes, if material, could cause us to adjust our financing and operating strategies.
As currency exchange rates change, translation of the income statements of the international businesses into U.S. Dollars affects year-over-year comparability of operating results, the impact of which is immaterial to the comparisons set forth in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Historically, we have not hedged translation risks because cash flows from international operations were generally reinvested locally; however, we may do so in the future. Our objective in managing foreign exchange risk is to minimize the potential exposure to changes that exchange rates might have on earnings, cash flows and financial position.
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For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, foreign exchange gains (losses) amounted to $2.0 million, $(3.1) million, and $(2.6) million, respectively. The change in our gains (losses) recognized in earnings from 2020 to 2021 were primarily attributable to lower inter-company balances between periods in foreign subsidiaries that were in functional currencies other than the U.S. Dollar and exchange rate fluctuations. The change in our gains (losses) recognized in earnings from 2019 to 2020 were primarily attributable to the settlement of certain intra-entity transactions. Foreign exchange losses were not material to our earnings in 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Cumulative translation adjustments, net of tax, included in other comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, was $(21.3) million, $(8.9) million, and $(1.6) million respectively.
We currently do not have derivative financial instruments for hedging, speculative or trading purposes and therefore are not subject to such hedging risk. However, we may in the future engage in hedging transactions to manage our exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.
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