Veritone Announces the Divestiture of its Media Agency for up to $104 Million
October 22 2024 - 8:01AM
Business Wire
Divestiture Focuses and Accelerates Strategy as
a Leading Enterprise AI Software, Applications, and Services
Provider
Advances Strategic Priorities to Deleverage and
Optimize Balance Sheet, with a More Efficient Operating Cost
Structure
Veritone Exits from the Divestiture with Over
3,000 Enterprise AI & Software Customers, across both
Commercial & Public Sectors
Veritone, Inc. (NASDAQ: VERI) (“Veritone” or the “Company”), a
leader in building human-centered enterprise AI solutions, today
announced that it has sold its media agency, Veritone One, LLC, to
Insignia Capital Group (“Insignia”).
Total consideration from the divestiture is up to $104.0
million, subject to customary purchase price adjustments and
including up to $18.0 million in cash subject to an earn-out based
on Veritone One’s achievement of certain net revenue targets during
calendar year 2025. Net proceeds will be used to retire a
significant portion of Veritone’s term debt and to fund future
operations. The transaction significantly strengthens Veritone's
balance sheet and liquidity, allowing Veritone to concentrate on
accelerating the growth of its enterprise AI software and
solutions, powered by its proprietary aiWARE platform. This
strategic focus is designed to enhance long-term shareholder value
and position Veritone for sustained success in the AI sector.
“Divesting our legacy media agency is a transformative and
material move in Veritone's mission to accelerate growth and
sharpen our focus on enterprise AI. When appointed as CEO, our goal
was clear—streamline operations, bolster our financials, and zero
in on what we do best: AI software and services. Now, as we near
the close of fiscal 2024, we're in a prime position to capitalize
on the booming demand for AI and leverage the strength of
Veritone’s aiWARE platform, applications, and solutions. This
divestiture isn’t just another step—it’s the inflection point that
unlocks material value for our shareholders and solidifies our
leadership in delivering cutting-edge AI at scale. I couldn't be
more excited about where we're headed,” said Ryan Steelberg, CEO
& President of Veritone.
Steelberg continued, “Today marks a pivotal moment for Veritone,
reshaping our trajectory and positioning us for the next stage of
growth. By leveraging our leading AI technology, industry
expertise, and unique insights platforms, Veritone One grew into a
leading performance audio and influencer agency in North America.
We are pleased that this divestiture allows Veritone One to focus
on its core advertising strengths within audio and video and to
continue its growth and industry leadership under Insignia’s new
ownership. Now, with this divestiture wrapped up, Veritone is
all-in on our enterprise AI platform and applications, serving both
Commercial and Public Sectors. We’re hitting this focus in stride
and with scale, servicing thousands of customers already, and we’re
just getting started. The momentum we’ve built, paired with the
capital infusion and deleveraging from this deal, puts us in a
great position to accelerate growth and unlock the full potential
of our AI business."
In addition to acquiring Veritone One, Insignia Capital Group
simultaneously acquired Oxford Road, another leading audio
advertising agency. The two entities will operate independently in
the near-term but will leverage their combined scale, technology,
analytics platform and industry expertise to deliver unparalleled
performance for their clients.
Canaccord Genuity served as the financial advisor and Cooley LLP
served as legal counsel to Veritone for the Veritone One
transaction.
About Veritone Veritone
(NASDAQ: VERI) builds human-centered enterprise AI solutions.
Serving customers in the commercial and public sectors, Veritone’s
software and services empower individuals at the world’s largest
and most recognizable institutions and brands to run more
efficiently, accelerate decision making and increase profitability.
Veritone’s leading enterprise AI platform, aiWARE™, orchestrates an
ever-growing ecosystem of cognitive and generative AI models,
transforming data sources into actionable intelligence. By blending
human expertise with AI technology, Veritone advances human
potential to help organizations solve problems and achieve more
than ever before, enhancing lives everywhere.
To learn more, visit Veritone.com.
Safe Harbor Statement This
press release contains forward-looking statements, including
without limitation, statements regarding Veritone’s ability to
realize the anticipated benefits of the divestiture transaction,
including improvement of Veritone’s balance sheet and overall
liquidity, Veritone’s payoff of a significant portion of its term
debt, Veritone’s ability to advance and grow its enterprise aiWARE
platform, Veritone’s ability to drive long-term shareholder value,
and Veritone’s ability to accelerate profitable growth. In
addition, words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “believe,”
“anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “outlook,” “should,” “could,”
“estimate,” “confident” or “continue” or the plural, negative or
other variations thereof or comparable terminology are intended to
identify forward-looking statements, and any statements that refer
to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future
events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof and are
based on management’s current assumptions, expectations, beliefs,
and information. As such, Veritone’s actual results could differ
materially and adversely from those expressed in any
forward-looking statement as a result of various factors and risks.
Certain of these factors and risks are discussed in more detail in
Veritone’s most recently-filed Annual Report on Form 10-K,
Veritone’s most recently-filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and
other periodic reports filed from time to time with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. In light of the significant uncertainties
inherent in the forward-looking information included herein, the
inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a
representation by Veritone or any other person that Veritone’s
objectives or plans will be achieved. The forward-looking
statements contained herein reflect Veritone’s beliefs, estimates,
and predictions as of the date hereof, and we undertake no
obligation to revise or update the forward-looking statements
contained herein to reflect events or circumstances after the date
hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events for any
reason, except as required by law.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241021743764/en/
Company: Mike Zemetra Chief
Financial Officer Veritone, Inc. investors@veritone.com
IR Agency: Cate Goldsmith
Prosek Partners 914-815-7678 cgoldsmith@prosek.com
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