viac-20211102

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 2, 2021

VIACOMCBS INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware	001-09553	04-2949533
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification Number)


1515 Broadway
New York,	New York	10036
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 258-6000

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:


☐			Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐			Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐			Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐			Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Trading Symbols

Name of each exchange on which registered

Class A Common Stock, $0.001 par value

VIACA

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Class B Common Stock, $0.001 par value

VIAC

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

5.75% Series A Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value

VIACP

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 8.01 Other Events

On November 2, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice (the “DOJ”) filed suit in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia to block the sale by ViacomCBS Inc. (“ViacomCBS”) of its Simon & Schuster business to Penguin Random House LLC (“Penguin Random House”) (the “Transaction”) pursuant to a Share Purchase Agreement (“Purchase Agreement”), dated November 24, 2020, between ViacomCBS, certain of its subsidiaries, Penguin Random House and Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA. The Purchase Agreement contains customary representations and warranties and covenants, including commitments on the part of Penguin Random House to take all necessary steps to obtain any required regulatory approvals and to defend any litigation that would delay or prevent consummation, and also provides for a termination fee payable to ViacomCBS in certain circumstances in the event the transaction does not close for regulatory reasons.

The parties believe the DOJ’s claims are without merit and intend to defend against them vigorously.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



VIACOMCBS INC.

By:	/s/ Christa A. D'Alimonte
	Name:	Christa A. D'Alimonte
	Title:	Executive Vice President,
		General Counsel and Secretary

Date: November 2, 2021

ViacomCBS Inc. filed SEC Form 8-K: Other Events