Stockholders’ Equity

j2 Preferred Stock

In connection with the December 31, 2013 reorganization of Ziff Davis, Inc. ("ZD Inc.") into Ziff Davis, LLC ("ZD LLC") and the Company's acquisition of all of the minority holders' equity interests in ZD Inc., the Company issued j2 Series A Preferred Stock ("j2 Series A Stock") and j2 Series B Preferred Stock ("j2 Series B Stock").

j2 Series A Stock

Each share of j2 Series A Stock has a stated value of $1,000 and the aggregate stated value of all shares of Series A Stock is $5,064,000. The j2 Series A Stock is not convertible into any other securities. In the event ZD LLC pays any dividends or distributions to the Company in respect of the Company’s membership interests in ZD LLC (subject to certain exceptions in respect of senior interests), holders of the j2 Series A Stock will be entitled to receive a dividend in the aggregate with respect to all j2 Series A Stock equal to 2.4449% of such ZD LLC dividend (but only to the extent such dividend and all other dividends paid in respect of the series A preferred stock does not exceed a compounded annual rate of 15% on the stated value of the j2 Series A Stock).

The j2 Series A Stock has a liquidation preference over the j2 Series B Stock and a liquidation preference over j2 common stock in an amount up to, with respect to all shares of j2 Series A Stock, 2.4449% of the assets of ZD LLC and its subsidiaries legally available for distribution to the Company, after reduction in respect of certain senior interests (the "series A minority portion"), but in no event in an amount that exceeds the stated value of the j2 Series A Stock increased at a compounded annual rate of 15% (the "series A cap") and in no event in an amount that exceeds the lesser of the Company’s assets available for distribution and 2.4449% of the assets of ZD LLC and its subsidiaries legally available for distribution to the Company.

On or after January 2, 2019, the j2 Series A Stock will be mandatorily redeemable by the Company upon the occurrence of certain contingent liquidity events such as a sale, initial public offering or spin-off transactions involving ZD, LLC. Any or all of the j2 Series A Stock is subject to redemption by the Company at its option at any time. If the redemption occurs in connection with certain sale, initial public offering or spin-off transactions involving ZD LLC, the redemption price will be equal to an allocable portion of the enterprise value of ZD, LLC implied by such transaction with respect to the series A minority portion and based on certain factors to be determined by the Company’s Board of Directors in its sole good faith judgment, but in no event in an amount that would exceed the series A cap. If not in connection with such a transaction, the redemption price will be the series A cap.

j2 Series B Stock

The j2 Series B Stock is not convertible into any other securities. In the event ZD LLC pays any dividends or distributions to the Company in respect of the Company’s membership interests in ZD LLC (subject to certain exceptions in respect of senior interests and the j2 Series A Stock), holders of the j2 series B preferred stock will be entitled to receive a dividend in the aggregate with respect to all j2 Series B Stock equal to 9.5579% of such ZD LLC dividend.

The j2 Series B Stock will have a liquidation preference junior to the liquidation preference of the j2 Series A Stock and a liquidation preference over the j2 common stock in an amount up to, with respect to all shares of j2 Series B Stock, 9.5579% of the assets of ZD LLC and its subsidiaries legally available for distribution to the Company, after reduction in respect of the j2 Series A Stock and certain other senior interests (the "series B minority portion"), but in no event in an amount that exceeds the lesser of the Company’s assets available for distribution and 9.5579% of the assets of ZD LLC and its subsidiaries legally available for distribution to the Company.

On or after January 2, 2019, the j2 Series B Stock will be mandatorily redeemable by the Company upon the occurrence of certain contingent liquidity events such as a sale, initial public offering or spin-off transactions involving ZD LLC. Any or all of the j2 Series B Stock is subject to redemption by the Company at its option at any time. If the redemption occurs in connection with certain sale, initial public offering or spin-off transactions involving ZD LLC, the redemption price will be equal to an allocable portion of the enterprise value of ZD LLC implied by such transaction with respect to the series B minority portion and based on certain factors to be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company in its sole good faith judgment. Otherwise, the redemption price will be equal to the fair market value of such share as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors in its sole good faith judgment.

Preferred Stock Exchange

In November 2014, the Company provided holders of j2 Series A Stock and j2 Series B Stock an exchange right in which shares may be exchanged for j2 common stock. The exchange right associated with the shares of j2 Series A Stock were immediately exercisable at an exchange ratio of 20.4319 shares of j2 common stock per share of j2 Series A Stock (the "Series A Exchange Ratio"). Both holders of the j2 Series A Stock exercised this exchange right which resulted in the issuance of 235,665 shares of j2 common stock. The exchange right associated with the vested shares of the j2 Series B Stock is exercisable during specified exchange periods at an exchange ratio of 31.8094 shares of j2 common stock per share of j2 Series B Stock (the "Series B Exchange Ratio"). Holders of vested j2 Series B Stock exercised this exchange right which resulted in the issuance of 177,573 shares of j2 common stock during fiscal year 2014.

In connection with the exercise of the exchange right and the resulting extinguishment of the Series A, the Company recorded the difference between the carrying value of the Series A and the fair value of the j2 common stock exchanged within retained earnings as a preferred stock dividend. In connection with the exercise of the exchange right associated with Series B, the Company recognized incremental fair value in the amount of $6.3 million and recorded additional share-based compensation in the amount of $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. The remaining amount of unrecognized incremental fair value will be recognized over the remaining service period.

The Series B Exchange Ratio is adjusted in the event of a subdivision of the outstanding j2 common stock or j2 Series B Stock, a declaration of a dividend payable in shares of j2 common stock or j2 Series B Stock, a declaration of a dividend payable in a form other than shares in an amount that has a material effect on the value of shares of j2 common stock or j2 Series B Stock, a combination or consolidation of the outstanding j2 common stock or j2 Series B Stock into a lesser number of shares of j2 common stock or j2 Series B Stock, respectively, specified changes in control , a recapitalization, a reclassification, or a similar occurrence, the Company shall adjust the Series B Exchange Ratio as it deems appropriate in its sole discretion.

Non-Controlling Interest

Non-controlling interests represents equity interests in consolidated subsidiaries that are not attributable, either directly or indirectly, to j2 Global (i.e., minority interests). Non-controlling interests includes prior to the Reorganization described above in Note 9 - Mandatorily Redeemable Financial Instrument, the minority equity holders' proportionate share of the equity of Ziff Davis, Inc.

Ownership interests in subsidiaries held by parties other than the Company are presented as non-controlling interests within stockholders' equity, separately from the equity held by the Company on the consolidated statements of stockholders' equity. Revenues, expenses, net income and other comprehensive income are reported in the consolidated financial statements at the consolidated amounts, which includes amounts attributable to both the Company's interest and the non-controlling interests in Ziff Davis. Net income and other comprehensive income is then attributed to the Company's interest and the non-controlling interests. Net income to non-controlling interests is deducted from net income in the consolidated statements of income to determine net income attributable to the Company's common shareholders.

In connection with the Reorganization described above in Note 9 - Mandatorily Redeemable Financial Instrument, the Company acquired all of the minority holders' equity interests in ZD, Inc. As a result, on December 31, 2013, ZD LLC became a wholly-owned subsidiary of j2 Global, Inc. and the non-controlling interest was no longer outstanding.

Common Stock Repurchase Program

In February 2012, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a program authorizing the repurchase of up to five million shares of j2 Global common stock through February 20, 2013 (see Note 22 - Subsequent Events - for a discussion regarding the extension of the share repurchase program through February 19, 2016). On February 15, 2012, the Company entered into a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan with a broker to facilitate the repurchase program. No shares were repurchased under the share repurchase program for the year ended December 31, 2014 and 2013. Cumulatively at December 31, 2014, 2.1 million shares were repurchased at an aggregate cost of $58.6 million (including an immaterial amount of commission fees).

Periodically, participants in j2 Global’s stock plans surrender to the Company shares of j2 Global stock to pay the exercise price or to satisfy tax withholding obligations arising upon the exercise of stock options or the vesting of restricted stock. During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company purchased 113,256 shares from plan participants for this purpose.

Dividends

The following is a summary of each dividend declared during fiscal year 2014:



Declaration Date	Dividend per Common Share		Record Date	Payment Date
February 11, 2014	$	0.2625	February 24, 2014	March 10, 2014
May 7, 2014	$	0.27	May 19, 2014	June 3, 2014
August 5, 2014	$	0.2775	August 18, 2014	September 2, 2014
October 30, 2014	$	0.285	November 17, 2014	December 4, 2014

On February 10, 2015, the Company's Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.2925 per share of common stock payable on March 9, 2015 to all stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 23, 2015 (see Note 22 - Subsequent Events). Future dividends will be subject to Board approval.

Treasury Stock

On August 14, 2012, the Company retired all treasury stock (which resulted from prior stock repurchases) on its balance sheet. Accordingly, such treasury stock is zero as of December 31, 2014 and 2013.