---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001641172-25-006683"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "AREN"
cik: "0000894871"
company_name: "Arena Group Holdings, Inc."
filed_at: "2025-04-29T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-23T04:32:09.358514+00:00"
event_type: "other_material"
sentiment: "positive"
materiality_score: 0.75
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Arena Group settles Authentic Brands litigation, removes $93.9M in liabilities, appoints new director

## Summary
- Confidential settlement with Authentic Brands Group, Sportority, and Manoj Bhargava; financial terms not material.
- Removal of ~$93.9M in accrued liabilities expected in Q2 2025, strengthening balance sheet.
- Four directors resigned: Christopher Fowler, Laura Lee, Christopher Petzel, Carlo Zola, effective April 28, 2025.
- Lynn Petersmarck appointed to board and audit/compensation/nominating committees.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001641172-25-006683
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: AREN
- cik: 0000894871
- company_name: Arena Group Holdings, Inc.
- filed_at: 2025-04-29T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: other_material
- sentiment: positive
- materiality_score: 0.75
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 8.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/894871/000164117225006683/0001641172-25-006683-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/894871/000164117225006683/form8-k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001641172-25-006683
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001641172-25-006683.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001641172-25-006683.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Christopher Petzel resigned as Director at Arena Group Holdings, Inc..
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: Director
  source text: On April 28, 2025, each of Christopher Fowler, Laura Lee, Christopher Petzel, and Carlo Zola notified The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. (the "Company") that they would resign from the Company's board of directors (the "Board") and all committees thereof, effective as of April 28, 2025.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/894871/000164117225006683/0001641172-25-006683-index.htm
- Executive change
  Carlo Zola resigned as Director at Arena Group Holdings, Inc..
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: Director
  source text: On April 28, 2025, each of Christopher Fowler, Laura Lee, Christopher Petzel, and Carlo Zola notified The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. (the "Company") that they would resign from the Company's board of directors (the "Board") and all committees thereof, effective as of April 28, 2025.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/894871/000164117225006683/0001641172-25-006683-index.htm
- Executive change
  Laura Lee resigned as Director at Arena Group Holdings, Inc..
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: Director
  source text: On April 28, 2025, each of Christopher Fowler, Laura Lee, Christopher Petzel, and Carlo Zola notified The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. (the "Company") that they would resign from the Company's board of directors (the "Board") and all committees thereof, effective as of April 28, 2025.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/894871/000164117225006683/0001641172-25-006683-index.htm
- Executive change
  Lynn Petersmarck was appointed as Director at Arena Group Holdings, Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Director
  source text: In addition, on April 28, 2025, Lynn Petersmarck was appointed to the Board.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/894871/000164117225006683/0001641172-25-006683-index.htm
- Executive change
  Christopher Fowler resigned as Director at Arena Group Holdings, Inc..
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: Director
  source text: On April 28, 2025, each of Christopher Fowler, Laura Lee, Christopher Petzel, and Carlo Zola notified The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. (the "Company") that they would resign from the Company's board of directors (the "Board") and all committees thereof, effective as of April 28, 2025.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/894871/000164117225006683/0001641172-25-006683-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.