UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14D-9

(Rule 14d-101)

Solicitation/Recommendation Statement

Under Section 14(d)(4) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Squarespace, Inc.

(Name of Subject Company)

Squarespace, Inc.

(Name of Persons Filing Statement)

Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share

Class B Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share

Class C Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share

(Title of Class of Securities)

85225A107

(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)

Anthony Casalena

Chief Executive Officer

225 Varick Street,

12th Floor

New York,

New York 10014

Tel: (646) 580-3456

(Name, address, and telephone numbers of person authorized to receive notices and communications

on behalf of the persons filing statement)

With copies to:

Allison Schneirov

Christopher Barlow

Daniel Luks

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

One Manhattan West

New York, NY 10001

Tel: (212) 735-3000

☒ Check the box if the filing relates solely to preliminary communications made before the commencement of a tender offer.

This Schedule 14D-9 filing relates solely to preliminary communications made before the commencement of a planned tender offer (the “Offer”) by Spaceship Group MergerCo, Inc. (“Merger Sub”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Spaceship Purchaser, Inc. (“Parent” and together with Merger Sub, the “Buyer Parties”), for all of the outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share of Squarespace, Inc. (the “Company”), to be commenced pursuant to the Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated September 9, 2024 (the “A&R Merger Agreement”), among the Company, Merger Sub and Parent. If successful, the Offer will be followed by a merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company (the “Merger”).

This Schedule 14D-9 filing consists of the following document relating to the proposed Offer and Merger:

•Exhibit 99.1:	All Employee Memo
•Exhibit 99.2:	All Employee FAQ
•Exhibit 99.3:	Investor Presentation

Additional Information and Where to Find It

The tender offer described in this Schedule 14D-9 has not yet commenced. This Schedule 14D-9 is not an offer to buy nor a solicitation of an offer to sell any securities of the Company. The solicitation and the offer to buy shares of the Company’s common stock will be made only pursuant to a tender offer statement on Schedule TO, including an offer to purchase, a letter of transmittal and other related materials that the Buyer Parties intend to file with the SEC. In addition, the Company will file with the SEC a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 with respect to the tender offer. Once filed, such documents will be mailed to the stockholders of the Company free of charge and investors will also be able to obtain a free copy of these materials (including the tender offer statement, Offer and the related letter of transmittal) as well as the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement and other documents filed by the Buyer Parties and the Company with the SEC at the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Investors may also obtain, at no charge, any such documents filed with or furnished to the SEC by the Company under the “SEC Filings” section of the Company’s website at www.investors.squarespace.com. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, the Company’s or Parent’s website is not a part of, or incorporated by reference herein.

INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE ADVISED TO READ THESE DOCUMENTS WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE (AND EACH AS IT MAY BE AMENDED OR SUPPLEMENTED FROM TIME TO TIME), INCLUDING THE TENDER OFFER MATERIALS (INCLUDING THE OFFER TO PURCHASE, THE RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL, THE SCHEDULE 13E-3 AND ANY OTHER RELATED MATERIALS), THE SCHEDULE 13E-3, AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT ARE FILED OR WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC, CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY PRIOR TO MAKING ANY DECISIONS WITH RESPECT TO WHETHER TO TENDER THEIR SHARES INTO THE TENDER OFFER BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION, INCLUDING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE TENDER OFFER.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements either contained in or incorporated by reference into this document are  within the meaning of, and subject to the safe harbor created by, the federal securities laws, including statements related to the proposed merger of the Company with an affiliate of Permira Advisers (the “Transaction”), including financial estimates and statements as to the expected timing, completion and effects of the Transaction. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s current expectations, estimates and projections regarding, among other things, the expected date of closing of the Transaction and the potential benefits thereof, its business and industry, management’s beliefs and certain assumptions made by the Company, all of which are subject to change. Forward-looking statements often contain words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “aims,” “plan,” “believe,” “could,” “seek,” “see,” “will,” “may,” “would,” “might,” “considered,” “potential,” “estimate,” “continue,” “likely,” “expect,” “target” or similar expressions or the negatives of these words or other comparable terminology that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes. By their nature, forward-looking statements address matters that involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend upon future circumstances that may or may not occur, such as the consummation of the Transaction and the anticipated benefits thereof. These and other forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Important risk factors that may cause such a difference include, but are not limited to: (i) the completion of the Transaction on anticipated terms and timing, including satisfying the minimum tender condition and obtaining any regulatory approvals, and the satisfaction of other conditions to the completion of the Transaction; (ii) the ability of affiliates of Permira to obtain the necessary financing arrangements set forth in the commitment letters received in connection with the Transaction; (iii) potential litigation relating to the Transaction that could be instituted against Permira, the Company or their respective directors, managers or officers, including the effects of any outcomes related thereto; (iv) the risk that disruptions from the Transaction will harm the Company’s business, including current plans and operations; (v) the ability of the Company to retain and hire key personnel; (vi) potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the Transaction; (vii) continued availability of capital and financing and rating agency actions; (viii) legislative, regulatory and economic developments affecting the Company’s business; (ix) general economic and market developments and conditions; (x) potential business uncertainty, including changes to existing business relationships, during the pendency of the Transaction that could affect the Company’s financial performance; (xi) certain restrictions during the pendency of the Transaction that may impact the Company’s ability to pursue certain business opportunities or strategic transactions; (xii) unpredictability and severity of catastrophic events, including but not limited to acts of terrorism, pandemics, outbreaks of war or hostilities, as well as the Company’s response to any of the aforementioned factors; (xiii) significant transaction costs associated with the Transaction; (xiv) the possibility that the Transaction may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events; (xv) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the Transaction, including in circumstances requiring the Company to pay a termination fee or other expenses; (xvi) competitive responses to the Transaction; (xvii) the risks and uncertainties pertaining to the Company’s business, including those set forth in Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Part II, Item 1A of the Company’s subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as such risk factors may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports filed by the Company with the SEC; and (xviii) the risks and uncertainties that will be described in the Schedule TO (including the offer to purchase, letter of transmittal and related documents) that Permira will file with the SEC, and the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 that the Company will file with the SEC available from the sources indicated below. These risks, as well as other risks associated with the Transaction, will be more fully discussed in the Schedule TO and this Schedule 14D-9. While the list of factors presented here is, and the list of factors to be presented in the Schedule TO and this Schedule 14D-9 will be, considered representative, no such list should be considered a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. Unlisted factors may present significant additional obstacles to the realization of forward-looking statements. Consequences of material differences in results as compared with those anticipated in the forward-looking statements could include, among other things, business disruption, operational problems, financial loss, legal liability to third parties and similar risks, any of which could have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, credit rating or liquidity. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company does not undertake to and specifically disclaims any obligation to publicly release the results of any updates or revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect future events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.