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): March 6, 2013

Hot Topic, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

18305 E. San Jose Avenue

City of Industry, California 91748

(Address of principal executive offices, including Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (626) 839-4681

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:

Item 8.01. Other Events.

On March 6, 2013, Hot Topic, Inc., a California corporation (the “Company”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with 212F Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Parent”), and HT Merger Sub Inc., a California corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”). Parent and Merger Sub are beneficially owned by affiliates of Sycamore Partners Management, L.L.C. A copy of the joint press release announcing the execution of the Merger Agreement is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

In connection with the transactions contemplated by the by Merger Agreement, the Company has suspended the payment of its regular quarterly dividend.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Current Report on Form 8-K contains forward-looking statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about beliefs or expectations, are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on plans, estimates and projections at the time the Company makes the statements, and readers should not place undue reliance on them. In some cases, readers can identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terms such as “may,” “will,” “should, “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terms. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and the Company cautions readers that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any such forward-looking statement. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in this Current Report on Form 8-K include, among others: the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement and the inability to complete the proposed merger due to the failure to obtain shareholder approval for the proposed merger or the failure to satisfy other conditions to completion of the proposed merger, including that a governmental entity may prohibit, delay or refuse to grant approval for the consummation of the transaction. Additional risks are described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 28, 2012 and its subsequently filed reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements included in this Current Report on Form 8-K, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company does not undertake to update any of these statements in light of new information or future events.

Important Additional Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed merger, Hot Topic, Inc. will prepare a proxy statement to be filed with the SEC. When completed, a definitive proxy statement and a form of proxy will be mailed to the shareholders of the Company. THE COMPANY’S SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT REGARDING THE PROPOSED MERGER BECAUSE IT WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. The Company’s shareholders will be able to obtain, without charge, a copy of the proxy statement (when available) and other relevant documents filed with the SEC from the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. The Company’s shareholders will also be able to obtain, without charge, a copy of the proxy statement and other relevant documents (when available) by directing a request by mail or telephone to Hot Topic, Inc., 18305 E. San Jose Avenue, City of Industry, CA 91748, attention: Investor Relations or by calling (626) 839-4681.

The Company and its directors and officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the Company’s shareholders with respect to the proposed merger. Information about the

Company’s directors and executive officers and their ownership of the Company’s common stock is set forth in the proxy statement for the Company’s 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 26, 2012 and will be set forth in the proxy statement regarding the proposed merger. Shareholders may obtain additional information regarding the interests of the Company and its directors and executive officers in the proposed merger, which may be different than those of the Company’s shareholders generally, by reading the proxy statement and other relevant documents regarding the proposed merger, when filed with the SEC.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

SIGNATURES

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.

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