New Media Announces European Commission Regulatory Clearance for Merger with Gannett
October 23 2019 - 4:15PM
Business Wire
New Media Investment Group Inc. (“New Media” or the “Company”)
(NYSE: NEWM) announced today that the European Commission has
provided regulatory clearance under the EU Merger Regulation for
the transactions contemplated by the previously announced
definitive agreement, dated August 5, 2019, pursuant to which New
Media will acquire Gannett Co., Inc. (“Gannett”) (NYSE: GCI) for a
combination of cash and stock (the “Merger”). This concludes all
regulatory reviews of the Merger.
The completion of the Merger remains subject to other customary
closing conditions, including receipt of approval from New Media
stockholders and Gannett stockholders. The Merger is expected to
close shortly following the New Media and Gannett special
stockholder meetings, which are currently scheduled for November
14, 2019.
About New Media Investment Group
Inc.
New Media supports small to mid-size communities by providing
locally-focused print and digital content to its consumers and
premier marketing and technology solutions to our small and medium
business partners. The Company is one of the largest publishers of
locally based print and online media in the United States as
measured by our 154 daily publications. As of June 30, 2019, New
Media operates in over 600 markets across 39 states reaching over
21 million people on a weekly basis and serves over 200,000
business customers.
For more information regarding New Media and to be added to our
email distribution list, please visit www.newmediainv.com.
No Offer or Solicitation
This communication is neither an offer to sell, nor a
solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities in any jurisdiction
pursuant to or in connection with the proposed transaction or
otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of
securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law.
No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a
prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, and otherwise in accordance with
applicable law.
Cautionary Statement Regarding
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this communication may constitute
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking
statements include all statements that are not historical facts,
including, among other things, statements regarding the expected
timetable for completing the proposed transaction between New Media
and Gannett. Words such as “anticipate(s),” “expect(s),”
“intend(s),” “plan(s),” “target(s),” “project(s),” “believe(s),”
“will,” “aim(s),” “would,” “seek(s),” “estimate(s)” and similar
expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking
statements.
Forward-looking statements are based on New Media’s current
expectations and beliefs, and New Media cannot give any assurance
that its expectations or beliefs will be attained. These
forward-looking statements and are not a guarantee of future
performance and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results or
events to differ, possibly materially, from the expectations or
estimates reflected in such forward-looking statements, including,
among others:
- the parties’ ability to consummate the proposed transaction and
to meet expectations regarding the timing and completion of the
proposed transaction;
- the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions to the completion
of the proposed transaction, including the receipt of the required
approval of New Media’s stockholders and Gannett’s stockholders
with respect to the proposed transaction, in each case, on the
terms expected or on the anticipated schedule;
- the risk that the parties may be unable to achieve the
anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction, including
synergies and operating efficiencies, within the expected
time-frames, or at all;
- the risk that the committed financing necessary for the
consummation of the proposed transaction is unavailable at the
closing, and that any replacement financing may not be available on
similar terms, or at all;
- the risk that the businesses will not be integrated
successfully or that integration may be more difficult,
time-consuming or costly than expected;
- the risk that operating costs, customer loss and business
disruption (including, without limitation, difficulties in
maintaining relationships with employees, customers, clients or
suppliers) may be greater than expected following the proposed
transaction;
- general economic and market conditions;
- the retention of certain key employees; and
- the combined company’s ability to grow its digital marketing
and business services initiatives, and grow its digital audience
and advertiser base.
Additional risk factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from expectations include, but are not limited
to, the risks identified by New Media in its most recent Annual
Report on Form 10-K, its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and its
Current Reports on Form 8-K, as well as the risks identified in the
registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-233509) (the
“Registration Statement”) filed by New Media. All forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date on which they are made. Except
to the extent required by law, New Media expressly disclaims any
obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any
forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change
in its expectations with regard thereto or change in events,
conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.
Additional Information and Where to
Find It
This communication may be deemed to be solicitation material in
respect of the proposed transaction between New Media and Gannett.
The proposed transaction will be submitted to New Media’s
stockholders and Gannett’s stockholders for their consideration. In
connection with the proposed transaction, New Media has filed with
the SEC the Registration Statement, which includes a prospectus
with respect to shares of New Media’s common stock to be issued in
the proposed transaction and a joint proxy statement for New
Media’s stockholders and Gannett’s stockholders (the “Joint Proxy
Statement”). The Registration Statement was declared effective by
the SEC on October 10, 2019, and the Joint Proxy Statement was
first mailed to stockholders of New Media and Gannett on or about
October 10, 2019. Each of New Media and Gannett may also file other
documents regarding the proposed transaction with the SEC.
INVESTORS AND SECURITYHOLDERS OF NEW MEDIA ARE URGED TO
CAREFULLY READ ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, INCLUDING
THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT, AS WELL
AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THESE DOCUMENTS, WHEN THEY
BECOME AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION
ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. The Registration Statement, the
Joint Proxy Statement and other relevant materials (when they
become available) and any other documents filed or furnished by New
Media or Gannett with the SEC may be obtained free of charge at the
SEC’s web site, http://www.sec.gov. Copies will also be available
at no charge in the “Investor Relations” sections of New Media’s
website, www.newmediainv.com,and Gannett’s website,
www.gannett.com.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191023005671/en/
Ashley Higgins, Investor Relations ir@newmediainv.com (212)
479-3160 or Media: Jonathan Gasthalter/Nathaniel Garnick Gasthalter
& Co. (212) 257-4170 or Investors: Sam Levenson Arbor Advisory
Group (203) 307-2250
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