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Scripps and Journal Communications to merge broadcast operations and spin off newspapers

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Cincinnati and Milwaukee – The E.W. Scripps Company and Journal Communications have agreed to merge their broadcast operations and spin off and then merge their newspapers, creating two focused and separately traded public companies that offer long-term opportunities to create value for shareholders.

The merged broadcast and digital media company, based in Cincinnati, will retain The E.W. Scripps Company name, and the Scripps family shareholders will continue to have voting control. The company will have approximately 4,000 employees across its television, radio and digital media operations and is expected to have annual revenue of more than US$800 million.

The newspaper company will be called Journal Media Group and will combine Scripps’ daily newspapers, community publications and related digital products in 13 markets with Journal Communications’ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin community publications and affiliated digital products. The company, with expected annual revenue of more than US$500 million and approximately 3,600 employees, will be headquartered in Milwaukee.

The Scripps and Journal Communications boards of directors have approved the stock-for-stock transactions, which are subject to customary regulatory and shareholder approvals.

The deal is expected to close in 2015.

“In one motion, we’re creating an industry-leading local television company and a financially flexible newspaper company with the capacity and vision to help lead the evolution of their respective industries,” said Rich Boehne, chairman, president and CEO of The E.W. Scripps Company, who will continue at the helm of Scripps. “Making the combinations even more appealing are the rich histories of these two organisations, both driven by a deep commitment to public service through enterprise journalism. For shareholders, this deal should unlock significant value as both companies gain efficiency, scale and more focus on the industry dynamics unique to these businesses.”

“This transaction will create two solid media businesses that will continue to serve their communities with a commitment to integrity and excellence that has been built over many years,” said Steven J. Smith, chairman and CEO of Journal Communications. “Journal’s radio and television stations will add depth and breadth to the Scripps TV group and additional expertise to its management team. The formation of the new Journal Media Group, headquartered in Milwaukee, will continue a tradition of exceptional print and digital journalism in 14 markets across the country. These companies will offer a combination of excellent local media assets and an incredible array of talent in our employees. We look to the future with great optimism and a continued sense of purpose in providing relevant, differentiated content to our local communities across the country.”

Journal Communications’ Class A and Class B shareholders will receive 0.5176 Scripps Class A Common shares and 0.1950 shares in Journal Media Group for each Journal Communications share. Scripps shareholders will receive 0.2500 shares in Journal Media Group for each Class A Common Share and each Common Voting Share they hold in Scripps.

Journal Communications shareholders will own approximately 31 percent of The E.W. Scripps Company’s total shares following the merger. Scripps shareholders will retain approximately 69 percent ownership. The Scripps family will retain its controlling interest in The E.W. Scripps Company through its ownership of Common Voting shares. Scripps shareholders will own 59 percent of the new newspaper company, Journal Media Group, and Journal Communications shareholders will own 41 percent. Journal Media Group will have one class of stock and no controlling shareholder.

Scripps shareholders of record just prior to the closing will receive a US$60 million special dividend.

The transaction is expected to be tax-free to shareholders of both companies. The companies project about US$35 million in combined transaction synergies in the near term.

Benefits for Scripps

The merger will create significant strategic and financial benefits for Scripps including:

  • Creating the opportunity for improving TV division margins;
  • Adding a profitable radio business;
  • Positioning the TV group in attractive markets across the country, including stations in eight important political states – Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio and Wisconsin;
  • Extending Scripps’ position as one of the largest owners of ABC-affiliated TV stations in the country by market reach, with 15 ABC affiliates, and expanding its affiliations to all of the Big Four networks;
  • Benefitting from co-ownership of TV and radio in five markets;
  • Leveraging high-quality journalism and Scripps’ original television programming across a larger geographic footprint; and
  • Maintaining a strong balance sheet, with expected net leverage at closing estimated at about 2x, allowing plenty of capacity for additional acquisitions.

The combination further leverages Scripps’ digital investments, adding large and attractive markets to the portfolio. The company is building and launching market-leading digital brands that serve growing digital media audiences in addition to supporting its on-air local news brands. It also recently acquired digital brands with national reach such as Newsy and DecodeDC that will benefit from the new geographic markets.

The Scripps National Spelling Bee will remain under the stewardship of The E.W. Scripps Company.

Benefits for Journal Media Group

The spinoff will create significant strategic and financial benefits for the combined newspaper operations, including:

  • Creating a powerful source of enterprise journalism and the opportunity for innovation in the industry;
  • Building upon a geographically diverse portfolio of strong local media brands in 14 attractive markets, including Naples, Fla.; Florida’s Treasure Coast; Knoxville; Memphis; and Milwaukee;
  • Leveraging best practices of each company across all functions to drive revenue growth, efficiency and cost effectiveness;
  • Increasing scale and financial flexibility, allowing Journal Media Group to navigate the ongoing transformation of the local media landscape; and
  • Establishing a solid balance sheet with US$10 million of cash and no debt (Scripps is keeping substantially all qualified pension obligations).

Tim Stautberg, senior vice president, newspapers for Scripps, will become president, CEO and a director of Journal Media Group upon completion of the transaction. Steve Smith will become non-executive chairman of the board.

Wells Fargo Securities acted as exclusive financial advisor to Scripps, Evercore Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor to the Scripps family, and Methuselah Advisors acted as exclusive financial advisor to Journal Communications.

Conference call

Scripps and Journal senior managers will discuss the merger and spinoff with investors and analysts during a telephone conference call on July 30 at 9am (Eastern).

During the call, managers will refer to a PowerPoint presentation with details of the deal. That presentation can be found at the Scripps and Journal Communications websites.