Takeover Spotlight: Gannett Co. Inc.

Article Excerpt

GANNETT CO. INC. $10.56 (New York symbol GCI; Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 114.6 million; Market cap: $1.2 billion; Dividend yield: 6.0%; Takeover Target Rating: Highest; www.gannett.com) publishes its flagship newspaper, USAToday, along with smaller dailies, in over 100 U.S. markets. It also has papers in the U.K., and over 200 magazines and other publications. The company has now accepted a takeover offer from GateHouse Media, and its parent company New Media Investment Group Inc. (New York symbol NEWM). The combined firm, which will retain the Gannett Co. name and trading symbol, will publish 263 daily newspapers in 47 states. It will have annual revenue of $4.3 billion, including $1.0 billion from digital advertising and marketing services. The new company also expects to save $275 million to $300 million by cutting jobs and combining printing presses. Gannett investors will receive $6.25 in cash plus 0.5427 of a NEWM share for each share they own. As a group, they will then own 49.5% of the combined company; New Media…