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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
Washington, D.C. 20549
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SCHEDULE 14D-9
Solicitation/Recommendation Statement Pursuant to
Section 14(d)(4) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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CENTRAL NEWSPAPERS, INC.
(Name of Subject Company)
CENTRAL NEWSPAPERS, INC.
(Name of Person(s) Filing Statement)
Class A Common Stock, no par value (CUSIP 154647101)
Class B Common Stock, no par value
(Title of Class of Securities)
Eric S. Tooker
Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel
Central Newspapers, Inc.
200 E. Van Buren Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85004
(602) 444-1115
(Name, address and telephone number of person
authorized to receive notice and
communications on behalf of the person(s)
filing statement)
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With a copy to
George R. Bason, Jr.
Davis Polk & Wardwell
450 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10017
(212) 450-4000
|X| Check the box if the filing relates solely to preliminary
communications made before the commencement of a tender offer.
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<PAGE>
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 28, 2000
ARLINGTON, VA/PHOENIX, AZ. - Gannett Co., Inc. and Central Newspapers,
Inc. announced today that they have entered into a definitive agreement for
Gannett's acquisition of Central Newspapers, Inc. for an approximate cash
purchase price of $2.6 billion. In connection with the acquisition, a subsidiary
of Gannett will make a tender offer to purchase any and all of Central's Class A
and B stock at prices of $64.00 and $6.40 per share, respectively. Gannett also
will assume or retire all of Central's existing debt. Upon completion of the
tender offer, if required in order to complete the acquisition, Central will
hold a special meeting of shareholders to approve the merger of the Gannett
subsidiary into Central.
The transaction has been approved by the boards of directors of both
Gannett and Central as well as by the trustees of the Eugene C. Pulliam Trust,
which owns approximately 78% of the voting power of Central Newspapers. The
Eugene C. Pulliam Trust has agreed to tender all of its Class B stock to Gannett
in the tender offer and to vote in favor of the merger if a special meeting of
shareholders is required. The affirmative vote of the Trust's Class B stock
would be sufficient to approve the merger. The Pulliam Trust also has granted
Gannett an option to purchase its Class B shares.
Central Newspapers owns The Arizona Republic, The Indianapolis Star and
three other dailies in Indiana and one daily in Louisiana. Central also owns a
direct marketing business; CNI Ventures, Central's internet and technology
investment management group; as well as other related media and information
businesses, including 23% of BrassRing, Inc.
In announcing the offer, Douglas H. McCorkindale, president and chief
executive officer of Gannett said: "We are extremely pleased that the Central
properties will become part of Gannett. We have held these properties in high
esteem for many years and look forward to operating them in keeping with the
high standards established by the Pulliam family. This transaction affords
Gannett the rare opportunity to add two flagship newspapers to our operations.
We are excited about expanding our presence in Phoenix, the 14th largest market
in the United States and the fastest growing metro market in the United States.
We also welcome the chance to enter Indianapolis, the 29th largest U.S. market.
We consider ourselves very fortunate to be able to add such high caliber people
and operations to our Company."
Louis A. "Chip" Weil III, chairman, president and chief executive officer
of Central said: "It is increasingly clear that size and scale are key
considerations in the long-term success of a newspaper operator, and our
agreement announced today is a reflection of that. We believe this transaction
demonstrates the substantial value that Central Newspapers has created and the
overall strength of our operations. Our management and employees have a great
deal of pride in what we've built, and we believe that Gannett, with its strong
operating capability and its enormous commitment to newspapers, will continue to
enhance the value of Central's businesses. Our trust is in Gannett to ensure
that our commitment to community, product and employees will continue to grow
and prosper under their ownership."
Closing is expected to occur in the third quarter of 2000, subject to
obtaining applicable governmental approvals and other customary conditions.
Although Gannett presently owns KPNX-TV in Phoenix, AZ, because this
transaction does not require the transfer of any broadcast station licenses, no
Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") approval is required. The FCC's policy
provides that newly created newspaper/television combinations may be held until
the station's next license renewal, or October 2006 in this case. If the
cross-ownership rule has not been modified by that time, a waiver would be
needed to allow continued ownership. Gannett expects that by the time KPNX-TV's
license is up for renewal, the cross-ownership issue will be resolved favorably.
The transaction is expected to be accretive to Gannett's cash EPS for 2000 and
in its first full year in 2001. (Cash EPS is defined as diluted earnings per
share before amortization of good will and intangibles.) Initial dilution to
reported earnings per share is expected to be approximately 7%. The transaction
values Central at approximately 11.2 x 2000 expected EBITDA and 9.5 x 2001
expected EBITDA, after anticipated synergies.
Gannett Co., Inc. is an international news and information company that
publishes 89 daily and numerous non-daily newspapers worldwide, including USA
TODAY, the nation's largest-selling daily newspaper and USA WEEKEND, a weekly
newspaper magazine. On June 8, Gannett announced that it would acquire 21 daily
newspapers and related publications from Thomson Newspapers, Inc. Gannett also
operates 22 television stations and is an Internet leader with sites sponsored
by most of its TV stations and newspapers including USATODAY.com, one of the
most popular news sites on the Web.
Central Newspapers is a media and information company. Through its
flagship newspapers The Arizona Republic and The Indianapolis Star, Central
publishes the only major dailies in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area and
central Indiana, and also operates those markets' leading local Internet
portals, azcentral.com in Arizona and indy.com in Indianapolis. Central also
owns and operates several smaller newspapers as well as other related media and
information businesses. Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette served as financial advisor
to Central Newspapers, and Goldman, Sachs & Co. advised the Eugene C. Pulliam
Trust.
This release contains forward looking statements that are subject to risks
and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those projected in such statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include,
but are not limited to, satisfaction of the conditions to closing and Gannett's
ability to integrate the Central operations and achieve the anticipated
synergies of the transaction.
The parties are required to file documentation with the Securities and
Exchange Commission concerning the transaction. WE URGE INVESTORS TO READ THE
SCHEDULE TO, THE SCHEDULE 14D-9, PROXY STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT
DOCUMENTS TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC, WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY
CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. You may obtain a free copy of the documents filed
by Gannett or Central with the Commission at the Commission's web site at
www.sec.gov. In addition, documents filed with the SEC by Gannett or Central
will be available free of charge by directing a request to the Secretary of
Gannett at 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22234 and the Secretary of
Central at 200 E. Van Buren Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004, respectively.
Central, its directors, executive officers and certain other members of
Central management and employees may be soliciting proxies from Central
shareholders in favor of the merger transaction and may have an interest either
directly or indirectly by virtue of their security holdings or otherwise.
Information concerning the participants will be set forth in a Proxy Statement
that may be filed with the SEC. Information regarding such officers and
directors is included in Central's Definitive Proxy Statement for its 2000
Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed with the Commission on April 4, 2000. This
document is available free of charge at the Commission's web site at
http://www.sec.gov and from Central at the address set forth above.
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Gannett Contacts: Gannett Co., Inc. OR Mimi Feller, Sr. V.P. Tara Connell,
Office of Public Affairs of Public Affairs and 703/284-6038 or 6049 Government
Relations [email protected] 703/284-6046
Central Contacts:
Central Newspapers, Inc. OR Brainerd Communications
Tom MacGillivray, Sr. Vice President & CFO Jeff Majtyka
602/444-1100 212/986-6667
[email protected]
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