Here is the internal email sent to the staff at Media General from CEO Vince Sandusky:
From: "Sadusky, Vincent"
Date: January 27, 2016 at 8:54:55 AM EST
To: "Sadusky, Vincent"
Subject: Important Merger Announcement
Dear Team,
I want to share some important news with you. Today, we announced that we have reached an agreement to combine with Nexstar in a cash and stock transaction valued at $4.6 billion. We simultaneously announced that Media General and Meredith have terminated our previous merger agreement. Attached are both press releases issued this morning.
We believe this is a positive outcome for our company and all our stakeholders. As you know, the goal of our Board of Directors and management team all along has been to maximize value – and we believe our agreement to join forces with Nexstar does just that. Together with Nexstar, we will have expanded audience reach, a more diversified portfolio and a significantly stronger financial profile. The combined company, to be named Nexstar Media Group, will be one of the nation’s leading providers of local news, entertainment, sports, lifestyle and network programming and content through its broadcast and digital media platform with annual revenue in excess of $2.3 billion.
Nexstar Media Group’s increased scale will allow advertisers and brands to benefit from a more comprehensive, integrated and competitive offering across all markets. With 171 full power television stations in 100 markets and a diverse and growing digital media operation, the combined company will offer superior engagement across all devices and influence on consumers’ purchasing decisions unrivaled by other media, including large-scale reach to approximately 39% of all U.S. television households. For our shareholders, the transaction provides Media General with immediate value and the opportunity to participate in the near- and long-term upside of a stronger pure-play broadcasting company.
Organization and Leadership
Nexstar Media Group will be led by Nexstar’s Chairman, President and CEO, Perry Sook and will be headquartered in Irving, Texas. At closing, Media General and Nexstar shareholders will own approximately 34% and 66% of the combined company, respectively. In addition, two Media General directors will join the Nexstar Board of Directors.
Next Steps
We expect to close the transaction late in the third quarter / early in the fourth quarter of 2016, subject to approval by Media General and Nexstar shareholders, regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Until that time, Media General and Nexstar will remain two separate companies and it is business as usual.
Over the coming weeks, we expect to assemble a transition-planning team comprising leaders from both Media General and Nexstar that will work on how best to integrate the companies following the completion of the transaction. As always, we will communicate more information to you as this process progresses.
I know you will have many questions about today’s announcement and what it means for you. Please keep in mind that we are still very early in this process. To that end, please find attached a list of FAQs to help answer some of the questions you may have about this announcement. As always, we will provide updates regarding any important developments as we move forward.
In the event you receive inquiries from external parties, it is important that we continue to speak with one voice. Please forward any inquiries to Courtney Guertin at cguertin@mediageneral.com.
On behalf of the Board and management team, I want to thank you again for remaining focused on our business objectives during this process. Your efforts and commitment are what makes Media General great – and are what will make our combined company great in the future. We hope you share our enthusiasm about this exciting new chapter for our company.
Sincerely,
Vince Sadusky
President and CEO