E.W. Scripps’ board unanimously rejected Sinclair’s unsolicited takeover bid, saying it was not within the firm’s or shareholders’ greatest pursuits.
The $622 million acquisition proposal would have given the Scripps buyers about 12.7% of the mixed firm. Sinclair, which already owns 8.2% of Scripps, made the bid final month to purchase out shareholders at $7 per share, providing a 200% premium to Scripps’ 30-day volume-weighted common value.
“The board is dedicated to performing in one of the best pursuits of all Scripps shareholders in addition to the corporate’s staff and the various communities and audiences it serves throughout the US,” Kim Williams, the chair of Scripps’ board, stated. “After cautious consideration, Scripps’ board decided that Sinclair’s unsolicited acquisition proposal isn’t in one of the best pursuits of Scripps and its shareholders. The board nonetheless stays open to evaluating alternatives to boost shareholder worth and can proceed to contemplate any plan of action, together with any acquisition proposal, that’s in one of the best curiosity of all shareholders.”
The merger rejection comes as Nexstar Media Group seems to be to amass Tegna in a $6.2 billion transaction. Beneath present regulation of the federal cap on station possession, a single proprietor might not management stations reaching greater than 39% of U.S. households. A Nexstar-Tegna merger would double that attain. The proposed Sinclair-Scripps merger would have additionally prolonged previous the 39% restrict.
Whereas Scripps rejected the bigger rival’s bid, the corporate stated it remained open to evaluating alternatives to boost shareholder worth, together with any future proposals.
Scripps owns a portfolio of 61 tv stations in 41 markets along with nationwide networks like Courtroom TV and Ion. Sinclair operates and/or supplies providers to 185 TV stations in 85 markets. Beneath Sinclair’s proposal, the mixed firm would have a market capitalization of $2.9 billion, in response to Sinclair.
