UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): May 21, 2015
TRIBUNE PUBLISHING COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware |
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001-36230 |
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38-3919441 |
(State or other jurisdiction
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(Commission File Number) |
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(I.R.S. Employer
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435 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60611
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
312-222-9100
(Registrants Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Introductory Note
On May 21, 2015, Tribune Publishing Company, LLC (the Acquiror), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tribune Publishing Company (the Company), completed the acquisition of MLIM, LLC (MLIM), the indirect owner of the U-T San Diego (f/k/a the San Diego Union Tribune ) and nine community weeklies and related digital properties in San Diego County (the Acquisition), pursuant to that Membership Interest Purchase Agreement (the Agreement), dated May 7, 2015, among the Acquiror, MLIM Holdings, LLC (the Seller), the Papa Doug Trust u/a/d January 11, 2010, Douglas F. Manchester and Douglas W. Manchester, and MLIM, as amended effective May 21, 2015. The Agreement is described in the Companys Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 8, 2015, which description is incorporated herein by reference. At the closing of the transaction, the Acquiror acquired all of the Sellers equity interests in MLIM.
Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
Lender Joinder Agreement
In connection with the Acquisition, the Company entered into a Lender Joinder Agreement with Citicorp North America, Inc. (Citi) and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., pursuant to which Citi provided a $ 70,000,000 increase to the term loan (the Term Loan Increase) under the Companys existing senior term loan facility. The Term Loan Increase bears the same interest rate and has the same maturity date as the existing loans under the senior term loan facility. The Term Loan Increase was fully drawn at closing of the Acquisition.
The Companys existing senior term loan facility is described in the Companys Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 7, 2014, which description is incorporated herein by reference.
The Lender Joinder Agreement is expected to be filed as an exhibit to the Companys Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ending June 28, 2015.
Registration Rights Agreement
On the closing of the Acquisition, the Company entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with the Seller (the Registration Rights Agreement), whereby the Seller is entitled to certain registration rights under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), with respect to the shares of common stock of the Company acquired in connection with the closing (the Stock Consideration). Under the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company is required to file a registration statement on Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission to register the resale of the Stock Consideration when it is eligible to do so. In addition, the Registration Rights Agreement provides the Seller with piggyback registration rights for the Stock Consideration. The Company will pay all of its own costs and expenses, including all fees and expenses of any counsel, relating to the Registration Rights Agreement. The Seller will bear the cost of underwriting discounts and selling commissions associated with any sale of the Stock Consideration, and its own costs and expenses, including legal counsel.
The Registration Rights Agreement is expected to be filed as an exhibit to the Companys Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ending June 28, 2015.
Item 2.01 Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets
The information set forth above under the heading Introductory Note is incorporated herein by reference.
The total purchase price for the Acquisition consisted of $71 million in cash after application of the estimated working capital adjustment, and $12 million in common stock of the Company, or 700,869 shares. In addition, MLIM, which will become a subsidiary of the Company, will also retain certain liabilities, including its existing pension obligations. The Acquiror financed the cash portion of the purchase price with a combination of cash-on-hand, funds available under the Companys existing senior asset based revolving credit facility and the net proceeds of the Term Loan Increase described in Item 1.01 above.
Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant
The information regarding the Term Loan Increase set forth above in Item 1.01 is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities
The private placement of 700,869 shares of common stock of the Company issued to the Seller in connection with the closing of the Acquisition was made in reliance upon exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) thereof.
The information regarding the Agreement and the Acquisition set forth in Item 2.01 is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure
On May 21, 2015, the Company issued a press release relating to the closing of the Acquisition. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d) Exhibits
Exhibit No. |
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Description |
99.1 |
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Press Release, dated May 21, 2015. |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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TRIBUNE PUBLISHING COMPANY |
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Date: May 21, 2015 |
By: |
/s/ Julie K. Xanders |
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Name: |
Julie K. Xanders |
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Title: |
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
Exhibit 99.1
Tribune Publishing Company Completes Acquisition of The San Diego Union-Tribune
And Its Portfolio of Nine Community Weeklies and Related Digital Properties
CHICAGO May 21, 2015 Tribune Publishing Company (NYSE:TPUB) today announced that it has completed the acquisition of MLIM, LLC, owner of The San Diego Union-Tribune , as well as nine community weeklies and related digital properties in San Diego County. The purchase price was $85 million plus the assumption of obligations for a single-employer pension plan. At closing, Tribune Publishing paid $71 million in cash, after working capital adjustments, and issued $12 million in Tribune Publishing common stock.
The San Diego Union-Tribune has garnered four Pulitzer Prizes and has a 146-year history of providing daily news and information in San Diego, the second-largest city in California and the eighth largest in the United States. In conjunction with the acquisition and expansion, Tribune Publishing formed the California News Group to oversee operations in Los Angeles and San Diego.
About Tribune Publishing
Tribune Publishing Company (NYSE:TPUB) is a diversified media and marketing-solutions company that delivers innovative experiences for audiences and advertisers across all platforms. The companys diverse portfolio of iconic news and information brands includes 11 award-winning major daily titles, more than 60 digital properties and more than 180 verticals in markets, including Los Angeles; San Diego; Chicago; South Florida; Orlando; Baltimore; Carroll County and Annapolis, Md.; Hartford, Conn.; Allentown, Pa., and Newport News, Va. Tribune Publishing also offers an array of customized marketing solutions, and operates a number of niche products, including Hoy , El Sentinel and VidaLatina , making Tribune Publishing the countrys largest Spanish-language publisher. Tribune Publishing Company is headquartered in Chicago.
Contacts:
Matthew Hutchison |
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Kimbre Neidhart |
Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications |
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Assistant Treasurer & Investor Relations |
Tribune Publishing |
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Tribune Publishing |
312-222-3305 |
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469-528-9366 |
matt.hutchison@tribpub.com |
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kneidhart@tribpub.com |
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Johanna Maska |
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Stephanie Brown |
Vice President, Marketing & Communications |
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Senior Director, Marketing & Public Relations |
Los Angeles Times |
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The San Diego Union-Tribune |
213-237-6160 |
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619-823-9794 |
johanna@latimes.com |
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stephanie.brown@utsandiego.com |