Newspaper deal falls apart as Gannett gives up on Tronc

Gannett Tuesday abruptly ended its six-month effort to acquire Tronc, owner of The Baltimore Sun, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Orlando Sentinel and several other newspapers.

The deal would have extended the footprint of Gannett, the nation's largest newspaper company, and marked a major consolidation in an industry beleaguered by technological challenges and declining revenues. But it was hampered by a last-minute withdrawal of support last week by bankers expected to finance the transaction.

Tronc shares fell in Nasdaq trading Tuesday to close at $10.54, down 12.4 percent. The stock had been trading at $17 a share as recently as last week, before reports that the financing for Gannett's bid was in jeopardy.

Gannett shares initially rose on the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday, but they closed at $7.59, down 2.3 percent. Gannett investors had been wary of the viability of the Tronc deal, however, especially after Gannett announced disappointing quarterly financial results last week. Gannett shares are down more than 50 percent in the last six months.

Gannett announced its withdrawal in a statement in which it "confirmed that the company has been engaged in discussions with Tronc Inc. regarding a potential transaction and has determined not to pursue an acquisition of Tronc."

Tronc acknowledged Gannett's withdrawal in a lengthier statement blaming the collapse of the deal on the "unexpected delay" in financing encountered by Gannett. The statement acknowledged that Tronc had had "serious doubts about Gannett's ability to finance a transaction" but disclosed that the companies had agreed on a purchase price in mid-September and were working to finalize an agreement.

Talks between the two companies were difficult and at times acrimonious. Gannett first tried to acquire the former Tribune newspapers in April with an offer of $12.25 a share, or about $400 million. The overture was rejected by Michael Ferro, Tronc's largest shareholder and nonexecutive chairman, who accused Gannett of trying to "steal the company."

Gannett later publicly improved its offer to $15 a share, or $475 million, excluding debt. In the latest stage of talks, the offer was reportedly raised to $18 or more.

Ultimately, Ferro agreed to accept Gannett's latest offer. Some major shareholders, including Los Angeles investment firm Oaktree Capital Management, urged Ferro to sell months ago, at a lower price, and had threatened legal action.

The offer's collapse leaves questions about the future course of both companies. Ferro has tied Tronc's future in part to the infusion of new technologies, including some associated with Los Angeles entrepreneur Patrick Soon-Shiong, who became the company's second-largest shareholder and vice chairman in May.

Tuesday morning, Tronc said the transformation plan remained on track.

"Tronc continues to make progress in implementing the company's strategic plan to leverage technology and effectively monetize its world-class content," the company said. "The implementation of this plan will take time but the company remains on track in terms of delivering on its near-term financial goals and is confident in its ability to deliver improved performance and shareholder value."

It also marks a pause in Gannett's aggressive but potentially risky strategy of acquiring more newspapers even as print circulation and advertising revenue have declined throughout the industry over the past decade.

Earlier this year, Gannett closed a deal to buy Journal Media Group, owner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and more than a dozen other dailies. Gannett estimated that it will result in cost savings of $35 million. The company also acquired the Record of Bergen County, N.J., along with several New Jersey community weeklies.

The total circulation of Gannett's newspapers, which operate in 33 states and the territory of Guam, came to 6.5 million on weekdays and 8.5 million on Sunday in 2015, including USA Today, according to Gannett's 2015 annual report. The figures don't include those of Journal Media or the Record.

Gannett already was confronting challenges in digesting its earlier acquisitions. On Oct. 24, the company announced plans to reduce its workforce by 2 percent, or about 350 people, as part of an effort "to assertively manage our costs," according to an internal memo to staff from CEO Bob Dickey published by Politico. That followed cutbacks of more than 200 workers announced in September at its newly acquired North Jersey Media Group, which includes the Record.

Separately, Tronc announced Tuesday that its losses deepened to $10.5 million in the most recent quarter, while revenue slid 6.8 percent to $378.2 million. Advertising revenue fell 11 percent. In its digital unit, dubbed "troncX," ad revenues slipped 2.2 percent to $47.3 million. Print-ad revenue fell 13 percent, to $154.5 million; circulation revenue for the traditional business also dipped 1 percent, to $117.1 million.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.