MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Company and Citadel Broadcasting Corporation have entered a definitive agreement to combine ABC Radio, which includes 22 radio stations and the ABC Radio Networks, with Citadel Broadcasting.
The newly combined company, to be named Citadel Communications, will be the third largest radio group in the United States, with a strong national footprint reaching more than 50 markets.
Following the completion of the merger, Disney shareholders will own approximately 52 per cent of Citadel Communications and The Walt Disney Company will retain $1.4 to $1.65 billion in cash depending on the market price of Citadel Broadcasting at the time of closing. The deal is structured to be tax free to Disney shareholders.
Citadel shareholders will own the remaining 48 per cent of the combined company. Valued at approximately $2.7 billion, the deal is expected to be completed by the end of the year, subject to regulatory approvals.
"Our ABC Radio business represents a premier set of assets that have been exceptionally well-managed. ABC Radio and Citadel are a strong strategic fit that will create one of the country's largest radio station groups. With this merger we have a unique opportunity to offer Disney shareholders ownership in a new radio leader that will be well positioned for long-term success," said The Walt Disney Company president and CEO Robert A. Iger.
Citadel CEO Farid Suleman will be CEO and lead the management team of the new company. Suleman, a seasoned industry leader with both radio station and radio network experience, is the former CEO of Infinity Broadcasting.
"By joining forces to form Citadel Communications, our new company can continue to deliver on Citadel's impressive record of success as well as pursue many exciting growth initiatives in the future. We look forward to welcoming our talented new colleagues at ABC Radio who have a long history of strong market performance, and are eager to work together to integrate ABC's top-notch assets into our new strategically enhanced radio group," said Suleman.
As a company focused exclusively on the radio business, Citadel Communications will have the benefit of scale in an increasingly competitive industry. The transaction gives Citadel 177 FM stations and 66 AM stations in the country's top markets. 14 FM and 8 AM ABC radio stations in nine major markets, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco and Dallas, will join Citadel Communications.
In addition, the merger includes the ABC Radio Networks, which create and distribute programming to more than 4,000 affiliates. The programming includes popular syndicated radio programs such as Paul Harvey News and Comment, The Sean Hannity Show and The Tom Joyner Morning Show, as well as 24/7 music formats.
The assets joining the new company had 2005 revenue of approximately $575 million and operating income of approximately $200 million.
Listeners of ABC News Radio will continue to enjoy the same broadcasts on their favourite radio stations. Through an exclusive 10-year licensing agreement, Citadel Communications will deliver ABC News Radio programming to terrestrial radio stations. Disney will continue to retain rights to deliver ABC News content in other formats such as broadband, wireless and satellite.
ESPN Radio and Radio Disney are not included in the transaction.
Affiliates of Forstmann Little & Co., holding approximately 67 per cent of the shares of Citadel Broadcasting, have approved the transaction. The transaction is subject to review by the antitrust agencies, approval by the Federal Communications Commission, the receipt of a tax ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, a tax opinion from Dewey Ballantine LLP, and other customary closing conditions.
