05/03/2017
Record Date of May 18, 2017; Separation Expected to Be Completed May 31, 2017
TEGNA Stockholders to Receive One Share of Cars.com Stock for Every Three TEGNA Shares
Cars.com to Pay TEGNA One-Time Cash Distribution of $650 Million
McLEAN, VA – TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) today announced that its Board of Directors has approved the previously announced spin-off of Cars.com, which will create two publicly traded companies: TEGNA, an innovative media company with the largest broadcast group among major network affiliates in the top 25 markets; and Cars.com, a leading digital automotive marketplace.
The spin-off will be effected through a pro rata distribution of all outstanding shares of Cars.com to TEGNA stockholders of record at the close of business on May 18, 2017 (the “Record Date”). Stockholders will retain their TEGNA shares and receive one share of Cars.com for every three shares of TEGNA stock they own on the Record Date. Cars.com shares are expected to begin “regular way” trading on June 1, 2017. The spin-off remains subject to the conditions described in the preliminary information statement filed by Cars.com on Form 10 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Gracia Martore, President and CEO of TEGNA, who will retire upon the closing of the spin-off, said, “Today’s milestone brings us one step closer to creating two industry-leading companies with the right focus, resources and leadership to capture the unique opportunities in each of their rapidly evolving industries. This spin-off is the culmination of a multi-year transformation of our company, and the Board is confident that both companies are well positioned to execute their strategic plans for growth and create shareholder value.”
Dave Lougee, who will serve as President and CEO of TEGNA upon completion of the separation, added, “I am honored to lead TEGNA into the future at such a pivotal time for our company. With our strong capital structure, we are well-positioned to take advantage of current and future regulatory changes. We will continue TEGNA’s history of serving our local communities by creating and distributing innovative and compelling content across a wide range of platforms and by providing our clients marketing tools and services to enable them to succeed in the digital age.”
Alex Vetter, who will serve as President and CEO of Cars.com upon completion of the separation, said, “We are approaching a watershed moment for Cars.com and I couldn’t be more excited about our future. As an independent company, we have greater flexibility to capture the opportunities ahead of us by leveraging our strong brand, innovative platform and expanding, loyal audience. We are a pure-play digital company in an excellent position to drive long-term growth and profitability, and we are a unique investment opportunity in the digital automotive space.”
Upon completion of the separation, TEGNA will continue to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol TGNA and Cars.com will trade regular way on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CARS. Holders of TEGNA common stock who sell TEGNA shares regular way on or before May 31, 2017 will also be selling their right to receive shares of Cars.com common stock in the distribution. Investors are encouraged to consult with their financial advisors regarding the specific implications of buying or selling TEGNA common stock before the distribution date.
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