A. H. Belo to Sell Riverside Newspaper Operation to Freedom Communications
DALLAS and SANTA ANA, CA—October 10, 2013—A. H. Belo Corp. and Freedom Communications Holdings, jointly announced today they have entered into a definitive asset purchase agreement under which Freedom Communications Holdings will acquire substantially all of the assets which comprise the newspaper operations of The Press-Enterprise located in Riverside, CA (including the production facility and related land) for $27.25 million. The transaction is expected to close in mid-October subject to customary closing conditions. Upon closing, A. H. Belo will continue to own and market for sale the land and buildings associated with a discontinued commercial printing operation in Riverside, CA. The Press-Enterprise will maintain its primary business offices in Riverside.
Jim Moroney, chairman, president and CEO of A. H. Belo, said, "We are pleased to have found a partner in Freedom Communications to purchase The Press-Enterprise assets who we know will continue to support journalism as we have in the critical Inland Southern California region. We thank our colleagues in Riverside for their hard work and support as we have been privileged to own and operate The Press-Enterprise for the past 16 years. The proceeds received in this transaction will provide funds for A. H. Belo to continue to diversify its revenue streams and increase shareholder returns in the future."
Aaron Kushner, co-owner and CEO of Freedom Communications, also added," The Press-Enterprise is a Pulitzer Prize-winning institution with a rich history in serving and connecting the community. We are most appreciative of the stewardship provided to this important institution by A. H. Belo and we look forward to continuing to build upon that foundation and expand the ways The Press-Enterprise helps its subscribers, advertisers and community grow and thrive."
About A. H. Belo Corp.
A. H. Belo Corp. (NYSE: AHC), headquartered in Dallas, is a distinguished newspaper publishing and local news and information company that owns and operates four daily newspapers and related websites. A. H. Belo publishes The Dallas Morning News, Texas' leading newspaper and winner of nine Pulitzer Prizes; The Providence Journal, the oldest continuously-published daily newspaper in the United States and winner of four Pulitzer Prizes; The Press-Enterprise (Riverside, CA), serving the Inland Southern California region and winner of one Pulitzer Prize; and the Denton Record-Chronicle. The Company publishes various niche publications targeting specific audiences, and its investments include Classified Ventures, owner of Cars.com, and Wanderful Media, owner of Find&Save. A. H. Belo offers digital marketing solutions through 508 Digital and Speakeasy and also owns and operates commercial printing, distribution and direct mail service businesses.
About Freedom Communications Holdings
Freedom Communications, headquartered in Santa Ana, CA, is a privately-owned company that publishes four daily newspapers Daily Press in Victorville, CA, Desert Dispatch in Barstow, CA, the Long Beach Register in Long Beach, CA, and the Orange County Register in Santa Ana, CA. Freedom also publishes more than 30 community newspapers that serve specific cities, audiences and geographic areas, including Spanish-language Excelsior. Freedom publishes highly designed glossy magazines and operates a custom publishing unit. The company's portfolio also includes news and entertainment websites and mobile applications.
Source: A. H. Belo.
