Discovery Communications completes acquisition of Scripps

Discovery Communications Inc announced that the company has successfully completed its acquisition of Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. Moving forward, the combined company will be officially known as Discovery Inc.

The acquisition is expected to be accretive to adjusted earnings per share and to free cash flow in the first year after closing, including significant cost synergies. The combination is expected to create a strong economic model with capacity for rapid debt repayment and a clear runway for growth and value creation.

“Today marks another critical milestone for Discovery, as we become a differentiated kind of media company with the most trusted portfolio of family-friendly brands around the globe,” said David Zaslav, President and Chief Executive Officer, Discovery.

“As a new global leader in real life entertainment, Discovery will serve loyal and passionate audiences around the world with content that inspires, informs and entertains across every screen; deliver new ways for advertisers and distributors to reach highly targeted audiences at scale; and leverage our leadership position to create new value and growth opportunities for all of our stakeholders.”

The name change to Discovery, Inc. demonstrates a new focus on growth in the areas at which Discovery excels, telling stories across deeply loved genres and empowering superfans to explore their world wherever and whenever they choose.

Kenneth W Lowe, former Chairman, President and CEO, Scripps Networks Interactive, will join Discovery’s board of directors, effective immediately.

Scripps shareholders will receive approximately USD 90 per share, consisting of USD 65.82 per share in cash and 1.0584 per share in Series C Common shares of Discovery stock valued based on a volume weighted average price (subject to elections and proration), in each case in accordance with the terms of the merger agreement. This includes a cash payment of USD 2.82 per share in connection with Discovery’s previously announced decision to exercise in full the cash top-up option under the merger agreement.

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