CBS Corporation Completes Split-Off Of CBS Radio

CBS Corporation Completes Split-Off Of CBS Radio

PR Newswire

NEW YORK, Nov. 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CBS Corporation (NYSE: CBS.A and CBS) today announced the completion of the split-off of CBS Radio Inc., which was merged with a subsidiary of Entercom Communications Corp. (NYSE: ETM) through a "Reverse Morris Trust" transaction. The closing of the merger followed the previously announced expiration of the Company's exchange offer. As a result of the merger, participating CBS stockholders will receive one share of Entercom Class A common stock in exchange for each whole share of CBS Radio common stock they received in the exchange offer.

The transactions will enable CBS to retire approximately 17.9 million shares of CBS Class B common stock. The exchange offer and merger are generally expected to be tax-free to participating CBS shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

"The separation of our radio business is part of a broader strategy to make CBS even more focused on our content and all the ways we can monetize it," said Leslie Moonves, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, CBS Corporation. "We started on this path several years ago with the split-off of our outdoor advertising business. And just as we did with outdoor, we believe our radio transaction will allow us to unlock more value for our shareholders and further grow our revenue. As a result, we think CBS will be even better positioned to take advantage of all the new growth opportunities before us, and we feel very good about our future as a pure content Company."

In connection with the transactions, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is acting as financial advisor and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is acting as legal advisor to CBS.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain statements about CBS, CBS Radio and Entercom that are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  These matters involve risks and uncertainties as discussed in CBS' and Entercom's respective periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, filed from time to time with the SEC.  The forward-looking statements contained in this press release may include statements about the expected effects on CBS, CBS Radio and Entercom of the separation of CBS' radio business and merger of CBS Radio with an Entercom subsidiary (collectively, the "Transaction"); the anticipated benefits of the Transaction and CBS', CBS Radio's and Entercom's anticipated financial results; and also include all other statements in this press release that are not historical facts.  Without limitation, any statements preceded or followed by or that include the words "plans," "believes," "expects," "intends," "will," "likely," "may," "anticipates," "estimates," "should," "would," "could," "positioned," "strategy," "future," or words, phrases, or terms of similar substance or the negative thereof, are forward-looking statements.  These statements are based on the current expectations of the management of CBS, CBS Radio and Entercom (as the case may be) and are subject to uncertainty and to changes in circumstances and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements.  In addition, these statements are based on a number of assumptions that are subject to change.  Such risks, uncertainties and assumptions include: the anticipated tax treatment of the Transaction and related transactions; the risk that disruptions from the Transaction will harm CBS' business; risks relating to any unforeseen liabilities, future capital expenditures, revenues, expenses, earnings, synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition, losses, and future prospects; business and management strategies; advertising market conditions generally; changes in the public acceptance of CBS' content; changes in technology and its effect on competition in CBS' markets; changes in the federal communications laws and regulations; impairment charges for FCC licenses and goodwill; the impact of piracy on CBS' products; the impact of the consolidation in the market for CBS' content; the impact of negotiations or the loss of affiliation agreements or retransmission agreements; the impact of union activity, including possible strikes or work stoppages or CBS' inability to negotiate favorable terms for contract renewals; and other domestic and global economic, business, competitive and/or other regulatory factors affecting CBS' businesses generally.  However, it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors.  Consequently, while the list of factors presented here is considered representative, no such list should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties.  Unlisted factors may present significant additional obstacles to the realization of forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements included herein are made as of the date hereof, and CBS does not undertake any obligation to update publicly such statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

About CBS Corporation
CBS Corporation (NYSE: CBS.A and CBS) is a mass media company that creates and distributes industry-leading content across a variety of platforms to audiences around the world. The Company has businesses with origins that date back to the dawn of the broadcasting age as well as new ventures that operate on the leading edge of media. CBS owns the most-watched television network in the U.S. and one of the world's largest libraries of entertainment content, making its brand — "the Eye" — one of the most recognized in business. The Company's operations span virtually every field of media and entertainment, including cable, publishing, local TV, film, and interactive and socially responsible media. CBS' businesses include CBS Television Network, The CW (a joint venture between CBS Corporation and Warner Bros. Entertainment), CBS Television Studios, CBS Studios International, CBS Television Distribution, CBS Consumer Products, CBS Home Entertainment, CBS Interactive, CBS Films, Showtime Networks, CBS Sports Network, Pop (a joint venture between CBS Corporation and Lionsgate), the properties of Network TEN in Australia, Smithsonian Networks, Simon & Schuster, CBS Television Stations, and CBS EcoMedia. For more information, go to www.cbscorporation.com.

 

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