// a href = ./ //

Gannett Co., the owner of USA TODAY and other newspaper and television properties, including KSDK-TV, across the USA and United Kingdom, announced Thursday that it is entering into a definitive merger agreement with Belo Corp., catapulting Gannett into the nation's fourth-largest owner of major network affiliates reaching nearly a third of U.S. households.

Belo owns and operates 20 TV stations -nine in the top 25 markets - and their associated websites.

The acquisition nearly doubles Gannett's current broadcast portfolio from 23 to 43 stations, including stations to be serviced by Gannett through shared services or similar sharing arrangements.

Gannett will acquire all outstanding shares of Belo for $13.75 per share in cash, or approximately $1.5 billion, plus assume $715 million in existing debt for an enterprise value of approximately $2.2 billion. The transaction, which has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies, represents a 28.1% premium to the closing price of Belo common stock on June 12, 2013.

President and Chief Executive Officer Gracia Martore of Gannett, said, "We are thrilled to bring together two highly respected media companies with rich histories of award-winning journalism, operational excellence and strong brand leadership."

Belo's President and Chief Executive Officer Dunia Shive said, "This is an outstanding and financially compelling transaction for our shareholders. It is also a testament to the tremendous value our employees have created over Belo's long history and to the strength of our brand in the media industry."

Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, Gannett engages more than 100 million people every month through its network of broadcast, digital, mobile and publishing properties. In addition to USA TODAY, Gannett owns regional newspapers such as the Detroit Free Press and The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky.

Shares (GCI) in Gannett closed down 1.59% on Wednesday but have soared to $19.85 from $12.50 in July as the company has aggressively pursued efforts to diversity its business model.

Gannett earned $104.6 million, or 44 cents per share, in the January-March period. That was up from $68.2 million, or 28 cents per share, a year earlier. Revenue grew 1.6% to $1.24 billion from $1.22 billion.

 

For the right price, you can live like a Cardinal great.

The home of Stan "The Man" Musial is on the market. The family of Stan decided it is time to sell his mid-century Ladue home. For under $2 million--$1.8  to be precise--you can walk the same floors as Musial and his wife Lil.

According to the listing the house is over 5,200 square feet with four bedrooms and seven baths. The home is set on three acres of land. Musial was 92 when he died in January. 

St Louis based utility Ameren Corporation is getting rid of its troubled Illinois power generating business.

They claim dumping the Illinois coal plants will reduce business risk, improve earnings and strengthen its balance sheet. Ameren executives say the company will focus on its utilities and the expansion of its transmission system.

Dynegy Inc. will buy the five Ameren coal-fired power plants representing more than 4,100 megawatts of generating capacity as well as Ameren’s power marketing business.

Ameren will receive no cash in the deal, but it will benefit by offloading $825 million of debt tied to the generating business. The company said it will also realize $180 million in tax benefits.