National CineMedia, Inc., managing member of in-theatre digital network operator National CineMedia, LLC, announced this week that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement with cinema advertising company Screenvision, for $375 million of cash and stock on a debt free, cash free basis. The merger will create a higher quality and more competitive video advertising network benefiting advertisers and theatre circuits alike.
Dechert LLP is acting as antitrust counsel for National CineMedia in the transaction. The Dechert team advising National CineMedia is led by DC-based antitrust partner Paul T. Denis and includes partner Michael L. Weiner, counsel Jill A. Ross and associates Carolyn E. Isaac and Cara Schmidt.
In the past two years, Denis and the Dechert antitrust team have guided clients through a number of high profile mergers, including OfficeMax in its US$2.5 billion merger of equals with Office Depot; US Airways in its US$14 billion merger with American Airlines; Dean Foods in its US$1.45 billion sale of Morningstar Foods division to Saputo; and Medco Health Solutions in its US$29.1 billion merger with Express Scripts Inc., the largest merger of 2012. They are currently advising Albertsons on the antitrust aspects of its proposed US$9 billion merger with Safeway.
