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UNITED STATES DISTRICT
COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
Eastern Division
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff,
v.
VILLAGE VOICE MEDIA, LLC, and
NT MEDIA, LLC,
Defendants.
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Civil Action No. 1:03CV0164
Filed: 01/27/03
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FINAL JUDGMENT
WHEREAS, the United States
of America filed its Complaint on January 27, 2003, alleging that Defendants
Village Voice Media and New Times entered into agreements in violation
of Section One of the Sherman Act, and the Plaintiff and Defendants,
by their respective attorneys, have consented to the entry of this Final
Judgment without trial or adjudication of any issue of fact or law,
and without this Final Judgment constituting any evidence against, or
any admission by, any party regarding any such issue of fact or law;
AND WHEREAS, Village Voice
Media and New Times agree to be bound by the provisions of this Final
Judgment pending its approval by this Court;
AND WHEREAS, the essence
of this Final Judgment is the prompt and certain divestiture of certain
rights or assets by Village Voice Media and New Times to restore the
loss of competition alleged in the Complaint;
AND WHEREAS, the United
States requires Village Voice Media and New Times to agree to certain
procedures and prohibitions for the purpose of restoring the loss of
competition alleged in the Complaint;
AND WHEREAS, the United
States requires Village Voice Media and New Times to make certain divestitures
for the purpose of remedying the loss of competition alleged in the
Complaint;
AND WHEREAS, Village Voice
Media and New Times have represented to the United States that the divestitures
required below can and will be made and that they will later raise no
claim of hardship or difficulty as grounds for asking the Court to modify
any of the divestiture provisions contained below;
NOW THEREFORE, before any
testimony is taken, without trial or adjudication of any issue of fact
or law, and upon consent of the parties, it is ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND
DECREED:
I. JURISDICTION
This Court has jurisdiction
over the subject matter of and each of the parties to this action. The
Complaint states a claim upon which relief may be granted against Village
Voice Media and New Times under Section 1 of the Sherman Act, as amended
(15 U.S.C. § 1).
II. DEFINITIONS
As used in this Final Judgment:
- "Acquirer" or "Acquirers"
means the entity or entities to which Defendants divest the Divestiture
Assets.
- "Alternative Newsweekly"
means a publication (such as the Cleveland Scene or LA
Weekly) that possesses more than one of the following attributes:
(i) it is published in a geographic area served by one or more daily
newspapers to which residents turn as their primary source or sources
of printed news; (ii) it is published weekly (or less frequently),
and at least 24 times annually; (iii) it is distributed free of charge;
(iv) it is not owned by a daily newspaper publishing company; and
(v) it is a general interest publication that does not focus exclusively
on one specific topic, such as music, entertainment, religion, the
environment, or a political party or organization.
- "California Attorney
General" means the Office of the Attorney General of the State of
California, who may share information and consult with the Office
of the Los Angeles County District Attorney on any matters arising
under this Final Judgment.
- "Cleveland Asset
Purchase Agreement" means the Asset Purchase Agreement by and among
Cleveland Free Times Media, Inc., Cleveland Scene, LLC, Village Voice
Media, LLC, and NT Media, LLC, dated October 1, 2002, and any agreements
ancillary thereto.
- "Cleveland
Free Times Assets" means all assets within the possession, custody
or control of Village Voice Media and New Times that were formerly
employed in the publication of the Cleveland Free Times Alternative
Newsweekly in the Greater Cleveland Area by Village Voice Media before
October 1, 2002, including, but not limited to:
- all rights to the
Cleveland Free Times name (and any derivations thereof),
logo, layout and design, including all legal rights, including
intellectual property rights associated with the Cleveland
Free Times, including trademarks, trade names, service names,
service marks, designs, trade dress, patents, copyrights and all
licenses and sublicenses to such intellectual property to the
fullest extent sublicensable (provided that, with respect to any
rights not legally transferable, Village Voice Media shall assist,
and neither impede nor hinder, the Acquirer in negotiating with,
and obtaining all necessary legal rights from, the third party
who controls such rights);
- except for the payroll
systems located in New York, New York, all computer hardware,
software and licensing agreements connected with that software
to the fullest extent sublicensable (provided that, with
respect to any rights not legally transferable, Village
Voice Media shall assist, and neither impede nor hinder, the Acquirer
in negotiating with, and obtaining all necessary legal rights
from, the third party who controls such rights); and all information
relating to the Cleveland Free Times stored on the computer
hardware, including all design templates and databases;
- all office furniture,
telephone systems, T-1 lines, fax machines, copy machines, stationery,
business cards, rate kits, and all other supplies and equipment
used by the Cleveland Free Times;
- all rights to the
Cleveland Free Times website and URL (www.freetimes.com);
- all rights to the
print and electronic archives of the Cleveland
Free Times publications and articles on a non-exclusive basis;
- all assets used in
the publication of the Cleveland Free Times, including
all distribution racks, street distribution boxes, permits and
licenses for individual distribution racks and boxes, route sheets,
and leases or other rights to real property from which Village
Voice Media published the Cleveland Free Times; and
- all other tangible
and intangible assets used in the publication of the Cleveland
Free Times, including, but not limited to: all other leases;
all licenses, permits and authorizations issued
by any governmental organization; all contracts, teaming arrangements,
agreements, commitments, certifications, and understandings, including
supply agreements; all customer lists, contracts, accounts, and
credit records; all agreements with retailers, wholesalers, or
any other person regarding the sale, promotion, marketing, advertising
or placement of such products; all graphics and artwork relating
to the Cleveland Free Times; all other records stored
in the offices of, or generated by or for, the Cleveland Free
Times; all technical information, computer software and related
documentation, and know-how, and information relating to plans
for, or improvements to, the Cleveland Free Times; all
research, packaging, sales, marketing, advertising and distribution
know-how, information, data, and documentation, including marketing
and sales data, and layout designs; all manuals and technical
information Village Voice Media provided to any of its Cleveland
Free Times employees, customers, suppliers, agents
or licensees; and all specifications for materials.
- "Cleveland Scene
Termination Period" means the period of time beginning October
1, 2002, and ending thirty (30) calendar days after consummation of
the divestiture of the Cleveland Free Times Assets.
- "Divestiture Assets"
means the Cleveland Free Times Assets and the New Times
LA Assets.
- "Greater Cleveland Area"
means the counties of Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga, Portage, Summit, Medina
and Lorain in the state of Ohio.
- "Greater Los Angeles
Area" means the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside
and Ventura in the state of California.
- "Los Angeles Asset Purchase
Agreement" means the Asset Purchase Agreement among LA Weekly Media,
Inc., New Times Los Angeles, LP, Village Voice Media, LLC, and NT
Media, LLC, dated October 1, 2002, and any agreements ancillary thereto.
- "LA Weekly Termination
Period" means the period of time beginning October 1, 2002, and ending
thirty (30) calendar days after consummation of the divestiture of
the New Times LA Assets.
- "New Times" means Defendant
NT Media, LLC, a limited liability company organized and existing
under the laws of the State of Delaware with its headquarters in Phoenix,
Arizona, its successors and assigns, and its subsidiaries, divisions,
groups, affiliates, partnerships and joint ventures, including without
limitation Cleveland Scene, LLC, and New Times Los Angeles, LP, and
their directors, officers, managers, agents, and employees.
- "New Times LA
Assets" means all assets within the possession, custody or control
of New Times and Village Voice Media that were formerly employed in
the publication of the New Times LA Alternative Newsweekly
in the Greater Los Angeles Area by New Times before October 1, 2002,
including, but not limited to:
- subject to the provisions
of Section V(K), all rights to the New Times
LA, LA Reader and LA View names (including
any derivations thereof), logos, layout and design, including
all legal rights, including intellectual property rights associated
with the New Times LA, LA Reader and LA
View, including trademarks, trade names, service names, service
marks, designs, trade dress, patents, copyrights and all licenses
and sublicenses to such intellectual property to the fullest extent
sublicensable (provided that, with respect to any rights not legally
transferable, New Times shall assist, and neither impede
nor hinder, the Acquirer in negotiating with, and obtaining all
necessary legal rights from, the third party who controls such
rights);
- all computer hardware,
software, and licensing agreements connected with that software
to the fullest extent sublicensable, which are associated primarily
with the publication of the New Times LA, including all
rights to the New Times LA website and URL (www.newtimesla.com);
all information relating to the New Times LA stored on
the computer hardware, including all design templates and databases;
New Times shall provide in the original format to the Acquirer
(if such format is not readable or usable by commercially available
software, then New Times shall provide such data in such format
the Acquirer may reasonably specify) all other information relating
to the publication of New Times LA stored on New Times's
computer hardware (provided that, with respect to any rights not
legally transferable, New Times shall assist, and neither impede
nor hinder, the Acquirer in negotiating with, and obtaining all
necessary legal rights from, the third party who controls such
rights);
- all office furniture,
telephone systems, T-1 lines, fax machines, copy machines, stationery,
business cards, rate kits, and all other supplies and equipment
used by the New Times LA;
- all rights to the
print and electronic archives of New Times
LA publications and articles on a non-exclusive basis;
- all graphics and
artworks used in the publication of the New Times LA
and New Times's other Alternative Newsweeklies as of October 1,
2002, on a non-exclusive basis;
- all assets used in
the publication of the New Times LA, including all distribution
racks, street distribution boxes, permits and licenses
for individual distribution racks and boxes, route sheets,
and leases or other rights to real property from which New Times
published the New Times LA; and
- all other tangible
and intangible assets used in the publication of the New Times
LA, including, but not limited to: all other leases; all
licenses, permits and authorizations issued by any governmental
organization; all contracts, teaming arrangements, agreements,
commitments, certifications, and understandings, including supply
agreements; all customer lists, contracts, accounts, and credit
records; all agreements with retailers, wholesalers, or any other
person regarding the sale, promotion, marketing, advertising or
placement of such products; all graphics and artwork relating
exclusively to the New Times LA; all other records stored
in the offices of, or generated by or for, the New Times LA;
all technical information, computer software and related documentation,
and know-how, and information relating to plans for, or improvements
to, the New Times LA; all research, packaging, sales,
marketing, advertising, and distribution know-how, information,
data and documentation, including marketing and sales data, and
layout designs used exclusively in, or which relate exclusively
to, the publication of the New Times LA (and copies of
such know-how, information, data and documentation which relates
to the publication of the New Times LA); all manuals
and technical information New Times provided to any of its New
Times LA employees, customers, suppliers, agents or licensees;
and all specifications for materials.
- "Ohio Attorney General"
means the Office of the Attorney General of the State of Ohio.
- "Publication" means all
activities associated with the business of offering an Alternative
Newsweekly to the public as a commercial endeavor, including, but
not limited to, editing, writing, printing, circulating, operating,
marketing, and distributing such Alternative Newsweeklies, and selling
advertisements and promotions therein.
- "State Attorneys General"
means the California Attorney General and the Ohio Attorney General.
- "Village Voice Media"
means Defendant Village Voice Media, LLC, a limited liability company
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware with
its headquarters in New York, New York, its successors and assigns,
and its subsidiaries, divisions, groups, affiliates, partnerships
and joint ventures, including without limitation LA Weekly Media,
Inc. and Cleveland Free Times Media, Inc., and their
directors, officers, managers, agents, and employees.
- The terms "and" and "or"
have both conjunctive and disjunctive meanings.
III.
APPLICABILITY
- This Final Judgment applies
to Village Voice Media and New Times, as defined above, and all other
persons in active concert or participation with any of them who receive
actual notice of this Final Judgment by personal service or otherwise.
- Defendants shall require,
as a condition of the sale or other disposition of all or substantially
all of their assets or of lesser business units that include any of
the Divestiture Assets that the purchaser agrees to be bound by the
provisions of this Final Judgment, provided, however, that Village
Voice Media and New Times need not obtain such an agreement from the
Acquirer(s).
IV. PROHIBITED
AND REQUIRED CONDUCT
- Village Voice Media and
New Times are enjoined as of the filing of the Complaint in this matter
from taking any actions in furtherance of, or required under, either
the Cleveland Asset Purchase Agreement or the Los Angeles Asset Purchase
Agreement. Village Voice Media's and New Times's obligations under
this Final Judgment supersede their obligations under either of these
agreements, and Village Voice Media and New Times shall not object
to the performance of their obligations under this Final Judgment
on the grounds that those obligations would cause them to breach either
agreement.
- For a period of two (2)
years commencing upon the filing date of the Complaint
in this matter, Village Voice Media shall permit any advertiser that
entered during the LA Weekly Termination Period into
a written or oral contract to advertise in, or engage in a promotion
with, the LA Weekly, solely at the advertiser's option, to
terminate such contract without penalty, retaliatory action, or threat
of retaliatory action. Village Voice Media shall provide all affected
advertisers a copy of this Final Judgment within fifteen (15) calendar
days after the filing of the Complaint in this matter, and inform
in writing all affected advertisers within: (i) fifteen (15) calendar
days after the filing of the Complaint in this matter; and (ii)
thirty (30) calendar days after consummation
of the divestiture of the New Times LA Assets, of their right
to terminate at their option their advertising or promotion contracts
with the LA Weekly.
- For a period of two (2)
years commencing upon the filing date of the Complaint in this matter,
New Times shall permit any advertiser that entered during the Cleveland
Scene Termination Period into a written or oral contract to advertise
in, or engage in a promotion with, the Cleveland Scene, solely
at the advertiser's option, to terminate such contract without penalty,
retaliatory action, or threat of retaliatory action. New Times shall
provide all affected advertisers a copy of this Final Judgment within
fifteen (15) calendar days after the filing of the Complaint in this
matter, and inform in writing all affected advertisers within: (i)
fifteen (15) calendar days after the filing of the Complaint in this
matter; and (ii) thirty (30) calendar days after consummation of the
divestiture of the Cleveland Free Times Assets, of their
right to terminate at their option their advertising or promotion
contracts with the Cleveland Scene.
- Each Defendant, its officers,
directors, agents, and employees, acting or claiming to
act on its behalf, and successors and all other persons acting or
claiming to act on its behalf, are enjoined and restrained from, in
any manner, directly or indirectly, entering into, continuing, maintaining,
or renewing any market or customer allocation agreement, or from engaging
in any other combination, conspiracy, contract, agreement, understanding
or concert of action having a similar purpose or effect, and from
adopting or following any practice, plan, program, or device having
a similar purpose or effect.
- Unless such transaction
is otherwise subject to the reporting and waiting period requirements
of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended,
15 U.S.C. § 18a (the "HSR Act"), Defendants for a period of five
(5) years commencing upon the filing of the Complaint in this matter,
and without providing advance notification to the
Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice, shall
not directly or indirectly enter into any merger or joint venture
involving, or sale of, any of its Alternative Newsweeklies or national
advertising networks or acquire any assets of or any interest, including
any financial, security, loan, equity or management interest, in any
publication that possesses more than two of the five attributes specified
in the definition of "Alternative Newsweekly" in Section II(B) of
this Final Judgment, one of which must be the attribute specified
in Section II(B)(v). Such notification shall be provided to the Antitrust
Division in the same format as, and per the instructions relating
to, the Notification and Report Form set forth in the Appendix to
Part 803 of Title 16 of the Code of Federal Regulations as amended,
except that the information requested in Items 5 through 8 of the
instructions must be provided only about Alternative Newsweeklies.
Notification shall be provided at least thirty (30) calendar days
prior to acquiring any such interest, and shall include, beyond what
may be required by the applicable instructions, the names of the principal
representatives of the parties to the agreement who negotiated the
agreement, and any management or strategic plans discussing the proposed
transaction. If within the 30-day period after notification, representatives
of the Antitrust Division make a written request for additional information,
Defendants shall not consummate the proposed transaction or agreement
until twenty (20) calendar days after submitting all such additional
information. Early termination of the waiting periods in this paragraph
may be requested and, where appropriate, granted in the same manner
as is applicable under the requirements and provisions of the HSR
Act and rules promulgated thereunder. This Section shall be broadly
construed and any ambiguity or uncertainty regarding the filing of
notice under this Section shall be resolved in favor of filing notice.
- For any employee involved
in the publication of the Cleveland Free Times as of October
1, 2002, any non-compete provision imposed by Village Voice Media
shall be null and void. For a period from the filing of the Complaint
to one year from the divestiture of the Cleveland Free
Times Assets, Defendants shall not enforce any other non-compete
contractual provisions against any of their former or current employees
of the Cleveland Free Times or the Cleveland Scene
in the Greater Cleveland Area. Defendants shall notify
in writing all affected former and current employees that such non-compete
contractual provisions will not be enforced.
- For any employee involved
in the publication of the New Times LA as of October 1, 2002,
any non-compete provision imposed by New Times shall be null and void.
For a period from the filing of the Complaint to
one year from the divestiture of the New Times LA
Assets, Defendants shall not enforce any other non-compete contractual
provisions against any of their former or current employees of the
New Times LA or LA Weekly in the
Greater Los Angeles Area. Defendants shall notify in writing all affected
former and current employees that such non-compete contractual provisions
will not be enforced.
V. DIVESTITURES
- Defendants are ordered
and directed, within thirty (30) calendar days after the filing of
the Complaint in this matter, to divest the Divestiture Assets in
a manner consistent with this Final Judgment to an Acquirer or Acquirers
acceptable to the United States in its sole discretion, after
consultation with the State Attorneys General. The United States,
in its sole discretion, after consultation with the State Attorneys
General, may agree to an extension of this time period for any divestiture
of up to thirty (30) additional calendar days, and shall notify this
Court in such circumstances.
- Defendants agree to use
their best efforts to divest the Divestiture Assets in a manner consistent
with this Final Judgment to an Acquirer or Acquirers acceptable
to the United States in its sole discretion, after
consultation with the State Attorneys General, and to effect such
divestitures as expeditiously as possible.
- In accomplishing the
divestitures ordered by this Final Judgment, each Defendant promptly
shall make known, by usual and customary means, the availability of
the Divestiture Assets under its possession, custody or control. Defendants
shall inform any person making inquiry regarding a possible purchase
of the Divestiture Assets that such assets are being divested pursuant
to this Final Judgment and provide that person with a copy of this
Final Judgment. Defendants shall offer to furnish to all prospective
Acquirers, subject to customary confidentiality assurances, all information
and documents relating to the Divestiture Assets customarily provided
in a due diligence process except such information or documents subject
to the attorney-client privilege or attorney work-product doctrine.
Defendants shall make available such information to the United States
and the State Attorneys General at the same time that such information
is made available to any other person.
- Village Voice Media shall
provide the Acquirers, the United States, and the State Attorneys
General information relating to the personnel that were involved in
any way in the publication of the Cleveland Free Times to
enable the Acquirer to make offers of employment. Defendants
will not interfere with any negotiations by the Acquirer(s)
to employ any current or former Village Voice Media employee that
was involved in the publication of the Cleveland Free Times.
- New Times shall provide
the Acquirers, the United States, and the State Attorneys
General information relating to the personnel that were involved
in any way in the publication of the New Times LA to enable
the Acquirer to make offers of employment. Defendants will
not interfere with any negotiations by the Acquirer(s) to employ any
current or former New Times employee that was involved in the publication
of the New Times LA.
- Defendants shall permit
prospective Acquirers of the Divestiture Assets to have reasonable
access to personnel and to make inspections of the physical facilities
of the Divestiture Assets. To the extent that Defendants continue
to maintain any environmental, zoning or other permits pertaining
to the publication of the Cleveland Free Times or the New
Times LA, Defendants shall permit prospective Acquirers access
to any and all documents and information associated with those permits.
Defendants shall permit prospective Acquirers of the Divestiture Assets
to have access to any and all financial, operational,
or other documents and information customarily provided as part of
a due diligence process.
- Defendants shall warrant
to the Acquirer(s) of the Divestiture Assets that each asset will
be operational on the date of sale.
- Defendants shall not
take any action that will impede in any way the permitting, operation,
or divestiture of the Cleveland Free Times Assets or the
New Times LA Assets.
- To the extent that Defendants
continue to maintain any environmental, zoning or other permits pertaining
to the publication of the Cleveland Free Times or the New
Times LA, Defendants shall warrant to the Acquirer(s) that there
are no material defects in those permits. Following the sale of the
Cleveland Free Times and/or the New Times LA
Assets, Defendants will not undertake, directly or indirectly, any
challenges to the environmental, zoning, or other permits relating
to the publication of the Cleveland Free Times and/or the
New Times LA.
- Unless the United States,
in its sole discretion, after consultation with the
State Attorneys General, otherwise consents in writing,
the divestiture pursuant to Section V, or by trustee appointed pursuant
to Section VI, of this Final Judgment, shall include the Divestiture
Assets, and shall be accomplished in such a way as to satisfy the
United States, in its sole discretion, after consultation with the
State Attorneys General, that the Cleveland Free Times or
the New Times LA can and will be published by the Acquirer(s)
as viable, ongoing Alternative Newsweeklies. Divestiture of the Divestiture
Assets may be made to one Acquirer or to two Acquirers, provided that
(1) all the Cleveland Free Times Assets
are sold to one Acquirer, (2) all the New Times
LA Assets are sold to one Acquirer, and (3) in each instance
it is demonstrated to the sole satisfaction of the United States,
after consultation with the State Attorneys General,
that the Cleveland Free Times Assets and the New Times
LA Assets will remain viable and that the divestiture of the
Divestiture Assets will remedy the competitive harm alleged in the
Complaint. The divestitures, whether pursuant to Section V or Section
VI of this Final Judgment,
- shall be made to
an Acquirer (or Acquirers) that, in the United States's sole judgment,
after consultation with the State Attorneys General, has the intent
and capability (including the necessary managerial, operational,
technical and financial capability) of competing effectively in
the publication of Alternative Newsweeklies; and
- shall be accomplished
so as to satisfy the United States, in its sole discretion,
after consultation with the State Attorneys General,
that none of the terms of any agreement between an Acquirer (or
Acquirers) and Defendants give Defendants the ability unreasonably
to raise the Acquirer's costs, to lower the Acquirer's efficiency,
or otherwise to interfere in the ability of the Acquirer to compete
effectively.
- With respect to copyrights
or trademarks associated specifically with the New Times LA that
New Times employs in the publication of other New Times Alternative
Newsweeklies, the divestiture pursuant to Section V, or by a trustee
appointed pursuant to Section VI, of this Final Judgment shall be
accomplished by means of an exclusive, perpetual, royalty-free, assignable
license to those copyrights or trademarks for use by the Acquirer
and its successors in connection with publishing an Alternative Newsweekly
in the Greater Los Angeles Area. New Times is enjoined from using,
or granting rights to persons other than the Acquirer or its successors
to use, such copyrights or trademarks in the publication
of an Alternative Newsweekly in the Greater Los Angeles Area. New
Times, consistent with the purpose and intent of this Final Judgment,
may include, as part of the license for any valid registered trademark
used specifically with New Times's
other Alternative Newsweeklies and New Times LA, the requirement
on the Acquirer and its successors to take the minimum reasonable
measures necessary to prevent New Times from being deemed to have
abandoned such shared registered trademarks under the Lanham Act.
VI. APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEE
- If Defendants have not
divested the Cleveland Free Times Assets within the time
period specified in Section V(A), they shall notify the United States
and the State Attorneys General of that fact in writing. Upon application
of the United States, the Court shall appoint a trustee selected by
the United States in its sole discretion and approved
by this Court to effect the divestiture of the Cleveland Free
Times Assets.
- If Defendants have
not divested the New Times LA Assets within the
time period specified in Section V(A), they shall notify the United
States and the State Attorneys General of that fact in writing. Upon
application of the United States, the Court shall appoint a trustee
selected by the United States in its sole discretion and
approved by this Court to effect the divestiture of the New Times
LA Assets.
- After the appointment
of a trustee becomes effective, only the trustee shall have the right
to sell the Divestiture Assets. The trustee shall have the power and
authority to accomplish the divestiture to an Acquirer(s) acceptable
to the United States, after consultation with the State Attorneys
General, at such price and on such terms as are then obtainable upon
reasonable effort by the trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections
V, VI, and VII of this Final Judgment, and shall have such other powers
as this Court deems appropriate. Subject to Section VI(E) of this
Final Judgment, the trustee may hire at the cost and expense of the
Defendant whose Divestiture Assets the trustee is to divest any investment
bankers, attorneys, or other agents, who shall be solely accountable
to the trustee, reasonably necessary in the trustee's judgment to
assist in the divestiture.
- Defendants shall not
object to a sale by the trustee on any ground other than the trustee's
malfeasance. Any such objections by Defendants must be conveyed in
writing to the United States, the State Attorneys General and the
trustee within five (5) calendar days after the trustee has provided
the notice required under Section VII of this Final Judgment.
- The trustee shall serve
at the cost and expense of the Defendant whose Divestiture Assets
the trustee is to divest, on such terms and conditions as the United
States approves, after consultation with the State Attorneys General,
and shall account for all monies derived from the sale of the assets
sold by the trustee and all costs and expenses so incurred. After
approval by this Court of the trustee's accounting, including fees
for its services and those of any professionals and agents retained
by the trustee, all remaining money shall be paid to the Defendant
whose Divestiture Assets the trustee divested and the trust shall
then be terminated. The compensation of the trustee and any professionals
and agents retained by the trustee shall be reasonable in light of
the value of the Divestiture Assets and based on a fee arrangement
providing the trustee with an incentive based on the price and terms
of the divestiture and the speed with which it is accomplished, but
timeliness is paramount.
- Defendants shall use
their best efforts to assist the trustee in accomplishing the required
divestiture. The trustee and any consultants, accountants, attorneys,
and other persons retained by the trustee shall have full and complete
access to the Defendants' personnel, books, records, and facilities,
and Defendants shall develop financial and other information relevant
to such businesses as the trustee may reasonably request, subject
to reasonable protection for trade secrets or other confidential research,
development, or commercial information. Defendants shall take no action
to interfere with or to impede the trustee's accomplishment of the
divestiture.
- After its appointment,
the trustee shall file monthly reports with the United States, the
State Attorneys General and the Court setting forth the trustee's
efforts to accomplish the divestiture ordered under this Final Judgment.
To the extent such reports contain information that the trustee deems
confidential, such reports shall not be filed in the public docket
of this Court. Such reports shall include the name, address, and telephone
number of each person who, during the preceding month, made an offer
to acquire, expressed an interest in acquiring, entered into negotiations
to acquire, or was contacted or made an inquiry about acquiring, any
interest in the Divestiture Assets the trustee is to divest, and shall
describe in detail each contact with any such person. The trustee
shall maintain full records of all efforts made to divest the Divestiture
Assets.
- If the trustee has not
accomplished such divestiture within three months after its appointment,
the trustee shall promptly file with this Court a report setting forth:
(1) the trustee's efforts to accomplish the required divestiture,
(2) the reasons, in the trustee's judgment, why the required divestiture
has not been accomplished, and (3) the trustee's recommendations.
To the extent such reports contain information that the trustee deems
confidential, such reports shall not be filed in the public docket
of this Court. The trustee shall at the same time furnish such report
to the United States and the State Attorneys General who
shall have the right to make additional recommendations consistent
with the purpose of the Final Judgment. The Court thereafter shall
enter such orders as it shall deem appropriate to carry out the purpose
of the Final Judgment, which may, if necessary, include extending
the trust and the term of the trustee's appointment by a period requested
by the United States.
VII. NOTICE OF PROPOSED
DIVESTITURE
- Within two (2) business
days following execution of a definitive divestiture agreement, Village
Voice Media, New Times, or the trustee, whichever effected the divestiture,
shall notify the United States and the State Attorneys General of
any proposed divestiture required by Section V or VI of this Final
Judgment. If the trustee is responsible, it shall similarly notify
the Defendant whose Divestiture Assets the trustee divested. The notice
shall set forth the details of the proposed divestiture and list the
name, address, and telephone number of each person not previously
identified who offered or expressed an interest in or desire to acquire
any ownership interest in the Divestiture Assets, together with full
details of the same.
- Within five (5) calendar
days of receipt by the United States and the State Attorneys General
of such notice, the United States, after consultation with the State
Attorneys General, may
request from Defendants, the proposed Acquirer or Acquirers, any other
third party, or the trustee (if applicable) additional information
concerning the proposed divestiture, the proposed Acquirer or Acquirers,
and any other potential Acquirer. Defendants and the trustee shall
furnish any additional information requested within five (5) calendar
days of the receipt of the request, unless the parties shall otherwise
agree.
- Within fifteen (15) calendar
days after receipt of the notice or within five (5) calendar days
after the United States and the State Attorneys General have been
provided the additional information requested from Defendants, the
proposed Acquirer or Acquirers, any third party, and the trustee (if
applicable), whichever is later, the United States, after consultation
with the State Attorneys General, shall provide written
notice to the Defendant whose Divestiture Assets are at issue, and
the trustee (if applicable), stating whether or not it objects to
the proposed divestiture. If the United States provides written notice
that it does not object, the divestiture may be consummated, subject
only to Defendants' limited right to object to the sale under Section
VI(D) of this Final Judgment. Absent written notice that the United
States does not object to the proposed Acquirer or upon objection
by the United States, a divestiture proposed under Section V or Section
VI shall not be consummated. Upon objection by either Defendant under
Section VI(D), a divestiture proposed under Section VI shall not be
consummated unless approved by this Court.
VIII.
FINANCING
Defendants shall not finance
all or any part of any purchase made pursuant to Section V or VI of
this Final Judgment.
IX. AFFIDAVITS
- Within fifteen (15) calendar
days of the filing of the Complaint in this matter, and every thirty
(30) calendar days thereafter until the divestiture(s) has been completed
under Section V or VI, Defendants each shall deliver
to the United States and the State Attorneys General an affidavit
as to the fact and manner of its compliance with Section V or VI of
this Final Judgment. Each such affidavit shall include the name, address,
and telephone number of each person who, during the preceding thirty
(30) days, made an offer to acquire, expressed an
interest in acquiring, entered into negotiations to acquire, or was
contacted or made an inquiry about acquiring, any interest in the
Divestiture Assets, and shall describe in detail each contact with
any such person during that period. Each such affidavit shall also
include a description of the efforts Defendants have taken to solicit
buyers for the Divestiture Assets, and to provide required information
to prospective purchasers, including the limitations, if any, on such
information. Assuming the information set forth in the affidavit is
true and complete, any objection by the United States, after consultation
with the State Attorneys General, to information provided by Defendants,
including limitation on information, shall be made within five (5)
calendar days of receipt of such affidavit.
- Defendants shall keep
all records of all efforts made to preserve and divest the Divestiture
Assets until one year after such divestiture has been completed.
X. COMPLIANCE
INSPECTION
- For the purposes of determining
or securing compliance with this Final Judgment, or of determining
whether the Final Judgment should be modified or vacated, and subject
to any legally recognized privilege, from time to time duly authorized
representatives of the United States Department of Justice or the
State Attorneys General, including consultants and
other persons retained or designated thereby, shall, upon written
request of a duly authorized representative of the Assistant Attorney
General in charge of the Antitrust Division, or duly authorized representatives
of the State Attorneys General, and on reasonable notice to Defendants,
be permitted:
- access during Defendants'
office hours to inspect and copy, or at the United States' or
State Attorneys General's option, to require Defendants to provide
copies of, all books, ledgers, accounts, records and documents
in their possession, custody, or control relating to any matters
contained in this Final Judgment; and
- to interview, either
informally or on the record, Defendants' officers, employees,
or agents, who may have their individual counsel present, regarding
such matters. The interviews shall be subject to the reasonable
convenience of the interviewee and without restraint or interference
by Defendants.
- Upon the written request
of a duly authorized representative of the Assistant Attorney General
in charge of the Antitrust Division, or upon written request of duly
authorized representatives of the State Attorneys General, Defendants
shall submit written reports, under oath if requested, relating to
any of the matters contained in this Final Judgment as may be requested.
- No information or documents
obtained by the means provided in this section shall be divulged by
Plaintiffs to any person other than an authorized representative of
the executive branch of the United States, or of the State Attorneys
General, except in the course of legal proceedings to which the United
States or State Attorneys General is a party (including grand jury
proceedings), or for the purpose of securing compliance with this
Final Judgment, or as otherwise required by law.
- If at the time Defendants
furnish information or documents to the United States, they represent
and identify in writing the material in any such information or documents
to which a claim of protection may be asserted under Rule 26(c)(7)
of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and mark each pertinent page
of such material, "Subject to claim of protection under Rule 26(c)(7)
of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure," then the United States shall
give Defendants ten (10) calendar days notice prior to divulging such
material in any legal proceeding (other than a grand jury proceeding).
XI.
NO REACQUISITION
Defendants may not reacquire
any part of the Divestiture Assets during the term of this Final Judgment.
XII. RETENTION OF JURISDICTION
This Court retains jurisdiction
to enable any party to this Final Judgment to apply to this Court at
any time for further orders and directions as may be necessary or appropriate
to carry out or construe this Final Judgment, to modify any of its provisions,
to enforce compliance, and to punish violations of its provisions.
XIII. EXPIRATION OF
FINAL JUDGMENT
Unless this Court grants
an extension, this Final Judgment shall expire ten years from the date
of its entry.
XIV. NOTICE
For purposes of this Final
Judgment, any notice or other communication shall be given to the persons
at the addresses set forth below (or such other addresses as the United
States or State Attorneys General may specify in writing to New Times
or Village Voice Media):
For the United States:
James R. Wade
Chief
Litigation III Section
U.S. Department Of Justice
Antitrust Division
325 Seventh Street, N.W.,
Suite 300
Washington, D.C. 20530
For the Ohio Attorney
General:
Alan C. Witten
Antitrust Section
Ohio Attorney General's
Office
140 East Town Street, 12th
Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215
For the California Attorney
General:
Winston H. Chen
Deputy Attorney General
Office of the California
Attorney General
300 South Spring Street
Los Angeles, California
90013
XV. PUBLIC INTEREST
DETERMINATION
Entry of this Final Judgment
is in the public interest.
Dated: __________________
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Court approval subject
to procedures
of Antitrust Procedures and Penalties
Act, 15 U.S.C. § 16
________________________________
United States District Judge
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