Michael Florin Named Senior Vice President and Head of Investor Relations for New News Corporation
News Corporation (NASDAQ: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NWS, NWSLV) today announced
the appointment of Michael Florin as Senior Vice President and Head of
Investor Relations for the new News Corporation, the proposed global
publishing entity to be formed as part of the Company’s intended
separation into two independent, publicly traded companies. In his new
role, effective April 1, he will report to Chief Financial Officer of
the new News Corporation, Bedi Ajay Singh.
Mr. Florin has over 20 years of investment and media industry
experience, most recently with Morgan Stanley, where he served as the
Media-Telecom Sector Specialist since 2008.
“Michael brings to the new News Corp an ideal combination of deep media
knowledge along with unique experience working on both the buy and sell
sides of the business,” said Mr. Singh. “His expertise at understanding
and communicating effectively about our industry has earned him respect
in the investment community and will make him an enormous asset for the
Company. I am delighted he’s joining our team.”
"We have a very good story to tell investors and, in Michael, we have an
able, articulate individual to be the no-nonsense narrator of our
fortunes," said Robert Thomson, Chief Executive Officer of the new News
Corporation.
While at Morgan Stanley, Mr. Florin received distinguished recognition
in the Institutional Investor Survey as a top sector salesperson for
2012. In addition to his sell-side experience, he served as a buy-side
analyst for TIAA-CREFF, and, before that, for U.S. Trust. He began his
financial services career in equity research roles at CIBC Oppenheimer
and Gerard Klauer Mattison. Mr. Florin holds a BA from the University of
Michigan and an MBA from Columbia Business School, both with honors.
News Corporation Separation
On June 28, 2012, News Corporation announced that it intends to pursue
the separation of its publishing and its media and entertainment
businesses into two distinct publicly traded companies. The global
publishing company that would be created through the proposed
transaction would consist of the Company’s publishing businesses, its
education division and other Australian assets. The global media and
entertainment company would consist of the Company’s cable and
television assets, filmed entertainment, and direct satellite
broadcasting businesses. Following the separation, each company would
maintain two classes of common stock: Class A Common and Class B Common
Voting Shares. The separation is expected to be completed in
approximately one year from the date of announcement. In addition to
final approval from the Board of Directors and stockholder approval of
certain amendments to the Company’s Restated Certificate of
Incorporation, the completion of the separation will be subject to
receipt of regulatory approvals, opinions from tax counsel and favorable
rulings from certain tax jurisdictions regarding the tax-free nature of
the transaction to the Company and to its stockholders, further due
diligence as appropriate, the execution of certain agreements relating
to the distribution, and the filing and effectiveness of appropriate
filings with the SEC. On March 8, 2013, New Newscorp LLC filed an
amended Form 10 registration statement and News Corporation filed a
revised preliminary proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange
Commission in connection with the separation. The Company has also
applied for certain regulatory approvals and tax rulings required to
enable the separation to be completed as described. There can be no
assurances given that the separation of the Company's businesses as
described will occur.
About News Corporation
News Corporation (NASDAQ: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NWS, NWSLV) had total assets
as of December 31, 2012 of approximately US$63 billion and total annual
revenues of approximately US$34 billion. News Corporation is a
diversified global media company with operations in six industry
segments: cable network programming; filmed entertainment; television;
direct broadcast satellite television; publishing; and other. The
activities of News Corporation are conducted principally in the United
States, Continental Europe, the United Kingdom, Australia, Asia and
Latin America.