Two of the largest newspaper companies in the country are set to combine after shareholders approved GateHouse Media’s $1.4 billion acquisition of Gannett. Gannett is the parent company of USA Today and the Arizona Republic.
The deal creates the largest U.S newspaper company, which would have an estimated print circulation of about 9 million readers.
New Media Investment Group, which owns GateHouse, announced in August its plan to buy Gannett.
The combined company will take the Gannett name and keep its headquarters in Gannett’s current home of McLean, Virginia.
Arizona Republic staffers voted last month to form a guild. It would be authorized to begin negotiating wages, benefits and working conditions. Supporters of the union voiced concern about layoffs and other cost reductions if the GateHouse merger took effect.
The deal is set to close on Tuesday.
