Herbert Smith Freehills advises Seven West Media on its purchase of The Sunday Times and PerthNow

Herbert Smith Freehills has advised Seven West Media Limited on its purchase of The Sunday Times newspaper and website PerthNow from Nationwide News Pty Limited.

Seven West Media Limited, a long-standing client of Herbert Smith Freehills, is one of Australia’s best-performing integrated media and content companies.

In addition to the acquisition, this complex transaction involved a two-way print and online content sharing and advertising representation deal, transfer of subscriptions and agreements for printing and distribution of various newspaper titles including The Australian and Community Newspapers in the Western Australian market.

The acquisition was approved by the ACCC in September and is expected to complete early next week.

The Seven team was led by Commercial Director Bruce McWilliam, Veronique Maury and Head of Digital Dan Stinton, Head of Digital Seven West Media (WA).

The Herbert Smith Freehills team was led by partners Kristin Stammer and Rebecca Maslen-Stannage and involved the firm’s media sector experts and corporate, IP, IT and employment specialists, including partner Lesley Sutton, senior associate Courtney Dixon, and associates Isabel Grelak and Claire Koller-Smith.

Kristin Stammer said, “it was a pleasure to work closely with Seven West Media on this complex transaction and help achieve a great outcome, strengthening both print and digital media offerings in Western Australia."

This deal is another example of Herbert Smith Freehills’ market-leading work in the media sector.

Linda Evans at Clayton Utz advised Seven West Media on the competition law aspects.

Allens Linklaters advised Nationwide News Pty Limited.