News Corp. in US$500-million settlement with Valassis Inc.

"It has become evident to our legal advisors from pre-trial proceedings over the past couple of weeks that significant risks were developing in presenting this case to a jury," News Corp. chief operating officer Chase Carey said.

"That, coupled with concerns over the venue, led us to believe it was in the best interests of the company and its stockholders to agree to a settlement," Carey said in a statement.

A federal case filed by Valassis, a Michigan-based newspaper coupon and direct mail company, against News Corp.'s News America Marketing unit had been scheduled to open in Michigan tomorrow.

Two other lawsuits were pending. A US$300-million jury award in July by a Michigan circuit court in a related case was on appeal and another suit was pending in a state court in California.

In legal action begun in 2006, Valassis accused News America Marketing of unfair business practices and seeking to monopolize the market for in-store coupons known as free standing inserts, or FSIs.

Valassis said that under the terms of the settlement News America Marketing will pay Valassis US$500 million, a sum which includes the jury award, and enter into a 10-year shared mail distribution agreement.

"I am pleased that we were able to reach a mutually agreeable settlement and avoid protracted future litigation," Valassis chairman, president and chief executive Alan Schultz said in a statement.

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