News Corporation Settles With Valassis Communications for $500 Million

News Corporation has announced that it has settled with Valassis Communications Inc. for $500 million in a lawsuit filed against the Company’s News America Marketing unit that was scheduled to go to trial in a Michigan federal court on February 2, 2010. The settlement also covers the $300 million Valassis was awarded in July in a Michigan circuit court that is currently on appeal and a pending state court case in California.

“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,” said News Corporation Deputy Chairman, President and Chief Operating Officer, Chase Carey. “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.”