Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT) has bought 25 weekly regional newspapers from Trinity Mirror for £64.15 million.
Trinity Mirror is selling Kent Regional Newspapers, East Surrey and Sussex Newspapers and Blackmore Vale Publishing, which form part of its regional business in London and the South East.
The three businesses are being acquired by Northcliffe Media, the local media division of DMGT, with the sale expected to be completed by the end of the month.
The new titles are intended to extend the reach of DMGT’s products to a wider audience of advertisers and readers. DMGT says that they will also provide a platform to extend the group’s online products to a wider geographic area.
Michael Pelosi, managing director of Northcliffe Media, said: “Over the last year the transformation of Northcliffe has been dramatic. We believe that the division has an excellent future as a provider of high quality local media content and services.
“Today’s acquisitions strengthen our publishing reach in a region demonstrating strong economic growth where digital opportunities are particularly attractive. We are acquiring strong products which are at the heart of their local communities and are looking forward to working with our new colleagues.”
In May, DMGT reported a 24% increase in profits over the six months to April 1 (see DMGT Records Profits Increase).
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