Last year, Guardian News & Media announced that it is looking to cut costs by more than 20% over the next three years.
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The publisher currently owes £220 million in bonds that are due to mature in 2019.
The site finished the year with a 3.5 million visitors after reporting a 5 million-strong audience in November.
The inevitable Christmas slowdown saw most newspapers record minor declines or limited growth in December, with a few exceptions.
The deal will see the German publisher take on 100% of Immediate’s portfolio, which includes a number of BBC Magazines titles and attracts around 19 million consumers each month.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Trinity said it is at an “early stage of discussions towards taking a minority interest in a new company comprising certain of Northern & Shell’s assets.”
In the second of two parts, media leaders reflect on the year gone by – and offer their thoughts on what 2017 will have in store.
Chief executive Ashley Highfield said the disposal will help to put Johnston Press on “a stronger footing” and reduce net debt.
Nine of the 10 most popular online news sites recorded an increase in daily browsers in November – with the Telegraph and Independent both boosting traffic by more than a fifth.
The Times is continuing its period of growth and is now the only title reporting both period and yearly circulation gains.