Daily Mail Snaps Up Midlands Bargain Papers

Lord Rothermere’s Daily Mail and General Trust has announced the purchase of classified advertising specialist Bargain Pages Media for a total of £8.5 million.

The move will see the Birmingham based operation form part of DMGT’s regional newspaper division, Northcliffe Newspapers Group. The company currently publishes the Bargain Pages newspaper in three editions to most of the midlands, including Coventry and the Black Country, with combined weekly sales of around 50,000 copies.

In its most recent financial year to 31 December 2003, Bargain Pages Media reported a turnover of £3.6 million. The company is expected to be integrated into DMGT’s business before the end of the current financial year and should give a boost to the group’s overall earnings.

DMGT had hoped to acquire Hollinger International’s Telegraph titles earlier this year. However, it was forced to pull out of the fierce bidding war at the eleventh hour as offers for the broadsheet newspaper approached the £700 million mark (see Daily Mail Pulls Out Of Race For Telegraph Titles).

The Daily Mail & General Trust: 020 7938 6747 www.dmgt.co.uk
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