Trinity Mirror in talks to buy Desmond’s Express and Star

Trinity Mirror, publisher of the Daily Mirror, is in talks to buy the owner of the Daily Express and Daily Star, the company has said.

The publisher confirmed it was in talks with owner Richard Desmond to buy 100% of Northern & Shell’s publishing assets, including OK! magazine, the Sunday Express, and Daily Star Sunday.

Reports suggest the deal would be worth around £130m and comes at a time when publishers are under pressure to compete against the likes of Facebook and Google as audiences swap print for online.

Trinity Mirror publishes over 100 regional newspapers as well as the Daily Record and the Sunday People and had previously been in talks to buy a minority stake in Desmond’s business.

An investor note said there was no certainty a deal will be agreed.