The UK’s largest national and regional news publisher Trinity Mirror, owners of the Daily Mirror newspaper have acquired Northern & Shell the owner of the Daily Express which will include accompanying titles Sunday Express, Daily Star, Daily Star Sunday and three celebrity magazines (OK!, New!, and Star) together with a 50% joint venture interest in the Irish Daily Star, outside the UK.
• Last year Trinity sold 540 million newspapers.
• Trinity own Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, Sunday People, Daily Record, Sunday Mail and market leading daily titles including the Manchester Evening News, Liverpool Echo, Birmingham Mail and Bristol Post.
Commenting on the Acquisition, Simon Fox, Chief Executive, Trinity Mirror plc, said: “This deal is a really exciting moment in Trinity Mirror’s history, combining some of the most iconic titles in the UK media industry. It is good for our readers, good for our customers and good for our shareholders. Northern and Shell’s titles have a large and loyal readership, a growing digital presence and a stable revenue mix and offer an excellent fit with Trinity Mirror.”
Richard Desmond, Chairman of Northern & Shell, said: “The Express Newspapers and our celebrity magazine titles have been a key part of the Northern & Shell portfolio for many years, and I am immensely proud of building them into one of the largest newspaper and magazine groups in the UK. Today’s transformational transaction is a logical and natural next step in the evolution and consolidation of the media sector and will create a larger and stronger platform serving all stakeholders. In Trinity Mirror we have a great partner, who will be an excellent steward of the business going forward and I am delighted to be able to retain an ongoing interest in the combined group.”