Home / News / Olswang advises Iliffe Media on its £17 million acquisition...

Olswang advises Iliffe Media on its £17 million acquisition of 13 UK local newspaper titles from Johnston Press plc

21 December 2016

This article was produced by Olswang LLP, which joined with CMS on 1 May 2017.

International technology, media and telecoms law firm Olswang has advised Iliffe Media, the publisher owned by the Hon. Edward Iliffe, on its acquisition of 13 local newspaper titles and associated websites in East Anglia and the East Midlands from Johnston Press plc. The titles acquired by Illiffe Media include the Bury Free Press, Grantham Journal, Spalding Guardian and Stamford Mercury.

The acquisition, the consideration of which will total £17 million, is conditional on Johnston Press' shareholders approving the deal and is due to complete in mid-January 2017. Olswang has long acted for the Iliffe family, and previously advised on the sale of Local World Holdings to Trinity Mirror plc.

Olswang Partner and Head of the firm's International Corporate Practice Mark Bertram commented: "With the acquisition of these titles, Iliffe Media is well positioned to expand further and continue to provide the local news that is so valued by its readers. Having worked with Edward Iliffe and Iliffe Media on a number of transactions over the years, we're delighted to have been able to assist once again on this significant purchase, and we look forward to working with the team on future ventures."

Mark Bertram led the Olswang team on this transaction, which included Corporate Senior Associate Ken Wilkinson, Real Estate Legal Director Stephen Baker, Corporate Associate Patrick Peake and Trainee Susannah Parry.