Intense bidding expected for Trinity’s Irish titles

BRITISH newspaper group Trinity is gearing up to sell it’s Irish published titles sparking an intense bidding war.

Regional newspaper titles in Ireland have been selling for premium prices in recent years and the availability of Trinity Mirror’s stable of Irish titles could open the way for a new entrant like US publishing giant Gannett into Ireland, a major expansion of a an Irish owned enterprise, or an opportunity for Scottish Radio Holdings to expand its Irish businesses.

The Financial Times has reported that senior Trinity Mirror executives are thought to have approached leading publishing groups such as Gannett, which recently paid £216m for the newspaper titles of Scottish Media Group, and Johnston Press about a possible deal. The move is believed to form a part of a strategic review at Trinity Mirror, instituted by Sly Bailey following her arrival as the group’s chief executive in February.