Leinster Leader sold in €140m deal
The Leinster Leader group of newspapers is likely to be sold British newspaper publisher Johnston Pressfor €139m.
The group publishes six weekly papers in the Republic, including the Leinster Leader, Leinster Express, Offaly Express, Dundalk Democrat, Limerick Leader and The Echo.
It is a privately-owned company with 27 shareholders, including chairman John McStay and deputy chairman Anthony Collins. It made profits of €8m in the year to the end of August on sales worth €21m.
Earlier this year Johnston Press, which owns Yorkshire Post, agreed to buy Scottish Radio Holdings' Irish newspaper division Score Press for £155m. Score Press's 45 titles include the Kilkenny People, Longford Leader and Leitrim Observer in the Republic.
Johnston has also bought the Local Press Group of newspapers, which publishes 12 main titles - eight in Northern Ireland, three in the Republic and one in both. The titles involved include the Derry Journal and Donegal Democrat. Johnston is paying £65m (€96m) for the group, which it is buying from a management team backed by investment group 3i.
