Slaughter and May are advising DMG Media on its proposed joint venture with News UK

Slaughter and May are advising DMG Media, a subsidiary of Daily Mail & General Trust plc, in respect of a proposed joint venture which would combine the printing operations of Newsprinters (News UK), and DMG Media printing sites in Thurrock (Essex) and Dinnington (South Yorkshire). Under the proposal, a new company (NewCo) would be created to run the combined print operations.

The proposed NewCo, which is subject to consultation, would help improve the efficiency of News UK and DMG Media’s print operations and establish a sustainable business model for the future of national newspaper printing in the UK.

The proposal would retain the three current Newsprinters sites in Broxbourne (Hertfordshire), Knowsley (Merseyside) and Eurocentral (Glasgow), and would mean the closure of DMG Media sites in Thurrock and Dinnington. DMG Media would retain ownership of the Carn print site in Northern Ireland which is unaffected by this proposal and will operate as normal.

Both parties are engaging with the relevant regulatory authorities, including the Competition and Markets Authority.