14.02.01
Five titles join magazine stable
ecng has announced the acquisition of the entire share capital of Oyston Publications plc, a Lancashire-based business publishing a number of monthly county and city lifestyle magazines.
Yorkshire Life, Lancashire Life and Cheshire Life are long-established county titles and between them sell over 50,000 copies monthly. There are also two city-based titles, Leeds Life and Manchester Life.
The existing Oyston Publishing staff of 45 all join ecng and the business will continue to be run out of its Preston headquarters by the current MD Peter Bourhill.
The new titles will be part of the Newspapers division of the Group and Newspapers’ MD Nigel Websper said: “ecng’s own county magazine business is gathering pace and I am thrilled that we can now add substantially to its scale through this acquisition, which further strengthens our role and reputation as a regional media specialist. This is a well run business with some exceptionally talented staff.”
Oyston Publications MD Peter Bourhill said: “We are very pleased at the opportunity to work with such a well-regarded media company as ecng with its strong regional publishing reputation. I am sure that lots of opportunities exist for us both to benefit from this move.”
A new division of ecng Newspapers' has also been formed, charged with the development of the county lifestyle magazines and associated revenue streams.
Jonathan Hustler will be MD of ecng Lifestyle. Mike West, currently chairman of Oyston Publications plc will remain as a director.
|