Trinity Mirror buys MEN in £44.8m deal

National and regional newspaper publisher Trinity Mirror has bought the MEN as part of a deal for most of the Guardian's regional papers and associated websites. The 44.8m sale does not include Channel M, the television station for Greater Manchester.

The decision to sell the flagship Manchester newspaper means GMG has now cut most of its ties with its historic home city.

The group, which is owned by the Scott Trust, said it had decided to sell the regional titles to help it achieve its mandate to "secure the future of the Guardian in perpetuity".

GMG Regional Media publishes a total of 32 newspapers and related websites – 22 titles in the North West as part of MEN Media and 10 in the South including the Surrey Advertiser and Reading Post. The Trinity Mirror deal does not include two local newspapers in Woking.

Carolyn McCall, chief executive of Guardian Media Group, said: "The Manchester Evening News and its sister titles have made a huge contribution to the fortunes of the group for the best part of a century."

She said Trinity Mirror, as the UK's biggest regional publisher, was "best placed" to develop the business.

The regional group posted an operating profit of zero in the 12 months to December and has gross assets of 8.7m.

Trinity Mirror said the acquired titles complemented its existing portfolio.