Following the Disposal, the Group will have no ongoing trading operations in the Republic of Ireland, other than the retention of certain leasehold and freehold property interests. The Group will continue to provide printing facilities to Iconic Newspapers Ltd for a certain period post Disposal. It is also intended that certain leasehold properties will be sub-leased to Formpress post Disposal. The Group is retaining its Northern Irish titles including The Newsletter and Derry Journal (which are also sold in the Republic)
Iconic Newspapers Limited is a company in the same corporate group as Mediaforce Limited, which is the Group's national advertisement sales representative in the United Kingdom, and is ultimately owned by Malcolm Denmark.
For the 52 weeks ended 28 December 2013, the operating profit before exceptional items for the assets subject to the Disposal amounted to €1.3 million.
Chief Executive Officer of Johnston Press, Ashley Highfield, said: "The disposal of our trade and assets in the Republic of Ireland will increase our ability to focus on the growth of our business in the United Kingdom and in particular our digital initiatives, in line with our stated strategy. We believe that it is in the Group's best interests to dedicate our resources to these opportunities.
I would like to thank the staff of our Irish business for their loyalty and dedication over the years and we wish them well for a successful future."
