National World has announced the acquisition of the Midland News Association (MNA), a small newspaper group with two daily titles, from the Claverley Group.

MNA publishes the Wolverhampton Express & Star and the Shropshire Star as well as several weekly titles (free and paid) and magazines The Farmer and Shropshire Magazine. According to their most recent ABC figures, the Express & Star has a circulation of 9,752 paid single copies per issue, and the Shropshire Star 5,136.

National World has claimed that the acquisition will increase its daily newspaper sales by around 40pc, and expand its coverage further into the West Midlands where it has fewer existing titles than other areas. Chairman David Montgomery added that the “historic and premium brands” from MNA would also improve National World’s “rankings in UK media”.

The deal is reportedly worth £11m, and included technology company Press Computer Systems Limited. The Claverley group stated that their decision to sell MNA came as they are exiting the UK’s regional press.

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