Overview

• The Bundeskartellamt granted formal approval on June 30 for SWMH to transfer its Baden-Württemberg regional publishing portfolio despite explicit competition concerns raised by President Andreas Mundt.
• Neue Pressegesellschaft will acquire stakes in leading titles such as Stuttgarter Zeitung, Stuttgarter Nachrichten, Esslinger Zeitung, Schwarzwälder Bote and Kreiszeitung Böblinger Bote, establishing a dominant local market position.
• As part of the restructuring, SWMH’s specialist publications arm will be sold to Medien Union Ludwigshafen, reflecting a broader strategy to divest noncore assets.
• SWMH has confirmed a strategic pivot to concentrate on its flagship Süddeutsche Zeitung, while the fate of its HCSB regional group in Nordbayern and Südthüringen remains undecided.
• The media group had previously announced plans to cut up to 15 percent of editorial positions in its Southwest newspapers by 2027, affecting roughly 45 roles.