National World Faces £56.2m Takeover Bid by Major Shareholder

Media Concierge, which owns 28% of National World, has proposed a significant cash offer, escalating tensions within the publishing company.

Media Concierge, a major shareholder in National World, has made a £56.2 million takeover bid for the company, offering 21p per share, a 40% premium on its recent stock price.
The bid follows internal tensions between Media Concierge's owner Malcolm Denmark and National World's chairman David Montgomery, who have clashed over the company's direction and strategy.
Denmark's dissatisfaction stems from National World's lack of engagement with the takeover proposal and its digital strategy, which includes plans to produce half of its newspapers using artificial intelligence by year-end.
Montgomery, a former Mirror Group executive, has faced criticism for cost-cutting measures, including eliminating over 25% of jobs since acquiring JPI Media titles in 2021.
Media Concierge has urged other shareholders to push for engagement on the offer, framing it as an attractive opportunity for investors to realize their stakes in cash.