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This time Irvine-based Freedom Communications is unloading 20 newspapers in Florida and North Carolina. Buyer is Halifax Media Group, which recently acquired the New York Times' 16 regional papers for $143 million. Terms of the Halifax deal were not disclosed. From the Register:
Freedom began exploring the disposition of its properties in November 2010 after a group of investors and banks took over the company from the founding Hoiles family following the bankruptcy. The latest sale leaves Freedom with seven daily newspapers. In addition to the Register, Freedom owns four other California papers - the Desert Dispatch in Barstow, the Appeal-Democrat in Marysville, the Porterville Recorder and the Daily Press in Victorville. Freedom also owns The Gazette in Colorado Springs and the Yuma Sun.
Last month, Freedom announced the sale of four regional papers in the Midwest to a Philadelphia private equity group. Still no word about the Register.
Mark Lacter created the LA Biz Observed blog in 2006. He posted
until the day before his death on Nov. 13, 2013.