M&A Market: NOZ/MH:N to Acquire Majority Stake in Zeitungsgruppe Ostfriesland

German media group NOZ/MH:N has signed a contract to acquire approximately 60% of shares in regional publisher Zeitungsgruppe Ostfriesland (ZGO). The acquisition is subject to approval by the Bundeskartellamt (Federal Cartel Office). ZGO, based in Leer, Lower Saxony, publishes the Ostfriesen Zeitung and Ostfriesischen Nachrichten. The sellers are Siebe Ostendorp GmbH and Gerhard Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, while remaining shares stay with Robert Dunkmann and Dietmar Müller-Dunkmann. The purchase price was not disclosed. ZGO emphasized that it will remain an independent East Frisian media house with preserved local editorial independence, and existing employment contracts will be unaffected. This move follows NOZ/MH:N's earlier announcement in May to acquire a majority in Medienhaus BruneMettcker, and its 2016 purchase of Medien Holding:Nord.