Yesterday (18 September) Kent-based Kelsey Media announced that it was acquiring the publishing and events company, which has titles spanning a number of specialist interest areas including motorcycles, modelling, railways and gardening.
Based in Horncastle, Lincolnshire, Mortons also publishes between 25 and 30 ‘bookazines’ a year, on topics including aviation history and warfare.
The overall group had sales of £18.7m in its most recent accounts, for the year to 31 January 2024, and made an operating profit of just over £1m. It employed 135 at that time.
Kelsey Media chairman Steve Wright commented: “This is a significant step in our growth strategy as we look to build market share and skills in specific markets. I look forward to working with the talented Mortons team in the coming months to further develop our products and services.”
The Mortons Print & Mailing business will be retained and will continue under that name.
Ian Fisher, executive chairman of Mortons Media and its majority shareholder, said: “In recognising both the opportunities and longer-term challenges presented by the markets we seek to serve, I am confident Kelsey will be a great home for our brands.
“With the greater scale afforded by the acquisition and the combined strengths of the respective businesses and staff, I look forward to seeing them continuing to flourish in the future.”
Mortons Print & Mailing offers full-colour coldset newspaper printing in tabloid and broadsheet formats, with the option of glossy covers and alternative formats including A4, quarterfold and ‘magloid’.
Services including in-house mailing and fulfilment including polywrapping, and the business also provides transport and logistics including overnight pallet delivery.
It provides contract printing services to a wide range of national and regional publishing businesses as well as political parties, local authorities, and others.
Mortons Print & Mailing typically prints about 450 titles, amounting to 10,000,000 copies, a month.
At the time of the accounts, the directors noted that despite ongoing contraction in the newspaper sector overall, Mortons’ niche focus and diverse customer base meant the business was well-placed.
The Kelsey acquisition is expected to complete by 25 March. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
