Halifax Media Group to Acquire HarborPoint MediaBack to News

LEESBURG, FL – August 28, 2013 – Halifax Media Group, based in Daytona Beach, Florida, has entered into an agreement to acquire the assets of HarborPoint Media, principally the 21,700-circulation Daily Commercial of Leesburg, Florida, the News-Sun of Sebring and the South Lake Press of Clermont.

Dirks, Van Essen & Murray, a newspaper merger and acquisition firm located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, represented Halifax in the transaction.  The companies anticipate closing the transaction as of September 30.

“We believe that Halifax is a good home for our employees and newspapers,” said Russell Denson, a HarborPoint director.  “As a larger newspaper publisher in the Florida market, Halifax brings additional resources and capabilities to expand and enhance the newspapers’ service to their readers, advertisers and communities.”

“We are excited about the deal.  The Daily Commercial, the largest newspaper in the group, is located in Leesburg, within an hour of both the Halifax’s News-Journal in Daytona Beach and the Star-Banner in Ocala.  Plus, the News-Sun operation based in Sebring is near our Lakeland operation,” said Michael Redding, CEO of Halifax Media Group.  “These Central Florida markets are positioned in the heart of our Florida footprint.  We know the markets and the publications.”

For more information contact Owen Van Essen at Dirks, Van Essen & Murray at 505-820-2700 or owen@dirksvanessen.com.