Western New York Newspaper/Shopper Group Sold to Area PublisherBack to News

CHEEKTOWAGA, NY – APRIL 25, 2014 – Community Papers of Western New York announced today that it has acquired the business of Metro Group, Inc, publisher of weekly community newspapers and shoppers serving more than 250,000 households in Erie County and Niagara County, New York.   

Dirks, Van Essen & Murray, a merger and acquisition firm based in Santa Fe, New Mexico represented Metro Group in the sale.  Financial terms were not disclosed.

The Metro Group publications include the Source group of papers, the Hamburg Sun, Springville Journal, Gowanda News, and specialty publications, including WNY Advertiser and WNY Health.  In addition to Erie and Niagara counties, the group also serves communities in portions of Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Allegany and Wyoming counties.

Community Papers of Western New York is owned by James Austin, a career newspaperman who recently made his first acquisition of The Angola Pennysaver.  Mr. Austin said, “I believe very strongly that weekly community papers play an important part in the communities that they serve.  I will continue, and build upon the great work that the Metro Group, Inc. has done.”

Outgoing Metro Group CEO Bernard Bradpiece said, “After 14 years of hard work growing the company, my partner Denny Guastaferro and I are delighted to hand over responsibility for this outstanding group of newspapers to a timed-served newspaperman. With the outstanding management team he inherits, James has a great start to what we know will be a new chapter of success for the business.”

For more information contact Phil Murray at Dirks, Van Essen & Murray at 505-820-2700.

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