PA News deal puts rival out of business

PA News, the UK’s leading news agency, has bought the title of rival agency UK News in a deal which will result in the closure of the latter.

PA will take over contracts to supply news and sports services to daily newspapers owned by Northcliffe Newspapers Group and Newsquest Media, the joint owners of Leicester-based UK News.

UK News, which serves 27 regional daily newspapers – 20 of which belong to the two parent companies and another seven independents – will attempt to find members of its 30-strong workforce positions within Northcliffe and Newsquest titles.

PA News, which has rivalled UK News for the past five years, has also confirmed that it will open discussions with the seven independent papers in the near future.