Daily Mail and General Trust
A British media and information-services group whose businesses include the Daily Mail, MailOnline, Metro, i Paper, New Scientist and property-data services.
Last updated August 21, 2026
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Overview
Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT) is a British media and information-services group with roots in the mass-market newspaper business. Its origins lie in the launch of the Daily Mail in 1896 by brothers Alfred Harmsworth and Harold Harmsworth. The newspaper helped establish a commercially powerful form of national popular journalism, and the Harmsworth family's ownership interests later developed into Associated Newspapers and the broader corporate group that became DMGT. The company was incorporated in 1922 and first listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1932. Control has remained closely associated with the Rothermere family, the peerage adopted by Harold Harmsworth. Esmond Harmsworth took operational control in 1932 and complete control after his father's death in 1940. Vere Harmsworth became chairman of Associated Newspapers in 1970 and later chaired DMGT. Jonathan Harmsworth, the 4th Viscount Rothermere, became chairman in 1998 and subsequently increased the family's voting control through Rothermere Continuation Limited. DMGT's principal consumer-media businesses are operated through DMG Media. They include the Daily Mail, the Mail on Sunday, MailOnline, Metro and Metro.co.uk, as well as the i Paper and New Scientist. The portfolio spans printed national newspapers, free commuter publishing, digital news and entertainment, science journalism and specialist magazine content. Some titles have distinct national or regional editions, including the Scottish Daily Mail and Irish Daily Mail. MailOnline is the group's internationally oriented digital publication and one of the most prominent English-language newspaper websites. Beyond consumer media, DMGT has built a portfolio of business-to-business information and services. Landmark Information Group and SearchFlow provide information used in property transactions in the United Kingdom, while Trepp supplies data and analytics for the United States commercial real-estate market. DMGT Ventures functions as an investment arm and has backed businesses in areas such as used cars, property investment and will writing. The group has also participated in digital-property and online-commerce ventures, including its former investment in Zoopla Property Group and its former ownership of Wowcher. DMGT's corporate strategy has therefore combined a strong newspaper heritage with digital expansion, specialist information, property data and selective investments. It has periodically bought or sold assets to reshape that mix: it acquired the i Paper in 2019 and New Scientist in 2021, while disposing of its interests in businesses such as Wowcher and Zoopla. In 2023 it invested in Hexagon Cup, a Madrid-based padel competition, illustrating the group's continued interest in media, events and adjacent consumer opportunities. After nearly a century in Fleet Street, the group moved its head office from New Carmelite House to Northcliffe House in Kensington in 1988. In late 2021, Rothermere Continuation Limited agreed to acquire the remaining DMGT shares for approximately £885 million. Following completion, DMGT left the London Stock Exchange in January 2022 and became privately held. Jonathan Harmsworth remains the family's central figure and chairman. The modern group is consequently best understood as a privately controlled British media and information conglomerate rather than solely as the owner of a single newspaper.
History
DMGT's history begins with the Daily Mail, launched in 1896 by Alfred Harmsworth and Harold Harmsworth. The paper was designed as a national mass-market title and became the foundation of the Harmsworth family's publishing interests. Harold Harmsworth was later created the 1st Viscount Rothermere in 1919, linking the company's corporate and editorial history to the Rothermere family. The group was incorporated in 1922 and its shares were admitted to the London Stock Exchange in 1932. That year Esmond Harmsworth assumed operational control. Following the death of the 1st Viscount Rothermere in November 1940, Esmond obtained complete control of the organisation. The family's influence continued through Associated Newspapers, the publishing business that operated the Daily Mail and related titles, and through the wider corporate structure that became Daily Mail and General Trust. Vere Harmsworth became chairman of Associated Newspapers in 1970. When his father died in 1978, he became the 3rd Viscount Rothermere and chairman of DMGT. Under his generation, the group retained its newspaper base while developing a broader portfolio. In 1988 it left its historic Fleet Street premises at New Carmelite House and moved to Northcliffe House in Kensington, which became the group's principal London base and a shared home for several of its publishing operations. Jonathan Harmsworth, the 4th Viscount Rothermere, became chairman after his father's death in September 1998. During the following decades DMGT expanded beyond traditional newspapers into digital publishing, online property services, business information, events and venture investment. The group owned Wowcher from 2011 to 2015. In 2012 it used its controlling interest in Digital Property Group to combine property websites including FindaProperty, PrimeLocation and SmartNewHomes with Zoopla. DMGT later reduced its exposure to Zoopla and sold its remaining reported stake in 2018. The consumer-media portfolio developed around both legacy and newer brands. The Daily Mail remained the flagship national newspaper, while the Mail on Sunday, first published in 1982, added a Sunday edition. Metro, launched in 1999 as a free newspaper initially distributed in London, expanded to cities and regions across the United Kingdom. Metro.co.uk developed from the newspaper's digital counterpart into an independent online publication within the group. MailOnline became the main international digital growth vehicle. DMGT also expanded through acquisitions, including the i Paper in 2019 and New Scientist in 2021. The group has also maintained a significant business-information presence. Landmark Information Group and SearchFlow serve the United Kingdom property-transaction market, and Trepp provides commercial-real-estate information and analytics in the United States. DMGT Ventures has invested in businesses such as Cazoo, Bricklane and Farewill, reflecting a model that combines operating media assets with minority investments in digital companies. In 2019 DMGT joined the Belt and Road News Network. In December 2021 Rothermere Continuation Limited acquired the shares it did not already control for approximately £885 million. The transaction converted DMGT from a listed public company into a privately controlled group, and the company was delisted in January 2022. In 2023 it invested in Hexagon Cup and expressed interest in acquiring Telegraph Media Group. DMGT consequently entered the current period as a family-controlled private group with a portfolio spanning newspapers, digital media, specialist publishing, property information, commercial real-estate data and selected investments.
- 2023
Investment in Hexagon Cup
[1]DMGT invested in Hexagon Cup, a Madrid-based padel competition.
- 2022
DMGT becomes private
[1]After Rothermere Continuation Limited completed its offer, DMGT was delisted from the London Stock Exchange.
- 2021
New Scientist is acquired
[1]DMGT acquired New Scientist, a weekly science and technology publication.
- 2019
DMGT joins the Belt and Road News Network
[1]The group joined the Belt and Road News Network.
- 2019
The i Paper is acquired
[1]DMGT acquired the i Paper, a national newspaper originally launched as a sister title to The Independent.
- 2018
DMGT exits its remaining Zoopla interest
[1]DMGT sold its then-reported 29.8 percent stake in Zoopla Property Group to Silver Lake Partners.
- 2012
Digital Property Group is combined with Zoopla
[1]DMGT used its controlling stake to combine the Digital Property Group, including FindaProperty, PrimeLocation and SmartNewHomes, with Zoopla.
- 1999
Metro launches
[1]Metro launched as a free weekday newspaper, initially distributed in London before expanding across the United Kingdom.
- 1998
Jonathan Harmsworth becomes chairman
[1]Jonathan Harmsworth, the 4th Viscount Rothermere, became chairman after his father's death.
- 1988
Head office moves from Fleet Street
[1]After almost a century in Fleet Street, the company moved from New Carmelite House to Northcliffe House in Kensington.
Products and positioning
A privately controlled, diversified media and information group combining mass-market consumer publishing with digital media, specialist journalism, property information and commercial real-estate data.
National newspaper · 1896
Daily Mail
DMGT's flagship national newspaper, launched in 1896. It operates alongside Scottish and Irish editions and is the central print brand in the group's consumer-media portfolio.
Sunday newspaper · 1982
Mail on Sunday
The Daily Mail's Sunday sister title, first published in 1982. It extends the Mail publishing proposition into weekend news, features and lifestyle coverage.
Digital news
MailOnline
The international digital publishing platform associated with the Daily Mail. It publishes English-language news, entertainment, celebrity, lifestyle and opinion content for audiences in the United Kingdom and overseas.
Free national newspaper · 1999
Metro
A free weekday newspaper launched in 1999. It began in London and expanded to distribution across numerous English, Welsh and Scottish cities and regions.
Digital news · 2002
Metro.co.uk
A United Kingdom online publication that began as the digital counterpart to Metro and later developed as an independent publication within DMG Media.
National newspaper · 2010
i Paper
A national newspaper acquired by DMGT in 2019. It was originally introduced as a sister publication to The Independent and became part of the group's UK consumer-media portfolio.
Science and technology magazine · 1956
New Scientist
A weekly publication focused on science and technology. DMGT acquired the title in 2021, adding specialist journalism and an established international readership to its media holdings.
Property information
Landmark Information Group
A property-information business serving the United Kingdom transaction market. Its activities include data and reports used in conveyancing, due diligence and related property processes.
Commercial real-estate data
Trepp
A provider of information, analytics and related services for the United States commercial real-estate market, forming part of DMGT's business-information activities.
Brand decisions
2023
Interest in Telegraph Media GroupM&ABackground
Telegraph Media Group owns a major UK newspaper rival to the Daily Mail.
Action taken
DMGT confirmed its interest in acquiring Telegraph Media Group.
2021
Acquire New ScientistM&ABackground
DMGT expanded its specialist publishing and science-content activities.
Action taken
The group acquired New Scientist.
Aftermath
New Scientist joined the group's consumer-media and specialist-publishing portfolio.
Acquisition price. £70 million (2021)
2021
Rothermere Continuation Limited offerM&ABackground
The Rothermere family already controlled DMGT and sought to acquire the shares it did not own.
Action taken
Rothermere Continuation Limited agreed to purchase the remaining shares for approximately £885 million.
Aftermath
DMGT became privately held and was delisted from the London Stock Exchange in January 2022.
Offer for remaining shares. Approximately £885 million (December 2021)
2019
Acquire the i PaperM&ABackground
DMGT sought to broaden its UK consumer-media portfolio beyond the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and Metro.
Action taken
DMGT acquired the i Paper in November 2019.
Aftermath
The newspaper became part of DMG Media's national publishing portfolio.
Acquisition price. £49.6 million (November 2019)
2012
Combine Digital Property Group with ZooplaM&ABackground
DMGT held a controlling interest in the Digital Property Group, whose portfolio included FindaProperty, PrimeLocation and SmartNewHomes.
Action taken
The group combined the digital-property businesses with Zoopla and received an interest in the enlarged property group.
Aftermath
DMGT later sold its remaining reported stake in Zoopla Property Group in 2018.
Recent events
DMGT considers possible job cuts[2]
Reported:
Daily Mail and General Trust said it was exploring options to mitigate rising newsprint, energy and distribution costs, including reviewing employee numbers; the article reports possible job cuts, not completed layoffs.
DMGT announces planned sale of RMS to Moody’s[3]
Reported:
DMGT announced that it would sell its risk insurance business RMS to ratings agency Moody’s for £1.4 billion. The transaction was contingent on other conditions and was expected to complete later in 2021.
Sources3 sources
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