Yattendon Group

Yattendon Group is a privately owned British business group associated with the Iliffe family. Formerly known as Yattendon Investment Trust, the group takes its name from Yattendon, a village in Berkshire, England. Rather than operating as a single consumer-facing product brand, it functions as a diversified holding and operating organisation with interests spread across property, agriculture, leisure infrastructure and media. The group has substantial landholdings in West Berkshire and agricultural interests connected with those assets. Its leisure activities include marina ownership through MDL Marinas, a subsidiary operating a network of marinas. These activities give Yattendon exposure to property management, waterfront leisure and marine services in addition to its rural estate interests. Media has been another important part of the group’s portfolio. Yattendon previously owned Channel Television, the ITV regional broadcaster serving the Channel Islands. That television business was sold to ITV plc in 2011, marking a significant change in the group’s media holdings. Yattendon remains associated with local and regional publishing through Iliffe Media, which publishes local newspapers, magazines and digital products, and operates KMFM radio stations. Iliffe Media’s portfolio has included 38 local newspapers and related titles, although the composition of the portfolio may change over time. In 2016, the Iliffe family introduced the Cambridge Independent, a weekly newspaper and associated media operation. The launch followed the absorption of the former Cambridge News title into Trinity Mirror Group after the Local World transaction and the failure to return that title. Yattendon’s printing press in Milton, Cambridgeshire, produces full-colour newspapers for its own publishing activities and for external clients, giving the group an operational position in newspaper production as well as publishing. Yattendon expanded its newspaper interests in January 2017 by acquiring 13 titles in Lincolnshire and East Anglia from Johnston Press. The transaction strengthened its position in regional newspapers and extended the geographic reach of its local-media operations. The group’s overall profile is therefore defined by long-term family ownership, a diversified asset base and a combination of operating businesses and investments rather than by one flagship consumer product. Publicly available reference material does not establish a complete corporate history, current executive roster, detailed financial profile or a definitive current list of all subsidiaries. Those details should be verified against current company disclosures and the group’s official materials before being added.

Yattendon Group is a British private business group owned by the Iliffe family. Its earlier name was Yattendon Investment Trust, and the group is named after Yattendon village in Berkshire. The organisation’s activities have developed across several sectors rather than around one central product or service. Its portfolio includes rural land and agricultural interests in West Berkshire, marina operations, regional media and commercial newspaper printing. The group’s property interests include large areas of land in West Berkshire. Through MDL Marinas, it has also held marina assets, connecting the group with leisure property, berthing and marine-related services. These operations sit alongside its media interests and illustrate the group’s diversified structure. Yattendon formerly owned Channel Television, the ITV regional broadcaster serving the Channel Islands. In 2011, it sold Channel Television to ITV plc. This transaction reduced Yattendon’s direct involvement in television broadcasting while leaving the wider group with other media activities. The Iliffe family later developed a substantial regional publishing platform through Iliffe Media. The business publishes local newspapers, magazines and associated online products and operates KMFM radio stations. Its printing press in Milton, Cambridgeshire, produces full-colour newspapers for the group’s own titles and for outside customers. This gives the media division both publishing and production capabilities. In 2016, the Iliffe family launched the Cambridge Independent, a weekly newspaper and associated media operation. The initiative followed the absorption of the former Cambridge News title into Trinity Mirror Group after the Local World venture and the failure to return the title. The new publication represented an effort to maintain an Iliffe-associated local-media presence in Cambridge through a newly created title. In January 2017, Yattendon bought 13 newspapers in Lincolnshire and East Anglia from Johnston Press. The acquisition expanded the group’s local-newspaper holdings and reinforced its presence in regional publishing. Reference material identifies Iliffe Media as publishing 38 local newspapers, magazines and related digital products, although the exact current portfolio is subject to change. The available reference material does not provide a complete account of Yattendon’s formation, all historical acquisitions, current management, financial performance or present-day subsidiary structure. Accordingly, the group is best described from the available evidence as an active, family-owned British diversified business with interests in media, printing, marinas, agriculture and property.

1. 2017Acquisition of 13 regional newspapers

   Yattendon acquired 13 newspaper titles in Lincolnshire and East Anglia from Johnston Press.

   Source
2. 2016Launch of the Cambridge Independent

   The Iliffe family launched the Cambridge Independent as a new weekly newspaper and associated media operation.

   Source
3. 2011Sale of Channel Television

   Yattendon sold its former Channel Television business to ITV plc.

   Source

A privately owned, diversified British family business combining long-term property and agricultural assets with regional media, printing and marina operations.

• Iliffe MediaRegional media group

  Iliffe Media is the group’s regional publishing and broadcasting platform. It publishes local newspapers, magazines and associated online products, and operates KMFM radio stations. Reference material describes a portfolio of 38 local newspapers and related media properties, although titles and ownership may change over time.

• Cambridge IndependentWeekly newspaper and digital media2016

  The Cambridge Independent is a weekly newspaper and associated media operation launched by the Iliffe family in 2016. It was introduced after the former Cambridge News title became part of Trinity Mirror Group, providing a new Iliffe-associated local publication for the Cambridge market.

• KMFMLocal radio

  KMFM is a group of local radio stations associated with Iliffe Media. The stations form part of Yattendon’s regional media interests alongside newspaper, magazine and online publishing activities.

• MDL MarinasMarina and leisure infrastructure

  MDL Marinas is Yattendon’s marina subsidiary. Its activities place the group in marina ownership and operation, including waterfront leisure infrastructure and services for boat owners and visitors.

• Newspaper printingCommercial printing

  Yattendon operates a printing press in Milton, Cambridgeshire, producing full-colour newspapers for its own publishing operations and a broad range of external clients.

• 2017Acquisition of Johnston Press newspaper titlesM&A

  Yattendon was expanding its regional publishing interests through its Iliffe-associated media operations.

  What changed. In January 2017, Yattendon acquired 13 newspapers in Lincolnshire and East Anglia from Johnston Press.

  Aftermath. The transaction broadened the group’s regional newspaper footprint in eastern and central England.

  Source
• 2016Creation of the Cambridge IndependentProduct launch

  The former Cambridge News title had been absorbed into Trinity Mirror Group after the Local World venture and was not returned.

  What changed. The Iliffe family launched the Cambridge Independent as a new weekly newspaper and related media operation.

  Aftermath. The launch restored an Iliffe-associated local newspaper presence in Cambridge through a newly created title.

  Source
• 2011Divestment of Channel TelevisionM&A

  Channel Television was part of Yattendon’s earlier media portfolio and served the Channel Islands as an ITV regional broadcaster.

  What changed. Yattendon sold Channel Television to ITV plc.

  Aftermath. The sale ended Yattendon’s ownership of the television business while the group retained other media, property, marina and agricultural interests.

  Source

• 2017Yattendon acquires 13 newspapers from Johnston Press

  Yattendon acquired 13 newspaper titles in Lincolnshire and East Anglia from Johnston Press, expanding its regional publishing presence.

  M&A
  Source
• 2016Iliffe family launches Cambridge Independent

  The Iliffe family launched the Cambridge Independent as a new weekly newspaper and related media operation after the former Cambridge News title had become part of Trinity Mirror Group.

  Product launch
  Source
• 2011Yattendon sells Channel Television to ITV

  Yattendon disposed of its former Channel Television business by selling it to ITV plc.

  M&A
  Source

1. Yattendon Group