The shareholder structure of the Nordkurier Mediengruppe is changing: Schwäbischer Verlag, based in Ravensburg, is taking over the shares of the previous co-shareholders Kieler Nachrichten and Mediengruppe Pressedruck in Augsburg. The transaction is to be completed retroactively as of 1 January 2021, subject to approval by the antitrust authorities.
The managing director of Schwäbischer Verlag is Lutz Schumacher, who was managing director and at times also editor-in-chief of Nordkurier Mediengruppe from 2007 to 2019. He said: "Digitisation, increased efficiency and growth are important prerequisites for the future viability of regional media houses. The two economically healthy media houses are better equipped for the future together." The managing directors of Nordkurier Mediengruppe, Jérôme Lavrut and Holger Timm, said: "In recent years, both companies have found very innovative solutions to the challenges of media change in some areas and can now benefit from each other's experience. In terms of publishing and journalism, however, the Schwäbische Zeitung and the Nordkurier will remain separate, because the two houses are completely independent in their local and regional reporting, not least due to the spatial separation." Lutz Schumacher also emphasised: "The Nordkurier will continue to appear as an independent daily newspaper in Neubrandenburg and will also continue to be produced in Neubrandenburg."