Move to Associated will 'safeguard' Indy and IoS

The Independent and Independent on Sunday are to transfer from Docklands to Northcliffe House, Kensington, headquarters of Daily Mail-publisher Associated Newspapers, in a move which staff have been told will "safeguard" the future of the two papers.
Under an agreement signed today, Independent Newspaper titles will have their own dedicated office space and will share some back office services at Associated, which publishes the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday, Evening Standard, Metro and London Lite.
The two groups’ editorial, management and commercial operations will remain separate. The Independent and Independent on Sunday will remain under the full ownership of INM. The move will take place at the end of January 2009. It follows last week’s announcement of a major editorial restructuring of The Independent which will deliver annual cost efficiencies of around £10 million. The new shared service agreement with Associated will deliver additional savings. Staff have been told that the chance to share office space and exploring sharing back-office services will help safeguard the future of The Independent and Independent on Sunday. Independent managing director Simon Kelner was on the Mail on Sunday and knows the Associated headquarters in Kensington well.