Recent online acquisitions by Daily Mail General Trust’s Internet arm means that the AN Digital network now reaches an estimated 25 per cent of all UK web users.

A stock market announcement yesterday revealed that the division's revenues run at around £75m a year and achieve an operating margin in excess of 20 per cent.

Three online acquisitions worth a total £17m were made recently as part the company’s continuing strategy of making investments to increase exposure to key areas of the online advertising market pertinent to Associated, such as automotive, jobs, property, dating, and personal finance.

All of the acquisitions will form part of the AN Digital network of online assets.

Auto Exposure Limited provides car dealers with services to publish and advertise their vehicle inventory online.

Associated has also made two further acquisitions to boost the group's Jobsite recruitment portfolio: Interbase Limited, which operates "productionbase.co.uk", and The Appointment Limited, a company that runs the retail recruitment sites "inretail.co.uk" and "retailcareers.co.uk" as well as the retail magazine "The Appointment".