Regional publisher National World has sold a software company originally acquired as part of a takeover deal last year.

When National World bought Express & Star publisher MNA Media last September, the £11.5m deal also included the MNA’s technology subsidiary Press Computer Systems.

Now PCS, whose software is widely used in the local news publishing industry, has been sold US-based tech giant Naviga for £3.5m.

National World chairman David Montgomery, pictured, said Naviga would be best place to develop the PCS business.

As part of the deal, the publisher has entered into a five-year agreement with Naviga to carry out its software services.

In effect this means the cost of Naviga’s services will be covered by the £3.5m consideration from the sale, meaning National World will not have to pay for them for around four years.

Commenting on the sale, Mr Montgomery, said: “Newspaper production technology is not our core expertise and so we believe PCS is being transferred into good hands with Naviga, which is best placed to develop that business while continuing to serve National World’s modernisation and automation needs for the long term.”

As well as the Express & Star, Shropshire Star and PCS, last September’s MNA deal also included a range of paid-for and free weeklies, farming and lifestyle magazines.