Alabama Pension Fund Now Sole Owner of Local Newspaper Chain

Photo by Bank Phrom on Unsplash.

The Associated Press

Alabama's employee pension fund has become sole owner of one of the largest chains of local newspapers in the United States.

CHNI LLC has been acquired by the Retirement Systems of Alabama. The company includes 68 daily newspapers and more than 40 non-dailies plus websites in 22 states.

CHNI publishes several New York-based newspapers, including the the Albion Advertiser in Albion, The Daily Star in Oneonta, the Cooperstown Crier in Cooperstown, The Journal-Register in Medina, Lockport Union-Sun & Journal in Lockport, Niagara Gazette in Niagara, the Press-Republican in Plattsburgh and Tonawanda News in North Tonawanda.

The Montgomery, AL-based newspaper group is being spun off Raycom Media Inc., which is being purchased by the Atlanta-based Gray Television Inc. Raycom was owned by the retirement system.

CNHI previously operated with the state retirement system as its creditor.

CNHI chief executive Donna Barrett says in a statement the acquisition will provide stability for the newspaper group.

Financial details weren't announced.

Alabama's pension fund has other non-traditional investments including golf courses, airliners and the largest office building in New York City.