Six buyers in frame for Irish papers
31 March 09

Up to six interested parties are set to be awarded exclusivity talks rights for various parts of the Irish operations of Johnston Press by the beginning of next week, according to reports.

Although the Scottish regional newspaper group said last week - when it reported a pre-tax loss of £429.3m for 2008 - that it still hoped to sell its Irish operations as a job lot, that seems highly unlikely, the Irish Examiner says.

It reports that one interested party will gain exclusivity rights to talk terms relating to the acquisition of six or seven of the 13 titles up for sale. Up to five buyers are thought to be in the frame for the balance of assets.

The UK company's papers here include the Leinster Leader group, the Leitrim Observer, the Kilkenny People and the Longford Leader.