Three Scottish newspapers are to be transferred to Johnston Press after the Government gave permission for Regional Independent Media to hand them over.
The papers are Stornaway Gazette & West Coast Advertiser, The Galloway Gazette & Stranraer News, and the Carrick Gazette.
The Department of Trade and Industry consent was given without a Competition Commission inquiry.
It is part of the deal that saw the completion of the purchase of RIM by Johnston Press on Friday.
Johnston chief executive Tim Bowdler and his opposite number at RIM, Chris Oakley met in Edinburgh to rubber-stamp the deal that makes Johnston the fourth largest regional publisher in the country.
Do you have a story about the regional press? Ring 0116 227 3122/3121, or
e-mail pastill@nep.co.uk
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