Regional newspaper publisher Johnston Press has completed its purchase of the Irish company Leinster Leader Ltd, for some €138.6m.

The deal needed the approval of the Irish Competition Authority and the Irish Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and has won all the necessary regulatory clearances.

The leader company publishes seven newspapers in the Republic of Ireland, and was a privately owned company with 27 shareholders.

Its titles include weekly paid-fors the Leinster Leader, Leinster Express, Offaly Express, Dundalk Democrat, Limerick Leader and The Echo, and a paid-for evening newspaper in Limerick which is published three days per week.