THE company which owns The Journal is to become one of the three largest publishers of regional and local newspapers in the UK.

Newsquest Media Group Ltd has been given consent to acquire Westminster Press Ltd from Pearson plc for £305 million.

The consent - announced by Corporate and Consumer Affairs Minister John Taylor - followed an investigation and report by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

Mr Taylor has accepted the MMC's conclusion that the transfer of 80 newspapers and assets may be expected not to operate against the public interest.

The Department of Trade and Industry said: "The MMC do not believe that the acquisition will have an adverse effect on presentation of news and free expression of opinion in the light of Newsquest's past record on editorial freedom and its assurances for the future.

"Nor do they consider that the transfer would have adverse consequences for efficiency and employment.

"Newsquest told the MMC that it had no plans to merge or close any titles."

The MMC concluded that the effects of the transfer on concentration would not operate against the public interest at national, regional or local level.

Westminster Press titles include the Northern Echo at Darlington, the Telegraph & Argus (Bradford), the Oxford Mail, the Brighton Evening Argus, the Southend Evening Echo and the Westmorland Gazette.

Newsquest (formerly Reed Regional Newspapers Ltd) was owned by Reed Elsevier plc.

In January, 1996 it was acquired by an investment vehicle of KKR, a US merchant bank which specialises in management buyouts, in conjunction with Newsquest's management.

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