Independent blocked from selling titles

INDEPENDENT News and Media has been forbidden by the British Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) from selling eight of its regional newspaper titles in the London area to US publishers Gannett.

Yesterday the DTI published the Competition Commission's report on the proposed transfer to Newsquest (London) Ltd a subsidiary of US newspaper giant Gannet of 23 newspaper titles owned by Independent News and Media UK Limited, which are distributed in the Greater London area.

Competition Minister Gerry Sutcliffe has refused to consent to the transfer of the eight titles of INM's Kentish Times division and he has stalled the sale of two other titles.