THE American-owned company which publishes the Bolton Evening News, Bury Times and other newspapers throughout the country is at the centre of a major acquisition move.

Gannett (UK) Ltd is one of three companies - the others are Johnston Press plc and Guardian Media Group - given permission by Trade and Industry Secretary Stephen Byers to bid for Regional Independent Media, owner of the Yorkshire Post and about 70 other newspapers.

The Secretary of State has said that, in accordance with the Competition Commission's advice, the proposed transfer would not be against the public interest.

A joint statement by Gannett (UK) Ltd, Johnston Press plc and Guardian Media Group continued: "Preliminary discussions between the three publishers suggest that certain of the existing RIM titles represent a better commercial fit for each of them.

"In view of this, and given that the Secretary of State's consent applied to all or any of the RIM titles being transferred to each of the three parties, Gannett, Johnston and Guardian Media have decided in principle that the most practical and expeditious way forward would be for one of them (Gannett (UK) Ltd) to bid for all of the RIM titles and to enter into subsequent arrangements with a view to the onward divestment of certain of RIM's titles to the other two parties.

"The three parties are accordingly proposing to explore this approach with RIM."