Ambitious publishing company mulls takeover bid for owners of long-established Grimsby newspaper

Today's edition of the Grimsby Telegraph

New owners could beckon for newspaper company Reach plc, owner of the Daily Mirror, Daily Express, Daily Star and numerous local titles, including the Grimsby Telegraph and the Lincolnshire Echo.

A much smaller company, National World plc, last Thursday released a statement to the effect that it was "in the early stages of exploring a possible offer".

The board of Reach has this week responded by issuing a statement of its own: "Although the announcement by National World has put Reach into what is known as an 'offer period' under the Takeover Code, there can be no certainty that any person will proceeed to make an offer for Reach.

"A further announcement will be made in due course as appropriate."

National World owns 13 regional and city daily newspapers and more than  one hundred other franchises in print and online. 

It is understood these include the Yorkshire Post, The Scotsman,  Portsmouth News, Sheffield Star and, closer to home, the Louth Leader.