It has been reported that the Barclays are keen to exit the newspaper market and are considering offloading their three Scottish newspapers, which along with The Scotsman broadsheet include Scotland on Sunday and the Edinburgh Evening News.
One possible buyer is the Scottish Media Group. The Virgin Radio-owner and Scottish ITV franchise holder also owns Scotland's other broadsheet The Herald.
It has even been suggested that if bought by SMG it could lead to a possible merger of Scotland's broadsheet papers.
Last week, it was revealed that Sunday Business has been given an ultimatum by owners the Barclays to find a solution to the paper's financial problems or face possible closure.
Sunday Business managing director Paul Woolfenden has been shopping the paper around desperately in search of either a joint venture partner or capital backing to launch a buyout.
Among a number of companies linked to possible talks was Holtzbrinck Publishing Group, publisher of German financial newspaper Handelsblatt. It was said to be considering a rescue bid for the paper.
Reports have suggested that the paper will close in two weeks if a solution is not found. Holtzbrinck already publishes Scientific American and Nature, and has a strategic alliance with Wall Street Journal publisher Dow Jones.
The paper has been made heavy losses since the Barclays Brothers launched it in 1998 and it is slated to lose around £9m this year.
Sunday Business has been suffering a circulation slide in recent months and has seen its sales fall from a high of 72,000 in February 2000 to its current September ABC figure of 60,591.
If you have an opinion on this or any other issue raised on Brand Republic, join the debate in the .
_1.jpg)
.jpg)
