DMGT revealed at the end of November that it was looking at selling the division, which includes titles such as the Nottingham Evening Post, with the deadline for bids passing yesterday.
According to a report in the Daily Telegraph, Johnston Press is bidding alone but could face competition issues, and in future rounds trade buyers and private equity firms could team up.
Other trade buyers believed to be interested include Trinity Mirror, which would not comment on whether it had bid, and US newspaper group Gannett, which owns Newsquest. Gannett chief executive Craig Dubow has confirmed that he is interested in Northcliffe.
Among private equity bidders the Telegraph identified Candover, working with former Regional Independent Media director Chris Oakley; Cinven, working with former Newsquest chairman Jim Brown; CVC Capital Partners; and Mecom, the investment vehicle of former Mirror Group chief executive David Montgomery.
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