The Sunday Times reported yesterday (23 August) that Martin Gilbert, chief executive of Aberdeen Asset Management, Ben Thomson, a financier based in Edinburgh, and Mark Shaw, a property developer, wanted to buy the paper.
The paer said although discussions had taken place between the two parties, they disagreed over the price for The Scotsman, Scotland on Sunday and Edinburgh Evening News.
In a statement to the London Stock Exchange today, Johnston Press said while it is company policy not to comment on such speculation, Johnston Press can confirm that the board "does not have any disposal process underway in this regard".
Johnston Press has to renegotiate its debt of £450m by 31 August and is likely to do so by the time the company's interim report is released on Friday.
In May, Johnston Press tried to generate capital by selling its Irish titles, but abandoned the sale because it could not find a buyer at the price being sought.
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