Former KGB Lebedev to buy Evening Standard


by Newswire    
January 15, 2009 at 1:49 am

The billionaire and former KGB agent Alexander Lebedev is to buy London’s Evening Standard tomorrow, in a dramatic move that would see him become the first Russian oligarch to own a major British newspaper, MediaGuardian.co.uk can reveal.

Lebedev is poised to buy a controlling stake in the ailing title, following a year of secret negotiations with Lord Rothermere, its owner and the chairman of the Daily Mail & General Trust.

Under the terms of the deal Lebedev will purchase 76% of the newspaper, with the Associated Newspapers group retaining 24%. His son Evgeny, who lives in London, is due to sign the deal with Daily Mail & General Trust tomorrow. The agreement will make Lebedev the paper’s controversial new proprietor.

A source close to DMGT admitted: “The deal is still very much alive.” DMGT failed to comment.

The purchase will be an astonishing moment in British press history – the first time a former member of a foreign intelligence service has owned a British title.

… more at Media Guardian

                Post to del.icio.us

· About the author:

· Other posts by Newswire

· Filed under: news

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.

 
Liberal Conspiracy is the UK's most popular left-of-centre politics blog. Our aim is to re-vitalise the liberal-left through discussion and action. More about us here.

You can read articles through the front page, via Twitter or rss feeds.
Recent articles across Liberal Conspiracy
LibCon news

7 Comments 18 Comments 15 Comments 19 Comments 9 Comments 26 Comments 56 Comments 67 Comments 2 Comments 47 Comments

click here!



LATEST COMMENTS
» Cable’s Time Is Now « The Blog posted on Poll: voters don't rate Osborne

» Jailhouselawyer posted on Why I'm not voting at the next election

» Lee Griffin posted on Teenage girls have sex. Get over it.

» Lee Griffin posted on Why I'm not voting at the next election

» Left Outside posted on Why I'm not voting at the next election

» Gwyn posted on Why I'm not voting at the next election

» Lee Griffin posted on Why I'm not voting at the next election

» Lee Griffin posted on Why I'm not voting at the next election

» Gwyn posted on Why I'm not voting at the next election

» Gwyn posted on Teenage girls have sex. Get over it.

» Alex posted on Why I'm not voting at the next election

» Shuggy posted on Why I'm not voting at the next election

» Gwyn posted on Why I'm not voting at the next election

» Left Outside posted on Why I'm not voting at the next election

» Jailhouselawyer posted on Why I'm not voting at the next election

  Last 50 // Comments feed