21/01/2009

Ex-KGB Spy Buys Paper For 'Nominal Fee'

A Russian ex-KGB agent has succeeded in his bid to buy the London Evening Standard newspaper.

Alexander Lebedev has been given the go ahead to purchase the paper from Lord Rothermere’s Daily Mail & General Trust, for a nominal fee, reported to be £1.

The billionaire businessman is thought to have made an offer for a 76% share of the paper, while its Associated Newspapers division is to retain the remaining share in the new firm, called Evening Standard Ltd.

The Daily Mail & General Trust confirmed London's week-day newspaper would be passed into the hands of Evening Press, a company formed by Mr Lebedev and his son Evgeny Lebedev and owned by Lebedev Holdings.

(JM/BMcC)

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