Russian ex-KGB agent Alexander Lebedev is to buy the London Evening Standard newspaper for the sum of £1. The paper’s publisher – the Daily Mail & General Trust (DMGT) – said it had agreed to the sale of a majority interest in the paper. The billionaire businessman is believed to have made an offer for approximately a 76% share of the paper.
He has previously revealed that he used the paper to find out information when he was a young spy based in London.
No wonder the Soviets lost the Cold War.
Mr Lebedev said: “We are strong supporters of a free and independent press and we greatly admire the Evening Standard as an iconic publication with its pedigree of fine journalism and commentary.
“We are committed to strengthening the newspaper’s competitiveness and look forward to working with Associated, which will continue to be involved as a minority shareholder.”
Mr Lebedev has also expressed an interest in buying out other struggling newspapers both in the UK and the United States.
Let’s start a bidding war. I offer $2.49 for the late Albuquerque TRIBUNE.
I’ll bid a buck for the L.A. Times. It’s barely worth that.
Bought for one pound, I wonder how much debt the paper has.
76% for one pound, I wonder how much debt the paper has.
The issue is the paper’s accounts payable and other responsibilities.
I’m just glad the KGB can find something to do.
“He has previously revealed that he used the paper to find out information when he was a young spy based in London.”
I understand much of the intelligence game consists of operatives reading papers and magazines, collating the information, and forwarding it up the chain. Much “secret” information comes from the press. Its probably the case that the information itself is not so secret, but the fact that the information is of interest to someone else makes it secret.
#1. The LAT online has one of the best food and wine sections. That’s worth, at least $5.
Two questions, unanswerable.
Does Mr. Putin retain any KGB ties?
Does Mr. Lebedev also retain any KGB ties?
If you answered differently for these questions, yes for one, and no for the other, why would that be?
Nobody seems to ask the question how a former spy got to be a billionaire? Especially an ex-Russian spy? As if it most natural thing that might happen. Hey, it’s Russia! Not exactly the land of opportunity for all, to become stinking rich! If Oliver North somehow managed to become a billionaire. Not only would it be noticed. It would be investigated heavily. Especially as the clown keep sending out requests for money to fund his causes. Which are probably all tax exempt. This ex-KGB spy had to be mixed up in something shady, to end up so well off. Like maybe the Russian Mafia. So don’t be applauding him buying a newspaper just yet. It could be a paper being put in the hands of the criminal underworld. Just as Las Vegas use to be.
Well, there’s no doubt the paper must have a huge debt, which is the real price for the buyer.