A DEAL with Independent News & Media (IN&M) has yet to be inked, but former KGB agent Alexander Lebedev appears to have prepared the ground for a takeover of the loss-making London Independent titles.
A company called Independent Print Ltd was registered on February 5th at Companies House in Britain, with Evgeny Lebedev, Alexander’s son, the sole director.
Independent Print Ltd was registered as a subsidiary of Lebedev Holdings Ltd – an umbrella company formed by the Lebedevs, which holds a 75 per cent stake in the London Evening Standard. The Lebedevs took control of the Standard last year from Daily Mail General Trust and have turned it into a freesheet. They set up a shell company, Evening Press Ltd, before their purchase of a controlling stake in the Standardlast year.
The new company has one registered share but has disclosed little further information. Alastair Tulloch, a legal representative of the Lebedevs, is registered as company secretary. The extended deadline for talks between Lebedev and INM on the deal is due to expire today.
INM said last night that it had lodged a submission to the UK’s Office of Fair Trading inviting comments by March 11th, in relation to the anticipated deal.
