Friday, May 26, 2006

Only six Black Sheep remain


Fate of the Beacon Journal, largest of six newspapers still to be sold by McClatchy, might be known soon. Deadline for final bids is only days away.

Several prospective bidders have toured the building or met off-site with the newspaper’s managers, Gloria Irwin wrote in a story on Friday’s business section front.

Officials from the Plain Dealer and owner Advance Publications met ewith BJ managers May 17-18. David Black of Black Press Ltd. toured the BJ May 1. Black and partner Onex Corp. lost out on a bid to purchase the Philadephia newspapers. Representatives of HM Capital Partners of Dallas, TX, a buyout firm, also have reporedly met with BJ managers. Yucaipa Cos, controlled by California billionaire Ron Burkle, has agreed with the Newspaper Guild to allow employees to buy an ownership stake if its bid is successful.

The other newspapers still to be sold.are the Grand Forks (ND) Herald, the Aberdeen (SD) American News, the Wilkes-Barre (PA) Times Leader and the Fort Wayne (IN) News-Sentinel.

Click on the headline to read Irwin’s story.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

"It owns properties involved in cable TV, radio, gas production and transmission, and branded foods."

Oh, great, the BJ will be found between frozen peas and pastries.

It's fretful that one of the suitors has a history of buying, sprucing up and dumping. That would mean a third owner for the BJ, and retirees wondering what this will mean to their medical and prescription coverage.