Black appeals £20m Hollinger payout

Embattled former Daily Telegraph boss Conrad Black and his Hollinger Inc company have obeyed a US court order to pay £20m (€30m) to publishing giant Hollinger International – but he wants the money back.

Black and Hollinger Inc will be appealing against the ruling in a bid to have the money returned, Black said early today.

Toronto-based Hollinger Inc, which Black controls, owns a large stake in Hollinger International and the two sides have been locked in a legal dispute for months.

The litigation began after Black was forced out last year as CEO of Hollinger International, which owns the Chicago Sun Times and other major newspapers, amid accusations that he and his associates had received millions of dollars in unauthorised payments.

A judge in Delaware agreed and on June 28 ordered Black to repay £4.8m (€7.2m) and Hollinger Inc to repay £11m (€16.5m), plus interest, to Chicago-based Hollinger International.

Black and Hollinger Inc filed separate appeals of that decision yesterday, Black said.