Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1977-1993 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
5 files, 1 volume
Context area
Archival history
Content and structure area
Scope and content
File 1:
Copies of 'official' documents relating to the acquisition of the Observer by Lonrho. Includes: Memorandum of Agreement dated 9 July 1981 concerning the Observer's editorial independence and the appointment of independent directors, a copy from Hansard of a speech by the Secretary of State for Trade in the House of Commons on 9 July 1981 giving formal consent to transfer the Observer under Section 58 of the Fair Trading Act, legal advice regarding a dispute between the Observer and the Chapel regarding the Observer's editorial independence in 1984, Advice of Professor L C B Gower to the editor of the Observer dated 23 April 1984, Annexes to Memorandum of Evidence to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission by David Astor and Lord Goodman 1981, Lonrho Limited and the House of Fraser Limited: a report on the proposed merger by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission dated 9 December 1981 (in separate volume), copy of Submission to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on behalf of Atlantic Richfield, Offer by George Outram & Company to acquire by means of an issue of shares and the payment of cash the whole of the outstanding capital of the Observer Int., the Secretary of State's announcement of the condition to be attached to the transfer of the Observer to George Outram and Company Ltd.
File 2:
Press cuttings from various newspapers and publications regarding Lonrho's takeover of the Observer in 1981, Donald Trelford's replies to published articles, press releases, Trelford's 'Unacceptable' leader about the offer from Atlantic Richfield and readers' responses, various chapters of 'Profiles in Chicanery' by Stephen A Martindale (1988) and photocopies from DTI report by Henry Brooke QC and Hugh Graham Cazalet Aldous FCA 'House of Fraser Holdings PLC', 1990..
File 3:
Correspondence between Trelford and various people from Lonrho leading up to and after the takeover of the Observer, correspondence with the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, George Outram Ltd.'s offer to acquire the Observer, Trelford's correspondence with Tiny Rowland regarding his document 'Essential Facts Regarding Observer Circulation', notes and information about Lonrho, board papers and agenda for a meeting on 6 December 1976, press cuttings relating to Lonrho, NUJ correspondence regarding the takeover, copy of Donald Trelord' s contract of employment and correspondence regarding Trelford's position as editor of the Observer under Lonrho ownership, set of colour portraits of Donald Trelford.
File 4:
Press cuttings from October 1993 relating to Lonrho's activities in general and its ownership of the Observer in partricular as well as to Tiny Rowland.
File 5:
Schedule of requirements relating to sale of the Observer; News International Limited proposed takeover bid; Memorandum of Agreement relating to Lonrho takeover; press notice issued by John Biffen, Secretary of State for Trade, regarding conditions attached to Lonrho takeover; report from The Monopolies and Mergers Commission regarding transfer of the Observer to Lonrho; copies of Tiny Rowland's birth certificate; transcripts from telephone conversations; report on proposals for the future of the Observer; amendments to conditions relating to transfer to Lonrho; objections to Lonrho transfer.
Creator: The Observer Limited; Editor's Office; Donald Trelford
Accruals
System of arrangement
Chronological
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Subject to access restrictions (see notes).
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Access Status
Open(part)
Closed until
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Trelford; Donald Gilchrist (1937-2023); journalist, broadcaster, and editor of The Observer (Subject)
- Rowland; Roland Walter (1917-1998); businessman (Subject)
- Lonrho (1909-); international trading conglomerate (Subject)
- Astor; Hon; Francis David Langhorne (1912-2001); editor of The Observer (Subject)