Former CEO of Hollinger Takes Stand

Media tycoon Conrad Black testified Friday that the board of Hollinger International Inc. pushed him into resigning as chief executive and that he now wanted to sell his controlling stake to provide a more stable ownership of his newspapers.

Black, a member of Britain’s House of Lords, was ousted as chairman and chief executive of Hollinger International in November over a probe of special payments he received. He took the stand on the last of three days of a trial in Delaware Chancery Court.

The case could determine whether Black can sell his controlling stake in the Chicago-based company or whether the publisher’s new management can proceed with its own plan to auction off assets.

Black denied the company’s contention that he misled the board about his compensation or that he knowingly provided inaccurate filings to regulators. The company owns London’s Daily Telegraph, the Chicago Sun-Times and the Jerusalem Post.

He defended a deal to sell his controlling stake to British billionaire brothers David and Frederick Barclay. The firm asserts that the deal is not in the interest of other shareholders.

The case was heard in Delaware because Hollinger International is incorporated there.