U-T San Diego in talks to buy Orange County Register

By Tiffany Hsu, Los Angeles Times

May 11, 2012 12 AM PT

The U-T San Diego newspaper is in talks to buy the daily Orange County Register.

U-T Chief Executive John Lynch confirmed that executives at his newspaper, formerly known as the San Diego Union-Tribune, have “had discussions” with Irvine-based Freedom Communications, which owns the Register.

But although several recent reports have suggested that a deal is nearing, Lynch stopped short of saying that.

“Nothing is certain as we attempt to expand our holding in L.A. and O.C.,” Lynch wrote in an e-mail.

In a speech this week to the Downtown San Diego Lions, Lynch told the group of the Register talks.

“He made a presentation about where they’re heading in their future endeavors,” said George Saadeh, a business owner who introduced Lynch at the event. “There are negotiations going on to purchase the newspaper.”

Bob Emmers, a spokesman for Freedom, said the company “doesn’t comment on rumors and speculation.”

U-T owner Doug Manchester was unavailable for comment. The local hotel magnate bought the San Diego paper from Platinum Equity in December for $110 million.

tiffany.hsu@latimes.com

Business

Tiffany Hsu

Tiffany Hsu is a former staff writer for the Los Angeles Times. Previously, she wrote about the California economy, fast food, restaurants, retail and alternative energy for the Business section. A Bay Area native, UC Berkeley graduate and eternal Nor-Cal fan, she once worked for the San Francisco Bay Guardian. She also did a stint at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, where she developed a passion for sweet tea. She still has faith that someday she’ll find two economists who agree.