As PrintWeek went to press there was confusion over the 6m debt versus dividend row between West Ferrys joint owners, Northern & Shell (N&S) and the Telegraph.


N&S had refused to pay for its print bill at the Docklands printer, accumulated since Richard Desmonds 125m takeover, until it had received its share of an 11m dividend.


But a spokeswoman for N&S said the issue had been resolved, and that "the dividend will be paid in stages, less the costs of the print bill".


However, Telegraph Group chief executive Dan Colson refuted the claims: "Its far from resolved. We made an offer, and they made a counter-offer, and thats the stage were at. They have a strange view of the situation."


The spokeswoman for N&S added: "N&S is suing each Hollinger director (on the West Ferry board) for breach of fiduciary duty and is also issuing a petition on the grounds of unfair prejudice. N&S is also seeking legal advice for the winding-up of West Ferry on just and equitable grounds."


Colson slammed: "Well I wish them luck, Ill come and collect [my writ] personally to save them the expense. It really is a spurious claim to even suggest that they could wind-up West Ferry. Theyre just clouding the issue with nonsense, we just want them to pay their bill."


Colson added that he hoped West Ferrys staff would not believe the "bunk" being spoken about the plant.


If the non-payment issue is not settled by the end of the week Hollinger could issue its own writ, which it had been on the verge of serving earlier this month (PrintWeek, 6 April).


The two sides have still to agree on an arbiter to determine the amount Hollinger will pay for the plant.


Story by John Davies