Sale of Riverside Press-Enterprise Completed After Delay

The owner of the Orange County Register on Thursday completed its purchase of The Press-Enterprise after a delay that led to threat of a lawsuit.

Dallas-based A. H. Belo Corp. said in a statement that the sale of the newspaper to Freedom Communications Holdings was now complete.

On Monday Belo had threatened a lawsuit or sale to another buyer if the deal did not close.

Freedom acquired the newspaper operations of The Press Enterprise, including the production facility and related land, for $27.25 million.

Belo continues to own the land and buildings associated with a discontinued commercial printing operation.

Aaron Kushner, co-owner and chief executive officer of Freedom Communications, said the company's "focus moving forward will be to enhance the ways we can provide value to subscribers of The Press-Enterprise and the greater community."

Kushner has hired numerous staff and invested millions of dollars in the Orange County Register since purchasing that newspaper in 2012.