QUEENSLAND PRESS BOARD RECOMMENDS MURDOCH OFFER
The <Queensland Press Ltd> (QPL) board
said it unanimously recommended the one billion dlr takeover
bid by <Cruden Investments Pty Ltd>, a family company of News
Corp Ltd <NCPA.S> chief executive Rupert Murdoch.
    The 23 dlrs a share cash-only offer is nearly double the
market price before News announced its now-completed bid for
The Herald and Weekly Times Ltd <HWTA.S> in early December and
no other offer is likely, it said in a statement.
    Independent adviser, <Wardley Australia Ltd>, had also
concluded the offer was fair and reasonable, it added.
    QPL is already owned 48.3 pct by HWT.
 REUTER
