Mr. Murdoch acquired The Post in 1976, and the paper estimates its circulation is now about 550,000.

Bought Paper From Murdoch Mr. Kalikow acquired The Post from Rupert Murdoch in March 1988 for a reported price of $37 million.

In January 2008, Dennis Publishing, publisher of The Week and a range of consumer print magazines, acquired The First Post for an undisclosed sum.

Associates of Mr. Price said he had structured the deal to acquire The Post and brought in Mr. Kalikow.

Last November, Mr. Kalikow said he had lost about $80 million since he acquired The Post from Rupert Murdoch in March 1988.

Such a move would increase the financial pressures on the company as its owner prepares to acquire The Post.

The move would increase financial pressure on Mr. Hoffenberg as he prepares to acquire The Post.

Pamplin acquired the Post from Lee Enterprises (Davenport, Iowa) in 2000.

Advertising revenues, freed from competition, have also shot up since The Chronicle acquired The Post for its assets and subscription lists and unceremoniously closed it.

The victory does not yet insure that Mr. Murdoch's News Corporation will actually acquire The Post.