After an apology by the newspaper that readers of the article might have "infer[red] that the younger Lee did not achieve his position through merit", the New York Times Company and Bowring also agreed to pay S$60,000 to Lee Hsien Loong, S$50,000 to Lee and S$50,000 to Lee Hsien Loong and Goh Chok Tong, in addition to legal costs.