Telegraph’s future in limbo as £500m takeover bid scrapped
Foreign powers to be barred from buying British newspapers, Government confirms
US investment group RedBird Capital has abandoned its proposed £500m takeover of The Telegraph, casting uncertainty over the newspaper's future.
The decision follows a tumultuous two-year process, including regulatory investigations into RedBird and its partner IMI's plans for the publication.
The deal was previously blocked by the government due to new legislation preventing foreign state ownership of the press, specifically concerning the Abu Dhabi-backed fund's involvement.
Chris Evans, editor of The Telegraph, stated that senior editors and writers had concerns about the bid and emphasised the need for owners who will invest in journalism.
A source close to RedBird indicated that the opposition to the deal was disappointing and that it is now time to find another buyer for the newspaper.