Culture secretary to review Telegraph takeover by Daily Mail owner

Published: 16 December 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

The UK culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, is set to consider whether to launch an official investigation into the £500m takeover of the Telegraph titles by the owner of the Daily Mail, following a formal request from the Abu Dhabi-backed current owner of the Telegraph.

RedBird IMI, which was forced to put the titles up for sale last spring after the government banned foreign states from owning UK newspapers, has informed Nandy that it wishes to transfer its right-to-buy option to Lord Rothermere’s Daily Mail & General Trust (DMGT).

DMGT, which has been in exclusive negotiations with RedBird IMI since last month, has finalised a £500m funding package for the acquisition. The package includes cash, an existing overdraft provision, and a loan from NatWest. As part of the deal, RedBird IMI, which was unable to secure its own £500m funding from US-based RedBird Capital, has agreed to wait two years for the final £100m from DMGT. Analysts expect this final payment will be funded through a DMGT bond with Deutsche Bank maturing in 2027.

A DMGT spokesperson emphasised the company’s commitment to moving swiftly toward a resolution. “DMGT is determined to proceed at pace towards a resolution that brings much-needed certainty to Telegraph Media Group (TMG) employees after a protracted period of instability. The acquisition will be completely free from any prohibited foreign state influence, and the Telegraph will remain editorially independent while benefiting from significant investment to accelerate its international growth,” the spokesperson said.

Nandy will formally inform Parliament that she has received the request from RedBird IMI, which had previously taken control of the Telegraph titles after paying off loans owed by the Barclay family in 2023. She will then decide whether to issue a public interest intervention notice (PIIN), potentially involving Ofcom and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to investigate concerns over media plurality and competition.

If triggered, the PIIN would begin an investigation lasting up to 40 working days. Depending on the findings, Nandy could call for a second-phase in-depth investigation. Analysts suggest that a PIIN is likely, though they anticipate a smooth process with limited risk of remedies such as the forced sale of other titles.

Alice Enders, an independent media analyst, said: “Competitors might raise objections, but there is a strong foundation for clearance. I don’t expect a phase two investigation will be necessary.”

The deal, if approved, would unite the Daily Telegraph, Sunday Telegraph, Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday, Metro, i Paper, and New Scientist under DMGT ownership. The company has pledged to maintain the Telegraph’s editorial independence while strengthening its position amid competition from digital news sources.