Thu, 15 May 2025

Thu, 15 May 2025 UK to allow foreign states 15% stake in newspapers

A ban was introduced last year - but the law has now been changed to help cash-strapped publishers raise funding.

* Foreign states will be allowed to own up to 15% of British newspapers and news magazines under new laws.
* The change in law follows a takeover bid last year by RedBird IMI, backed by the Abu Dhabi ruling family, which led to a ban on foreign-state ownership of UK papers.
* Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the changes would protect "media plurality" while helping cash-strapped publishers "raise vital funding".
* The threshold for State Owned Investors (SOIs) will be 15% of shares or voting rights in a newspaper or news magazine.
* The ban on foreign-state ownership was introduced after Lloyds Bank seized the Telegraph and its sister magazine, The Spectator, from the Barclay family in June 2023.
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