RedBird Completes $675M Acquisition of UK Telegraph Media Group

US private equity firm RedBird Capital Partners has finalized a $675 million (approximately £500 million) deal to acquire the British newspaper The Telegraph, ending a two-year sale process marked by UK government scrutiny over foreign ownership and press freedoms. The acquisition marks the largest investment in UK print media in a decade and positions RedBird as the majority owner of the 170-year-old conservative broadsheet, with plans to grow the brand domestically and internationally, invest in technology, and expand its digital subscriber base. As part of the agreement, International Media Investments, backed by Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, will retain a minority stake capped at 15% due to UK regulatory restrictions, while RedBird is also in talks with UK-based investors, including the owner of the Daily Mail, for minority stakes. The deal follows the British government's blocking of a previous takeover attempt by RedBird IMI, a joint venture with IMI, due to concerns over foreign influence, leading to the sale of The Spectator and a restructuring of ownership. RedBird's founder Gerry Cardinale expressed confidence in the Telegraph's growth potential and the UK's investment environment, with leadership emphasizing a new era of investment and expansion for the historic publication. The acquisition is part of RedBird's broader media portfolio expansion, including stakes in other media ventures such as Skydance Media.