U.S.-based RedBird Capital will acquire the Daily Telegraph in a £500 million deal, marking a major shift in UK media ownership and ending the Barclay family era.
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| RedBird Capital Partners will take control of the Daily Telegraph, pledging global growth and digital investment for the 170-year-old UK publication. Image: Telegraph/ CH |
LONDON, UK — May 24, 2025:
RedBird Capital Partners, a prominent U.S. investment firm, has agreed to acquire Telegraph Media Group in a landmark £500 million ($674 million) transaction, ending decades of control by the Barclay family. The deal, announced Friday, marks a turning point for the 170-year-old Daily Telegraph, one of Britain’s most influential conservative newspapers.
The agreement positions RedBird as the controlling owner of the Telegraph’s publishing empire, which includes The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph, and previously, The Spectator. RedBird’s founder and managing partner, Gerry Cardinale, described the deal as the beginning of a transformative era. “We see enormous potential to grow The Telegraph brand in the UK and globally,” he said, emphasizing plans to enhance technology and broaden the subscription base.
The Telegraph Media Group was placed on the market two years ago to settle the Barclay family's substantial debt. The sale follows a failed 2023 acquisition attempt by RedBird IMI, a joint venture between RedBird and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE vice president. That deal collapsed amid intense UK government opposition to foreign state ownership of national media outlets, leading to proposed legislation to block such transactions.
In a separate transaction last year, The Spectator was sold to British hedge fund manager Paul Marshall, dividing the Barclay family's former holdings.
Anna Jones, CEO of Telegraph Media Group, welcomed the new ownership: “RedBird Capital Partners have exciting growth plans that build on our success and will unlock our full potential across the breadth of our business.”
RedBird’s acquisition signals renewed ambition for digital innovation and international expansion in the UK media landscape. As the Telegraph enters this new phase under American leadership, questions remain about its editorial direction, political alignment, and the broader implications for national press independence.