Murdoch, Abu Dhabi eye Financial Times
Updated: 17:25, Friday June 28, 2013
Media mogul Rupert Murdoch and Abu Dhabi's state media group are in talks to acquire the Financial Times Group for about $US1.2 billion ($A1.30 billion), a report says.
The move would see Murdoch add the respected Financial Times name as well as 50 per cent of the Economist magazine to his vast empire, which already includes the Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones.
The Edge Review, a regional political and business digital magazine based in Malaysia, said on Friday the talks had been progressing for more than a month with the owners - London-based publishing and education giant Pearson.
Citing financial executives familiar with the negotiations it said a decision could be finalised as early as next week.
As well as the FT and Economist, the deal also includes several high-end financial information services.
The report said financing details and shareholding structure of the new company that will own the FT group are being worked out.
An executive familiar with the talks was cited by the Edge Review as saying the Abu Dhabi Media Group is expected to control roughly 75 per cent of the venture with Murdoch picking up the balance.
Murdoch is also negotiating to buy another 25 per cent stake at a later date, it said.
The Edge Review said that while the influence of oil and gas money from the Middle East has been focused on sports, the move to media was new and could radically reshape the global newspaper landscape because of Murdoch's involvement.
In the past, Murdoch's conglomerate has made a string of high-profile acquisitions, including the Fox broadcasting giant and Hollywood studio.
News of 82-year-old Murdoch's latest business foray comes as his media-entertainment conglomerate News Corp prepares to split after US stock markets close on Friday.
The division of the company - which generates some $US34 billion in revenues worldwide - will create two independent, publicly traded companies, both headed in some form by the Australian-born magnate.
Sky News
