Skip Header
Important information: The value of investments can go down as well as up so you may get back less than you invest. Investors should note that the views expressed may no longer be current and may have already been acted upon. This is a third-party news feed and may not reflect Fidelity’s views.

Zahawi reportedly helping Dovid Efune in £550m Telegraph bid

(Sharecast News) - Former Conservative chancellor Nadhim Zahawi is actively engaged in efforts to support a £550m takeover of the Daily and Sunday Telegraph led by Dovid Efune, a New York-based media investor and current proprietor of the New York Sun, it was reported on Monday. According to Sky News, Zahawi has been working alongside LionTree, Efune's investment banking advisor, to facilitate the acquisition.

Efune was said to be seeking financial backing from Sir Mohamed Mansour, a former Tory treasurer, with discussions around a potential £150m contribution from Mansour.

That followed earlier reports that Mansour had considered a separate bid for the Telegraph, which Sky said Zahawi had initially helped coordinate.

Currently, Efune has a period of exclusivity to finalise the deal by the end of November.

If successful, the acquisition would mark an unexpected financial gain for RedBird IMI, an Abu Dhabi-backed investment vehicle that previously paid £600m for a call option intended to secure ownership of the Telegraph titles and the Spectator.

Recently, the Spectator was sold separately for £100m to hedge fund billionaire Sir Paul Marshall, who appointed former cabinet minister Michael Gove as its editor.

Sky said insiders indicated that Zahawi could assume a strategic role at the Telegraph if Efune's bid was successful.

Zahawi, with significant Gulf-region ties, had been instrumental in the ongoing process, drawing on connections with influential figures such as Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber, chairman of RedBird IMI.

In addition, Sky said Zahawi was recently named chairman of Very Group, a retail company partially funded by the same UAE investment vehicle.

The Telegraph auction, managed by Raine Group and Robey Warshaw, had attracted interest from other high-profile bidders, including National World's David Montgomery and former advertising mogul Lord Saatchi.

However, Lord Rothermere, owner of the Daily Mail, had previously withdrawn over competition concerns.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.

Share this article

Related Sharecast Articles

Close Brothers given permission to appeal motor finance ruling
(Sharecast News) - Close Brothers shares surged on Wednesday after the Supreme Court agreed that it could appeal a landmark ruling on motor finance commissions.
Patient Capital to buy Patterson Companies in $4.1bn deal
(Sharecast News) - Patterson Companies surged on Wednesday as the dental and animal health distributor agreed to be bought by healthcare investment firm Patient Square Capital in a $4.1bn deal.
Grocery sales edge higher ahead of expected festive surge - NIQ
(Sharecast News) - Grocery sales ticked higher last month, industry research showed on Wednesday, ahead of a likely surge in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
Boots could be spun out if Walgreens buyout goes ahead - report
(Sharecast News) - Chemist chain Boots could be put up for sale again should a possible takeover of its US parent go ahead, it was reported on Wednesday.

Important information: This information is not a personal recommendation for any particular investment. If you are unsure about the suitability of an investment you should speak to one of Fidelity’s advisers or an authorised financial adviser of your choice. When you are thinking about investing in shares, it’s generally a good idea to consider holding them alongside other investments in a diversified portfolio of assets. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.

Award-winning online share dealing

Search, compare and select from thousands of shares.

Expert insights into investing your money

Our team of experts explore the world of share dealing.