The publisher of the Daily Mail has struck a £500 million agreement to buy the Telegraph newspapers, bringing an end to months of uncertainty over the titles’ future ownership.

Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT) confirmed it has reached terms with RedBird IMI to purchase Telegraph Media Group, after the Abu Dhabi-backed firm’s earlier bid was halted by the previous Conservative government on public-interest grounds.

Both parties have entered exclusive negotiations to finalise the transaction and submit the deal for regulatory approval—steps they say will proceed “swiftly”.

DMGT said the agreement would provide “much-needed certainty and confidence” for Telegraph staff following a drawn-out and contentious takeover saga.

Lord Rothermere, DMGT’s chairman, described the Daily Telegraph as “Britain’s largest and best quality broadsheet newspaper”, adding that he had “long admired” the title.

“My family and I have an enduring love of newspapers and for the journalists who make them,” he said. “Chris Evans is an excellent editor and we intend to give him the resources to invest in the newsroom. Under our ownership, the Daily Telegraph will become a global brand, just as the Daily Mail has.”

If approved, the deal would bring the Telegraph titles under the same corporate umbrella as Metro, The i, and New Scientist. DMGT said it planned “substantial investment” to accelerate the Telegraph’s international growth, with a particular emphasis on expanding in the United States. The company added that the Telegraph would retain editorial independence from its other publications.

A spokesperson for RedBird IMI said the parties had “worked swiftly” to reach the agreement, which will soon be submitted to the Culture Secretary.

A Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokesperson said the minister would assess any proposed acquisition of the Telegraph in line with legislation covering public-interest and foreign-state influence in media mergers. Photo by Fred Romero from Paris, France, Wikimedia commons.