ello (@piers)

Analysis: "The deal secures Rupert Murdoch's legacy as the founder of the world's most powerful conservative media empire, and ensures that like-minded Lachlan will maintain the editorial line of key assets such as Fox News and the New York Post in America, and Sky News and The Australian here. "The settlement price represents 80% of the market value of the siblings' stake in the voting shares of Fox and News Corporation, going by their current share prices, part of which will now be offered to the public, underwritten by Morgan Stanley. "Lachlan Murdoch has not simply bought his siblings out, although it is understood that part of the settlement deal will be loan-funded at his behest. "Instead he has allowed the combined Murdoch family holding in the voting shares of Fox Corporation — his own stake, plus that of his two younger sisters, to drop to 36% which he judges will be enough to retain control. "[...] it seems the three siblings Prudence, Elisabeth and James have decided to take the money — they have now inherited more than US $1 billion each — and give up their claim to the Murdoch succession once and for all. "Grace and Chloe Murdoch, through their own trusts, will retain their non-voting interest in the valuable voting shares of Fox and News — a curious, passive position which in theory prevents them from becoming dissident shareholders. "A new private trust, controlled by Lachlan Murdoch outright, will vote the entire family holding, and last until 2050. By then Lachlan will be approaching 80, possibly retired, and watching on as his own children Kalan, Aidan and Aerin jockey to succeed him. "It is almost three decades since Rupert Murdoch described his eldest son Lachlan as a 'first among equals'. That's how long it has taken for the Murdoch family to finally settle the succession question. It would be a pity if it were to resurface in two decades." Paddy Manning, ABC #ConInc #Murdoch https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-09/lachlan-murdoch-rupert-succession-fox-news-corp/105752206