Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp could raise its stake in Germany’s Premiere from a quarter to between 40 and 70 per cent after pledging to act as a buyer of last resort in a two-stage rights issue being planned by the pay-television group by June.

Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp has pledged to act as buyer of last resort in a rights issue being planned by the German pay-television group

But Mark Williams, the head of Premiere and a former Murdoch executive, said News Corp would only back the refinancing if Bafin, the German market regulator, waived rules demanding a full takeover offer when an investor’s stake tops 30 per cent.