Financial Times FT.com

Disunited Bancrofts are key to a takeover deal

By Joshua Chaffin and Aline van Duyn

Published: July 19 2007 03:00 | Last updated: July 19 2007 03:00

Since Rupert Murdoch approached Dow Jones three months ago with a $5bn takeover offer he has managed to win over leading shareholders, top company executives and - on Tuesday night - the board of directors.

Yet as Mr Murdoch closes in on a deal for the media group and its crown jewel, the Wall Street Journal newspaper, one constituency remains crucial, and could still thwart his ambitions: the fractious bancroft family.

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