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.

COMPANIES 