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News Corp shareholders voice disapproval at family control

November 18, 2014

Independent shareholders have voted overwhelmingly to abolish the dual class share structure of media empire News Corp at its recent annual meeting, but Murdoch family control means the company will stick with the status quo.

The Murdoch family holds 40% of the voting rights in the publishing empire, despite owning just 12% of shares, allowing it to effectively control the company with a minority shareholding.

Ford family retains control, despite vote

May 10, 2013

The Ford family has retained control over the eponymous automaker, despite a growing number of shareholders voting in favour of ending dual-class shares.

At the company’s 58th annual meeting, 33.4% of shareholders, the highest tally ever, backed the proposal to end the class of shares that allows the family to control Ford Motor. Last year 29.5% voted against the company’s dual-share structure.

News Corp falls foul of US foreign investor law

April 19, 2012

Rupert Murdoch’s grip on News Corporation seemed to weaken on Wednesday, after a breach of US law forced the media conglomerate to suspend the voting shares of some of the 81-year-old’s biggest allies.

In a statement, News Corp said that in order to comply with foreign ownership rules relating to the US 1934 Communications Act, it was suspending 50% of the class B voting rights of its non-US investors.