Reuters reported on October 22, 2026, that an Axel Springer spokesperson welcomed a European initiative to separate TikTok from its Chinese owners and said the company was open to a role in a potential deal. The statement was not an acquisition announcement.
The earlier proposal was reported in January
El Mundo, relaying Financial Times reporting, said Axel Springer CEO and co-owner Mathias Döpfner raised a possible deal involving TikTok’s European operations during a meeting with U.S. Ambassador to France Charles Kushner in Berlin in January 2026.
Accounts described Axel Springer’s possible role either as participating in a purchase or taking a stake in the European operations. They did not specify a definitive structure.
What happened to the reported idea
Business People reported that the proposal was later presented to European Commission officials but did not advance. The outlet also reported that ByteDance denied formal acquisition talks.
