At Dow Jones, Focus Is On the Bancroft Family

At Dow Jones, Focus Is
On the Bancroft Family
By SARAH ELLISON and DENNIS K. BERMAN
May 3, 2007

Rupert Murdoch has preached peace and cooperation with the shareholder family that holds the keys to Dow Jones & Co. Now he faces a critical test: Might his only way of winning be to divide and conquer?

After an afternoon meeting yesterday at law offices in midtown Manhattan, Dow Jones directors said the board was taking no immediate action on a $5 billion "bear hug" offer from Mr. Murdoch's News Corp. The company's demurral only ratchets up the potential for tension and confusion among the Bancroft family, the Dow Jones board, and shareholders pressing the company to sell itself.

DJ