Market Chatter: Axel Springer CEO Said to Propose Deal to Take Over TikTok's European Arm

10:13 AM EDT, 10/22/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Axel Springer Chief Executive Officer and co-owner Mathias Döpfner pitched the idea of joining a deal to take over TikTok's European business, London's Financial Times reported Thursday, citing people familiar with the discussions. Döpfner reportedly raised the idea during a lunch with the US ambassador to France, Charles Kushner, in January at the publishing group's Berlin headquarters. The proposal is said to be similar to the deal brokered by US President Donald Trump to spin off the US arm of the ByteDance-owned short video app. Axel Springer and TikTok did not immediately respond to requests for comment from MT Newswires. (Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)