White House Nears Approval for US Investors' TikTok Acquisition Deal

April 3, 2025 - According to the Financial Times, The White House is close to endorsing a deal that would transfer control of TikTok's US operations from Chinese-owned ByteDance to American investors. Under the proposed arrangement, major firms including Andreessen Horowitz, Blackstone, and Silver Lake would acquire approximately 50% of TikTok's US business. Existing investors such as General Atlantic, Susquehanna, KKR, and Coatue would control about 30%, while ByteDance would retain just under 20% - meeting US regulations that limit "foreign adversary" ownership to one-fifth.

The deal comes as the April 5 deadline approaches for a US law that would ban TikTok unless its Chinese owner divests. President Trump's officials were set to meet Wednesday to discuss the negotiation, and an announcement could be imminent with presidential approval.

Oracle would secure TikTok's US data under the arrangement. However, control of TikTok's algorithm remains contested, with discussions suggesting ByteDance might continue operating it with US oversight through licensing agreements.

The transaction requires approval from Trump, ByteDance, and the Chinese government - which initially threatened to block any sale but has since softened its stance. Amazon reportedly made a late bid for TikTok's US operations, though the investor consortium remains the frontrunner.

If approved, the parties would have three to four months to complete the spin-off process with standard due diligence and financing commitments.