Sinead Boucher now holds one million Stuff shares

Sinead Boucher, the CEO and owner of Stuff Digital, has changed her shareholding structure. She has moved from owning just one share to becoming the sole holder of one million shares in the company. This change was recorded on February 7. No specific reason was given for the increase in shares. Experts suggest that having more shares can make it easier to manage ownership in the future. Boucher acquired Stuff from Nine Entertainment in 2020 for just $1. Last December, the company was split into two parts: Stuff Digital, which runs stuff.co.nz and other digital services, and a separate division for traditional newspaper brands. A spokesperson from Stuff clarified that the share changes were part of a planned reorganization of the business. This move aims to give both divisions distinct focuses while keeping them under the Stuff Group, completely owned by Boucher. These changes occur as another media company, NZME, faces its own challenges. Canadian billionaire Jim Grenon recently bought a stake in NZME and plans to push for board changes at an upcoming shareholder meeting. Analysts believe Boucher's increase in shares could be aimed at allowing for more ownership options in the future. It may set the stage for bringing in new shareholders or even possibly listing on the New Zealand Stock Exchange. Concerns have been raised about transparency regarding media ownership. Experts argue that it is crucial for the public to know who owns media companies, as they play a vital role in democracy. Increased scrutiny on media ownership and future sales is deemed necessary to understand the influence of wealthy owners in shaping media narratives.