Carlos Slim, the Mexican industrialist named as the world’s second-richest man last year by Forbes magazine, has taken a stake of just over 1 per cent in Independent News & Media, the Irish newspaper group controlled by Sir Anthony O’Reilly.

Analysts believe it could deal a blow to the ambitions of Denis O’Brien, the Irish telecoms entrepreneur who has been building a stake in IN&M but has been dubbed a “dissident shareholder” by Sir Anthony.