Media company Meredith has acquired Time Inc. after borrowing a huge sum from Republican mega donors Charles and David Koch, who might have political interests in the deal.

To make the $1.8 billion merger of the two publication companies possible, the billionaire brothers will shell out $650 million of preferred equity.

In an attempt to play down speculations about the right-wing lobbyists’ real intentions behind the contribution, Meredith said on Sunday night that Koch Equity Development (KED), the brothers’ investment vehicle, will be given a seat on the board of the newly merged group and will have no say in editorial decisions.

“[KED] will not have a seat on the Meredith board and will have no influence on Meredith’s editorial or managerial operations,” the company said in a statement. “KED’s non-controlling, preferred equity investment underscores a strong belief in Meredith’s strength as a business operator, its…