Bertelsmann Eyes Remaining Stake in RTL

LUXEMBOURG, December 4: Bertelsmann is considering the
acquisition of the remaining 10 percent it doesn’t already own in the RTL
Group, its most profitable division.

Bertelsmann confirmed today that it is considering taking
full ownership of RTL Group, but noted: “No decision has been made to proceed
with an offer.” Bertelsmann also said if an offer were to be made, the price
would not exceed 82 euros per share.

RTL Group said in a statement that if an offer is made, it
will assess it “in accordance with the interests of the company, its employees
and its minority shareholders.”

The Wall Street Journal
noted that the stake is valued at more than 1 billion euros, and that the deal
would help Bertelsmann save on administrative costs and achieve other
efficiencies.

RTL Group, which operates 42 TV channels and 32 radio
stations in 10 European countries, and owns FremantleMedia, delivered revenues
of 2.9 billion euros in the first half of this year, about 32 percent of Bertelsmann’s
total revenues, with EBIT of 482 million euros.

—By Mansha Daswani