Carlos Slim Takes Stake in Prisa

MADRID: Carlos Slim has purchased a 3.23-percent share of the Spanish-language media giant Grupo Prisa, acquiring the minority stake through Grupo Carso, a Mexican conglomerate that he owns.

Prisa, based in Madrid, owns Spain’s best-selling newspaper, El Pais. The company has been going through a period of restructuring as it seeks to reduce its heavy debt load. Back in January, Prisa started a restructuring process that involves an 18-percent reduction of its workforce worldwide. Prisa also controls Santillana, a publishing unit that operates in 22 countries worldwide.

Slim, one of the world’s richest men, also used Carso to build up an 8.1-percent stake in New York Times Co.