Courbit-led group affords 20 euros a share for M6 stake

(Reuters) – French media mogul Stephane Courbit and his investor companions are mentioned to have provided 20 euros ($19) a share for Bertelsmann SE & Co.’s stake in tv firm Groupe M6, Bloomberg Information reported on Sunday.

The supply is a 39% premium to Friday’s closing value of 14.43 euros per share, and values the 48% stake round 1.22 billion euros.

Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky additionally made a suggestion for the stake, the report mentioned, citing an individual acquainted with the matter.

Reuters couldn’t instantly attain Courbit for remark. RTL declined remark whereas M6 didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

Reuters reported final week {that a} consortium of high-profile French entrepreneurs together with billionaire Rodolphe Saade, Courbit of TV manufacturing group Banijay and investor Marc Ladreit de Lacharriere was in pole place to clinch a deal.

Italian broadcaster MediaForEurope, in the meantime, joined forces with French billionaire Xavier Niel to submit a non-binding supply for a controlling stake in M6, two sources acquainted with the matter mentioned on Friday.

In March 2021, when Bertelsmann confirmed talks to promote its stake, French media reported that RTL’s stake was value 1.5 billion euros ($1.48 billion), valuing all of M6 at about 3 billion euros.

Preliminary money affords for RTL’s 48.3% stake in M6 had been anticipated by final Friday afternoon after a deliberate tie-up between the corporate and fellow French broadcaster TF1 collapsed the earlier week.

($1 = 1.0320 euros)