MFE Anticipates Limited Majority Stake in ProSiebenSat.1 Amid Low Offer
MUNICH (Reuters) -MFE-MediaForEurope, controlled by Italy's Berlusconi family, said on Thursday it did not expect to get a majority stake in ProSiebenSat.1, as it announced the start of the acceptance period for its low-ball offer.
MFE is the biggest shareholder in the German media company with a 30.14% stake, and its objective is not to acquire all or a qualified majority of the company, MFE said in the offer document.
The aim is to evaluate, together with ProSieben, a potential cooperation between the German company and MFE's Italian and Spanish channels, it added.
The offer for the ProSieben shares that MFE does not already own is 4.48 euros ($5.06) in cash and 0.4 MFE shares for each ProSieben, a discount to the German group's current share price.
The acceptance period ends on June 6, although shareholders will still have a chance to accept the offer from June 13 to June 26.
Since the takeover offer in March, MFE has bought additional shares in ProSieben, increasing its stake from 29.99% to 30.14%.
Analysts at the time said take-up for the bid, pitched at the minimum level allowed by German takeover rules, was likely to be limited but that the move would allow MFE to gradually take control of ProSieben.
($1 = 0.8855 euros)
(Reporting by Alexander Huebner. Writing by Isabel Demetz. Editing by Mark Potter)
