The final race of candidates for the takeover of M6 – Le Monde

According to a number of audiovisual interlocutors, energy billionaire Daniel Kretinsky (indirect shareholder of Le Monde) has many assets to become the next owner of M6. Three days after three candidates for the takeover of the 48.3% that Bertelsmann holds in RTL Group, the owner of the M6 ​​group, presented their indicative offers, speculation however prevailed, Monday, September 26, on certainties. “The only one who knows the reality of the files is Bertelsmann”, slices an interlocutor eager not to give in to the great game of hypotheses and trial balloons. Regarding the calendar, some sources assure that firm offers are expected Thursday, September 29 by the seller. In addition to the boss of Czech Media Invest (CMI, owner of Marianne, Télé 7 Jours, Elle, etc.), producer Stéphane Courbit (Financière LOV), allied with shipowner Rodolphe Saadé (CMA CGM) and patron Marc Ladreit de Lacharrière ( Fimalac), has also confirmed its interest in M6, as has Xavier Niel (founder of Free, individual shareholder of Le Monde), in duo with the Italian MediaForEurope, formerly Mediaset. A second rout – after the marriage fiasco with TF1 – is not an option for Bertelsmann At this stage, if Daniel Kretinsky appears to be better placed to win, it is because his candidacy presents the least competitive risk. “The Germans will seek to have more guarantees than the first time before announcing the wedding with great fanfare”, recalls one of the actors in the file, aware that a second rout – after the fiasco of the marriage with TF1 – n is not an option for Bertelsmann. Surprised comments In fact, the Czech energy magnate does not own a television channel (he owns 5% of the capital of TF1), nor a radio station, nor an audiovisual production company liable to offend the Competition Authority. “But is he the best bidder? At this stage, nobody knows anything, because no buyer has an interest in revealing the content of his offer”, recalls one of the stakeholders of the operation. The Bloomberg agency advanced, Sunday September 25, that Stéphane Courbit had proposed the sum of 20 euros per share, i.e. a price significantly higher at the time (13.80 euros, Monday September 26 in the evening, down from 4.37 %). A figure that his entourage does not comment on. Read also: Article reserved for our subscribers Failure of the TF1-M6 merger: “To the question: what is it for? The parties never knew what to answer “Led by Mr. Courbit, the Banijay group – although heavily in debt – is a heavyweight in production with the show “Koh-Lanta” or the Miss France competition for TF1, ” Masterchef” or “Fort Boyard” for France 2, “Touche pas à mon poste” for C8, etc., which should arouse the curiosity of the French competition “gendarme”. His association with Marc Ladreit de Lacharrière and Rodolphe Saadé is a continuation of their partnership in FL Entertainment, a structure where they already appear alongside, in particular, Financière Agache (Bernard Arnault) and Vivendi (Vincent Bolloré). You have 45.97% of this article left to read. The following is for subscribers only.