German broadcast giant champions Berlusconi group’s takeover.

ProSiebenSat.1 Eyes Italian Takeover

The German broadcasting powerhouse ProSiebenSat.1 has tipped its shareholders toward an upgraded bid from Italy’s MediaForEurope (MFE), a group largely owned by the late former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi’s family.

Why MFE Matters

• MFE’s Vision – Under Pier Silvio Berlusconi, MFE seeks to assemble a pan‑European media entity capable of rivaling the surging streaming juggernauts.
• German Concerns – Berlin’s government has warned that a takeover might erode journalistic independence.

The Deal in Detail

ProSiebenSat.1’s management now recommends its shareholders accept MFE’s offer, which values the German group near \u00a319 billion euros (about \u00a322 million dollars).

• Offer Composition – The bid includes 1.3 MFE shares for each ProSieben share, along with a cash component of 4.48 euros per share.
• Competitive Edge – This proposes an eight‑euro share price, surpassing Czech group PPF’s all‑cash offer of seven euros, a bid aimed at doubling its stake.

State Reaction

Last month, German Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer told Der Spiegel that he was “concerned about the outcome” of the ProSieben takeover. He warned that “journalistic and economic independence” must survive any ownership change.

Weimer also noted that Pier Silvio Berlusconi had been invited for talks in Berlin to address these worries.

Background on Berlusconi

Silvio Berlusconi, once a dominant figure in Italian politics during the late 1990s and early 2000s, passed away in 2023. His legacy now lives on through the MFE group’s media ambitions.