By Archibald Preuschat
RTL Group SA (RTL.BT), Europe's largest television broadcasting
company, is mulling further acquisitions in Southeast Asia, a
company presentation on its website showed Friday.
RTL last year launched a pay-TV action channel in India with its
Indian partner Reliance, reaching around 25 million households.
According to the presentation, RTL plans to expand this model but
the group also considers free-to-air television channels in
Southeast Asia.
The publication of the presentation indicates that a reduction
of Bertelsmann SE's stake in RTL is approaching.
Bertelsmann announced earlier that it would reduce its stake in
RTL Group to 75% from above 90% currently. Based on share prices,
this move would allow Bertelsmann to raise around 2 billion euros
($2.61 billion), which it could use to finance future acquisitions,
according to recent statements by Bertelmann CEO Thomas Rabe.
Write to Archibald Preuschat at
archibald.preuschat@dowjones.com
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