RTL Rtl Group

RNS Number:0798N
RTL Group
13 November 2001

                                                                  13 November

European Commission clears sports rights merger between Groupe Jean-Claude
Darmon, Canal+ Group and RTL Group / New group to be named 'SPORTFIVE'

Paris/ Brussels/ Luxembourg, 13 November 2001. - The European Commission has
granted full approval for the merger between the sports rights activities of
Groupe Jean-Claude Darmon, Sport+, a subsidiary of Canal+ Group, and UFA
Sports, the sports rights business of RTL Group. The merger, first announced
in May, will create a leading European venture with a broad range of
international TV and marketing sports rights. It is subject to the approval of
Groupe Jean-Claude Darmon's Extraordinary General Meeting on 5 December 2001
which will also approve the name of the new group, SPORTFIVE. The new group
will be headquartered in Paris.

With the completion of the merger, Canal+ Group and RTL Group will launch a
public offer to the minority shareholders of Groupe Jean-Claude Darmon to sell
their shares for Euro 155 per share, ex dividend. After having equalized their
respective stakes, Canal+ Group and RTL Group will own between 39.5 per cent
and 46.5 per cent of Groupe Jean-Claude Darmon, depending on the outcome of
the tender offer. The company will hold a 2 per cent treasury stock while
Jean-Claude Darmon will hold 5 per cent.

Jean-Claude Darmon will be Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the
new group. Bernd Hoffmann from UFA Sports and Jerome Valcke from Sport+ will
both be appointed Chief Operating Officers (COO).

"We are pleased to have obtained the European Commission's clearance", says
Jean-Claude Darmon. "The merger leads our sports rights activities into new
dimensions. It creates a strong and autonomous player in the highly
competitive sports rights market."

The merged group combines annual revenues of over Euro 570 million and EBITA
(Earnings before interest, tax and amortization of goodwill) of Euro 49
million (based on combined figures for 2000). It manages TV and marketing
sports rights contracts with a number of football clubs, federations,
confederations and leagues across the world. Furthermore, it is active in
other disciplines such as handball, rugby and tennis. It offers a full range
of sport marketing and communication services and employs about 350 people in
various offices worldwide.

For further inquiries:

Groupe Jean-Claude Darmon:    Jean-Louis Dutaret, Tel. : +331 55 07 10 59

                              Pierre Lelong, Tel. : +331 55 07 10 78

Canal+ Group:                 Sylvie Ruggieri, Tel.: +33 1 44 25 16 75

                              Jean-Louis Erneux , Tel.: +33 1 44 25 75 81

                              Marine Lemonnier, Tel.: +33 1 44 25 16 23

RTL Group:                    Markus Payer, Tel.: +352 42142 5020

Finsbury Group                Julius Duncan, Tel: +44 207 251 3801

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