RTL Group has agreed to buy out the minority shareholders in RTL Belgium for a combination of cash and shares. The group is already the controlling shareholder and this deal will take its share to 100 percent of the Belgian business.
The company said the acquisition is in line with its efforts to consolidate its European broadcasting footprint when possible. With full ownership, it will be easier to seek synergies and cooperation with other parts of the RTL group. The broadcaster has been active in the Belgian market for over 30 years, owning the leading commercial TV and radio channels in the francophone part of the country.
The minority shareholders include the Belgian print media groups Rossel, IPM and Corelio (Mediahuis), united in the company Audiopresse holding 34 percent of RTL Belgium. Rossel and Lemaire Electronics also have stakes in the RTL radio business.
In 2019, the three RTL TV channels attracted a combined audience share of 34.5 percent in the key commercial target group, 14.9 percentage points ahead of the public channels. The company also operates three radio stations, the streaming service RTL Play and the news website RTLInfo.be.
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