Bertelsmann Increases Direct Shareholding in RTL Group

Bertelsmann AG is increasing its direct holdings in RTL Group, Europe’s No.1 television, radio and TV production group. As the international media company announced, it is taking exclusive possession of the 37.3 percent stake in RTL Group formerly jointly owned with the WAZ group via the BW-TV Verwaltungs-GmbH. At the same time its participation in the BW-TV holding will end. The WAZ group's 7.5 percent economic interest in RTL Group is thus being transferred to Bertelsmann in its entirety. Bertelsmann will henceforth own 90.4 percent of shares in RTL Group outright; the remaining 9.6 percent of shares are owned by free shareholders. The BW-TV Verwaltungs-GmbH was previously owned 80 percent by Bertelsmann and 20 percent by WAZ.

The transaction simplifies the ownership structure of RTL Group. At the same time, Bertelsmann strengthens its television business, a key division that generates the highest revenues and profits in the group.

About Bertelsmann AG
The media company Bertelsmann commands globally leading positions in the major markets. Its core business is the creation of first-class media content. Bertelsmann includes RTL Group, Europe’s No.1 in television and radio, as well as the world’s biggest book-publishing group, Random House, with more than 100 publishing imprints (Alfred A. Knopf, Bantam, Goldmann). Gruner + Jahr, the European No.1 in magazine publishing (Stern, Geo, Capital) and the BMG music division – comprised of the Sony BMG joint venture (Anastacia, Alicia Keys, Beyoncé, Dido, Usher) and BMG Music Publishing – also stand for creativity and powerful brands. The Arvato division bundles the group’s media services, which include the expanding units Arvato Logistics Services and Arvato Direct Services (distribution, service centers, customer relationship management), along with state-of-the-art printers, storage media production and comprehensive IT-services. Bertelsmann’s direct-to-customer businesses are bundled in Direct Group: book and music clubs with more than 30 million members all over the world.

 

For further questions, please contact:

Oliver Herrgesell

Senior Vice President Media Relations

Phone: +49 – 52 41 – 80 24 66

oliver.herrgesell@bertelsmann.com

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WAZ_engl.pdf	94 kB