A Vivendi source told ANSA on
Thursday that the French group's acquisition of shares in
Mediaset was not a hostile operation.
"It certainly was not requested, but it is not a hostile
act," the source said in Paris after Vivendi announced Wednesday
that its stake in the Italian broadcaster had gone up to 20%.
"We want to reinforce our position in the south of Europe,
which is strategic for us. That's why we decided to buy Mediaset
shares".
Mediaset's founder, ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi, said
Wednesday his family will defend itself from a "hostile"
operation by Vincent Bolloré's group and was raising its stake
in the company.
Industry Minister Carlo Calenda said the government will
"carefully monitor" the Mediaset-Vivendi situation, adding that
what appears to be a hostile takeover is "not the most
appropriate way to reinforce one's presence in Italy".
MPs from the populist 5-Star Movement (M5S) from the House
transport and telecoms committee, meanwhile, said Thursday that
the government's intervention on behalf of Mediaset was "totally
inappropriate".
"The government did nothing to combat Vivendi's aggressive
takeover bid against Telecom Italia, which really was strategic
for our country considering the network infrastructure it owns,"
the opposition MPs said.
Vivendi owns 23.9% of Telecom Italia.
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