Lagardere eyes 80% stake in Canal Plus
May 2, 2013
Lagardere’s chief executive has said he is prepared to consider buying Vivendi SA’s 80 per cent stake in pay-TV company Canal Plus France, according to an interview by French newspaper Le Monde.
“I’m ready to look at buying the 80 per cent they have and listing it on the stock exchange in favorable conditions,” Arnaud Lagardere says in the interview.
Lagardere in February filed a lawsuit against Vivendi regarding a battle over Lagardere’s long-sought exit from Canal Plus France. Lagardere currently holds a 20 per cent stake in the business.
In the interview, Lagardere also says he wants Vivendi to return €1.6 billion of cash to Canal Plus France.