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Milan-based MFE-MediaForEurope announced Thursday that it has cemented its position as majority shareholder of ProSiebenSat.1 Media, seizing a commanding 75.61% stake in the German broadcaster. The holding, valued at roughly $1.8 billion under the company’s earlier $2.4 billion valuation, gives MFE decisive control over one of Europe’s most prominent television groups.

How the Deal Came Together

The majority position was reached through a blend of shares MFE already owned, stock acquired during the voluntary public takeover offer, and additional purchases outside the formal offer. The acceptance period wrapped on Sept. 1, with settlement slated for Sept. 16.

Among the pivotal moves: Czech investment firm PPF IM, previously ProSieben’s second-largest shareholder, tendered about 15.7% of outstanding shares into the offer.

ProSieben CEO Bert Habets praised PPF’s “valuable strategic contributions” over the past three years, crediting the investor with helping accelerate ProSieben’s transformation.

Revised Offer That Sealed the Deal

MFE’s final takeover push followed a revised July offer, which boosted the share exchange ratio from 0.4 to 1.3 MFE A shares per ProSieben share, while leaving the cash portion steady at €4.48. That tweak raised ProSieben’s overall valuation to about €2.01 billion ($2.4 billion) and triggered a 12% surge in the broadcaster’s stock.

Building a Cross-Border Media Titan

MFE said the tie-up will unlock fresh opportunities in advertising, technology, and data, while creating synergies across its five core European markets — Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, and Spain.

Habets emphasized that the combined entity now reaches 210 million people across these countries. “We will work closely to identify collaboration opportunities and align our vision for the future,” he said.

ProSieben underscored its commitment to pushing the digital transformation of its entertainment portfolio, with particular focus on Joyn, its streaming platform that posted double-digit growth in German-speaking markets during the first half of 2025.

A Berlusconi Legacy Expanded

MFE’s majority control builds on its pre-existing stake, which included nearly 30% previously held by Fininvest, the Berlusconi family-backed holding company. The takeover not only consolidates MFE’s media empire but also positions it as a central player in shaping Europe’s broadcasting future.