De Mol targets TMG takeover

John de Mol’s Talpa Holding has entered the running to take ownership of Dutch newspaper outfit Telegraaf Media Group (TMG).

John de Mol

De Mol has said he will table a bid for TMG that values the company at about €273m (US$293m) to bring it under Talpa Holding, which houses all of de Mol’s media activities.

The offer is around €40m more than that made by Belgian firm Mediahuis for TMG in December last year.

Talpa Holding is already a minority shareholder in TMG, which publishes the country’s largest newspaper, De Telegraaf.

The move comes after TMG last year invested €27m in Talpa Holding as part of a “strategic co-operation” between the two companies that was set up to cover new initiatives in radio, television and OTT distribution.

Talpa Holding’s assets include a 33% stake in SBS Netherlands, as well as Talpa Radio, channel 538 and Radio 10, Sky Radio and Radio Veronica.

In 2015, Talpa Holding sold its production arm Talpa Media, producer of The Voice, to UK broadcaster ITV for £355m (US$531.7m).