Italy's antitrust authority asked
Silvio Berlusconi's Mediaset media conglomerate for additional
information after its Ei Towers subsidiary bid on two-thirds of
RAI public broadcaster's Rai Way transmission towers operator,
sources said Tuesday.
Mediaset has 5-10 days to respond, the sources said.
The Senate industry committee will begin hearings on the
proposed deal on Wednesday.
Ei Towers CEO Guido Barbieri testifies tomorrow and Rai Way
President Camillo Rossotto is slated for Thursday.
Shares in Rai Way, Ei Towers and Berlusconi's media group
Mediaset have been very active since the proposed purchase by
the Mediaset-controlled firm was unveiled last week.
The government has said RAI must retain 51% ownership of
Rai Way while EI Towers, controlled by Mediaset, wants to
purchase two-thirds.
The proposed deal involving a company controlled by
Mediaset, owned by ex-premier and media mogul Berlusconi,
triggered a firestorm of controversy when it became public on
Tuesday.
If it were to succeed, the deal will be worth about 1.2
billion euros.
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