Negotiations for acquisition of Portuguese media empire almost concluded

The Negotiations for the acquisition of a “relevant stake” in the Portuguese media empire Impresa, which holds TV station SIC and newspaper Expresso, are said to be likely to draw to a close by the end of the year.

The Italian media group MediaForEurope (MFE) controlled by the Berlusconi family, is said to have made “progress” in recent days.

The end of this year is now indicated as the month in which Italian capital ( the amount of which has not been specified) will be injected into the Portuguese media group founded by media entrepreneur and ex-prime minister Francisco Pinto Balsemão who died earlier this month aged 88.

That company now headed by his son, Francisco Pedro Balsemão, is negotiating the capital share that MFE will have in Impresa, and how this will effect the ongoing restructuring of the company.

The Portuguese group is said to be in financial difficulties with losses of €5.1 million posted for the first half of 2025.

Nevertheless, the company emphasises that the losses were significant because of the impact of this restructuring and without these additional costs the losses would have been less and in line with 2024 results at -€3.9 million.

In September, SIC lost its audience lead to rival TV station TVI.