Cable investor Drahi in talks to buy L’Express

Cable and telecom networks investor Patrick Drahi is in exclusive talks to acquire French weekly news magazine L’Express and other titles owned by Belgian publisher Roularta, with a deal possible in the next few days, according to French business title Les Echos. 

Drahi, who masterminded French cable operator Numericable’s acquisition of larger mobile rival SFR and is in the process of acquiring Portugal Telecom, has reportedly been in exclusive talks with Roularta for several weeks. According to BFM Business, the pair have yet to agree on a price, likely to be over €50 million, for Roularta’s 20 French titles, which the Belgian publisher acquired from Dassault for considerably more in 2006.

Drahi is already the main shareholder in French newspaper Librération.