This is according to sources close to the matter and some documents viewed by Reuters.Although Mfe has said it can consider a takeover bid for ProSieben only when the latter has shed its non-strategic assets, the support it has received in recent months from banks for a potential takeover bid strengthens its position ahead of a shareholder meeting on April 30, at which shareholders will be confronted over proposals put forward by Mfe for a reorganization of the German television group.Mfe is the largest investor in ProSieben with a stake close to 30 percent, which it has begun to build in 2019 as part of plans to create a pan-European TV platform.Mfe wants ProSieben to separate or divest its digital assets and is seeking support from other shareholders for a shareholder resolution to push the Bavarian group to begin considering a spin-off of assets deemed non-core that include e-commerce services and a dating site.Although it currently has no plans to launch a bid, Mfe held discussions late last year and early in 2024 with lenders interested in supporting a possible takeover of the entire ProSieben, according to documents viewed by Reuters, obtaining letters demonstrating the banks' readiness for the deal.No comment from Mfe.

The banks that have come forward with financing proposals, both to cover a possible offer and for ProSieben's debt refinancing needs, are, according to documents viewed and sources, Bank of America, Deutsche Bank and UniCredit.

Specifically, UniCredit and Bank of America have offered to separately cover 100 percent of a potential transaction with commitments of 3.7 billion and 3.2 billion euros, respectively.

Deutsche Bank agreed to cover 50 percent of a transaction in the estimated amount of 4 billion euros.

No comment from the three lenders.

(Elvira Pollina and Valentina Za, editing Andrea Mandalà)