Editing RTL Group (section)

===Acquisition by Bertelsmann===
Although Bertelsmann initially only held a minority share in RTL Group, the German conglomerate managed by [[Thomas Middelhoff]] set its sights on playing a leading role within the group.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Lutz Meier|title=Bertelsmann pocht auf die Führung der neuen TV-Gruppe.|magazine=Financial Times Deutschland|date=10 April 2000|language=de|page=6}}</ref> After exchanging shares with the Groupe Bruxelles Lambert (GBL) in 2001, Bertelsmann achieved its goal of becoming the majority shareholder of RTL Group and thus secured a leading position in the European television market.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Roland Mayrl|title=RTL sendet mehrheitlich für Bertelsmann.|newspaper=Wirtschaftsblatt|date=6 February 2001|page=1|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Bertelsmann sichert sich die Vorherrschaft im TV-Geschäft.|newspaper=Handelsblatt|date=6 February 2001|page=25|language=de}}</ref>

Over the years, Bertelsmann increased its stake in RTL Group to more than 90%.<ref name="2002-03-20">{{Cite news|author=Petra Münster|title=RTL Group zu 90 Prozent bei Bertelsmann|newspaper=Neue Zürcher Zeitung|date=20 March 2002|page=25|language=de}}</ref> Bertelsmann's initial aim was to acquire full ownership of RTL Group to reduce administrative costs, but this plan failed in 2007 due to uncertainties in Luxembourg law.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Thomas Clark|title=RTL Group bleibt vorerst an der Börse.|magazine=Financial Times Deutschland|date=20 March 2002|page=5|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Übernahme: Bertelsmann will RTL endlich ganz.|magazine=Der Spiegel|date=4 December 2007|access-date=15 June 2020|url=https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/uebernahme-bertelsmann-will-rtl-endlich-ganz-a-521219.html|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|author=Tina Kaiser|title=Bertelsmann will RTL doch nicht komplett kaufen.|newspaper=Die Welt|date=21 December 2007|page=11|language=de}}</ref> The conglomerate responded by altering its strategy, and in 2013, it sold a minority interest in RTL Group on the [[Frankfurt Stock Exchange]]<ref>{{Cite news|title=Börsenschwergewicht: RTL-Aktie kommt auch nach Frankfurt.|newspaper=Handelsblatt|date=4 April 2013|access-date=15 June 2020|url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/finanzen/maerkte/boerse-inside/boersenschwergewicht-rtl-aktie-kommt-auch-nach-frankfurt/8017910.html|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Börsengang: Verhaltener Start für RTL|newspaper=Wirtschaftswoche|date=30 April 2013|access-date=15 June 2020|url=https://www.wiwo.de/finanzen/boerse/boersengang-verhaltener-start-fuer-rtl/8144376.html|language=de|archive-date=26 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126140810/https://www.wiwo.de/finanzen/boerse/boersengang-verhaltener-start-fuer-rtl/8144376.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> to finance the growth of Bertelsmann and especially its digital transformation.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Verkauf von RTL-Aktien: Bertelsmann nimmt 1,4 Milliarden Euro ein.|newspaper=Handelsblatt|date=29 April 2013|access-date=15 June 2020|url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/finanzen/maerkte/aktien/verkauf-von-rtl-aktien-bertelsmann-nimmt-1-4-milliarden-euro-ein/8140096.html|language=de}}</ref> Media reports responded positively to the secondary listing of RTL Group and the resulting availability of shares open to external investors.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Andreas Wolf|title=RTL hat auch für Anleger etwas zu bieten.|newspaper=Wirtschaftsblatt|date=13 June 2013|page=15|language=de}}</ref>