De Mol buys stake in Endemol

Tycoon set up company with Joop van Ende

By MELANIE GOODFELLOW

De Mol

LONDON — Dutch reality TV tycoon John de Mol has acquired a 5.15% stake in his former company Endemol.

Move prompted speculation the mogul is gearing up to acquire a controlling stake in the company, but media sector analysts downplayed such suggestions.

Dutch financial authorities have confirmed that the telco, media and technology fund Cyrte, in which de Mol is a major player, had acquired the stake.

De Mol and partner Joop van Ende sold their namesake production company to Spanish telco giant Telefonica for $6.9 million in 2000.

Telefonica is now reportedly looking to off-load its 75% stake in the "Big Brother" and "Deal or No Deal" producer.

Last September, de Mol told Reuters news agency he had been mulling buying a stake in Endemol but that he had no interest in its day-to-day running.