Ben Ammar may raise Lux stake

Shares shift at production company

By NICK VIVARELLI

ROME — Franco-Tunisian producer Tarak Ben Ammar is poised to raise his stake in Italian TV production company Lux Vide. Move follows his recent acquisition of Italo film distrib Eagle Pictures.

U.S. investment firm State Street Global Investments has sold the 25% chunk it held in Rome-based Lux to another Lux shareholder, Video Delta. The transaction is considered a prelude to Ben Ammar’s Quinta Communications increasing its own participation in the maker of high-profile international skeins, such as “War and Peace” and “Last Days at Pompeii,” and top-rated Italo series “Don Matteo.”

Ben Ammar, who recently also snapped up a small participation in Italo toon studio Rainbow, maker of the lucrative “Winx Club” franchise, currently holds a 24% Lux stake, while Video Delta is now at 35% and Lux founders, the Bernabei family, hold a controlling 44% interest. Part of Video Delta's current stake is expected to soon change hands and go to Quinta.

In Italy, Ben Ammar also operates sports channels Sportitalia and Sportitalia 24 on DTT. The entrepreneur, who for many years has enjoyed a good rapport with both Silvio Berlusconi and Rupert Murdoch, also has another station in the works.