FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX) - Statements by MFE's CFO have dampened speculation among ProSiebenSat.1 investors about a takeover of the media group. On Thursday afternoon, the SDax-listed shares slipped 7.4 percent to EUR 7.28, making them the weakest stock in the small cap index.

Marco Giordani, Chief Financial Officer of the Italian major shareholder, had said in an interview with the news agency Reuters that MFE was not currently planning a takeover of ProSiebenSat. The company is not interested in this at present. Rather, the media group is a long-term investment, the manager emphasized.

Speculation about a takeover of ProSiebenSat.1 had recently boosted the shares together with pleasing figures for the first quarter. The fact that there are currently no more takeover plans has now taken the steam out of the shares, which had recently performed well, commented one trader. Despite the current setback, they are still among the best performers on the SDax, having gained almost a third since the beginning of the year./ajx/he