Lagardere mulls Virgin radio deal-report
(Adds no comment from Virgin in second graf)
PARIS, March 22 (Reuters) - French media group Lagardere (LAGA.PA) is working on a partnership with British entrepreneur Richard Branson under which its music radio stations would use the Virgin brand name in Europe, French weekly L'Express said on Thursday.
Lagardere and Virgin declined to comment.
"According to our information, Lagardere is preparing with billionaire Richard Branson, Virgin's boss, a partnership plan," the magazine said. "The group's music radio stations (RFM, Europe 2) would change name and come under the Virgin umbrella and would be developed under that brand throughout Europe," it said.
In 2001, Lagardere bought The Virgin Megastores in France as well as the right to use the Virgin brand name on cultural products in several European countries.
Lagardere already uses the Virgin brand name for its music download website Virginmega.fr.
(Additional reporting by Nathalie Meistermann and Gavin Haycock)
((Writing by Dominique Vidalon; editing by Paul Bolding/Rory Channing; Reuters Messaging: rm://dominique.vidalon.reuters.com@reuters.net; email: dominique.vidalon@reuters.com; Telephone: +33 1 49495432)) Keywords: LAGARDERE VIRGIN/
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