Vivendi Universal's European film and television arm StudioCanal now owns a controlling 52.1% stake in French television production powerhouse Expand, after the first round of a take-over bid which closed last week.

The bid for a 20% stake in Expand is to be re-opened at the beginning of November following the ruling of a French court concerning suits filed by some of Expand's minority shareholders which contend that the price offered is too low.

The take-over is part of a series of recent moves meant to both strengthen and streamline Vivendi Universal's European operations. StudioCanal recently acquired a 45% stake in Sogepaq, the film and television production and distribution arm of pay-TV operator Sogecable, in which Canal Plus itself already owns a 21,3% stake. StudioCanal itself is to be delisted from the Paris Stock Exchange with a view to better integrate the media and entertainment giant's film and television US and Europe operations.

Vivendi Universal is also setting its sights on cleaning up loss-making European pay-TV operations. Canal Plus - which has incurred a Euros 378m loss last year -- is to merge its Polish pay-TV platform, Cyfra+, with Dutch cable operator UPC's own Wyzja, and the pay-TV giant, which is also to sell off its Scandinavian operation to Telenor, is currently seeking a merger for its Italian platform Telepiu.