Talpa Holding, the investment company owned by media magnate John de Mol, has raised its stake in Telegraaf Media Groep to 24.84%, the Financieele Dagblad said on Thursday.

At the end of last week, Talpa held a 21% stake in TMG. Talpa bought the extra shares on the stock exchange at an average price of €6.50 per share.

TMG, which publishes the country’s largest newspaper – the Telegraaf – is the only major Dutch newspaper group not owned by Belgian interests.

Talpa is locked in a race to acquire TMG with Belgium’s Mediahuis which has the support of large TMG shareholder the Van Puijenbroek family. Mediahuis now has a shareholding of nearly 60% in TMG.

Talpa is offering €6.50 per share for TMG, compared to €6 per share bid by Mediahuis. The two parties are due in Amsterdam’s  company court on 16 March. Talpa wants the court to order an independent inquiry into TMG policy and the actions of its supervisory board.