the Mediawan group plans to buy the German studio Leonine and expand its territory in Europe

Mediawan, an audiovisual content production and distribution group, was founded at the end of 2015 by Pierre-Antoine Capton, Xavier Niel and Matthieu Pigasse.

France Télévisions – Culture Editorial

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Mediawan is on display at the MIPCOM (International Market for Communication Programs) exhibition, in Cannes, in 2023. (SYSPEO / SIPA)

Mediawan, a French heavyweight in European audiovisual production, wants to grow further by purchasing Leonine, the first independent studio on the German market, it announced Monday April 29 in a press release.

This operation “allows to consolidate“Mediawan, present in”13 countries” via “85 production labels“, and mark its “entry into the very dynamic German market“, welcomed the group chaired by Pierre-Antoine Capton.

An acquisition to be finalized

This fits “in Mediawan’s strategy to create a true pan-European studio“to produce content “worldwide”he continued, without specifying the amount of the transaction, carried out entirely by a contribution of Mediawan securities.

In 2020, Mediawan had already acquired a stake of around 25% in Leonine, which notably produced or co-produced international works such as the film The lives of others or the series Dark. The finalization of this acquisition “remains subject to obtaining competition clearance from the competent authorities in Germany and Austria, as well as certain other regulatory approvals“, according to the group.

At the beginning of April, the Financial Markets Authority (AMF) requested a fine of 110,000 euros against Pierre-Antoine Capton, suspected of having informed two of his relatives of a proposed public purchase offer ( Takeover bid) on the company before its official announcement in June 2020.


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