Mediawan and Leonine Studios have agreed to join forces in an all-stock transaction, creating one of Europe’s premier independent studios.
The merged company will have a global presence across 13 countries, 85 labels, a catalogue of around 30,000 hours of premium content and revenue exceeding €1 billion. Mediawan and Leonine first partnered in 2020 when Mediawan acquired a 25% stake in Leonine, resulting in cooperation between the two companies which are both backed by investment group KKR.
The transaction will allow Mediawan to complete its European footprint with the addition of the German-speaking region, the second largest market in Europe for audiovisual content. Furthermore, the combination will further deepen Mediawan’s talent bench in scripted content production with the addition of the award-winning production labels of Leonine to Mediawan’s network of international producers coordinated by Elisabeth d’Arvieu, CEO of Mediawan Pictures.
In addition, Leonine will diversify Mediawan’s operations across geographies, customers and business segments, including through the addition of Leonine’s extensive catalogue, including rights to over 4,000 titles, alongside its growing audio and audiovisual distribution business.
Leonine was founded in 2019 by Fred Kogel and his management team with financial support from KKR and Atwater Capital through acquiring and merging TMG, Universum Film, i&u TV and Wiedemann & Berg Film, followed by W&B Television, SEO Entertainment, hyperbole, BeetzBros Film Production and Toon2Tango. In just five years, Leonine has grown into one of the largest integrated independent production, distribution and licensing companies in the German-speaking market.
The combination follows Mediawan’s strategy of creating a pan-European studio with increasingly global presence which now spans 13 countries including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Scandinavia, Benelux and the UK in Europe, alongside operations in Africa, Asia, and the US.
With the direction by Pierre-Antoine Capton as group CEO, Fred Kogel will lead operations in the German-speaking regions alongside the existing Leonine management team and will join Mediawan’s executive committee. Mediawan is controlled by its co-founders Pierre-Antoine Capton, Xavier Niel and Matthieu Pigasse, with financial backing from KKR and other partners.
“With the addition of Leonine Studios, we have achieved an important milestone in Mediawan’s strategy to create a pan-European studio with a strong presence in all key markets. I am delighted to welcome Fred Kogel and the entire Leonine team who have built a leading independent studio over the years – together, we will become an even more attractive platform for creative talent and strengthen our position as a leading studio for premium content across all genres,” said Capton.
The completion of the transaction remains subject to obtaining antitrust clearance from the competition authorities in Germany and Austria, as well as certain other regulatory approvals.
