La véritable exception culturelle

Voici le communiqué de presse qui annonce l'aquisition d'Endemol Shine par Banijay pour créer un géant mondial de la création audiovisuelle. Preuve s'il en ait que les Frenchies (Courbit, Bolloré, Lacharrière) n'ont pas froid aux yeux quand il s'agit d'entreprendre et de porter haut les talents de la création tricolore. Grace à ces 3 mousquetaires, à l'heure où les plateformes sont américaines, les programmes garderont sans doute un peu de saveur européenne. Je trouve que c'est la plus belle fa?on de faire vivre l'exception culturelle et c'est le scénario d'une belle série, dont on a hate de suivre les prochains épisodes.

Banijay Group to Acquire Endemol Shine Group

Creates a worldwide player in content production and entertainment

Expands Banijay Group’s footprint and consolidates its position as a leading home for talent and intellectual property

Combined catalogue encompasses close to 100,000 hours of the world’s most sought-after TV shows and series

Paris, 26 October 2019

Banijay Group announces today it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of

the equity of Endemol Shine Group, which is co-owned by The Walt Disney Company

(NYSE:DIS) and funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, Inc. (NYSE: APO).

The acquisition, which is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory

clearances and consultation with the relevant employee representative bodies, will

encompass Endemol Shine’s 120 production labels with an estimated 66,000 hours of scripted

and non-scripted programming together with over 4,300 registered formats.

The addition of these assets will position Banijay Group at the forefront of content production

and distribution and as a premier home for the industry’s leading on- and off-screen talent.

Upon completion of the acquisition, Banijay Group will own almost 200 production companies

in 23 territories and the rights for close to 100,000 hours of content. Total pro-forma revenue

of the combined group is expected to be approximately €3 billion for the year ending

December 31st 2019.

Boosting Banijay Group’s scripted credentials and further building its reputation as a go-to

provider of high-quality unscripted IP, the combined catalogue is expected to include some

of the world’s best known brands and formats such as Black Mirror, Versailles, The

Millennium Trilogy, Peaky Blinders, Big Brother, MasterChef, Survivor, Temptation Island,

Wife Swap and The Island. Furthermore, with a significantly broader brand portfolio, and

larger creative platform, the combined group will be in an even stronger position to create,

nurture and drive fresh IP for both linear broadcasters and new players.

The acquisition will be financed through a capital increase of Banijay Group and committed

debt financing, which includes a committed full refinancing of Banijay and Endemol Shine’s

existing financial debt, supported by Deutsche Bank, Natixis and Société Générale. Post-

closing, the combined group will be held by LDH (67.1%) and Vivendi (32.9%).

LDH is a holding company controlled by Financière LOV (52%), Stéphane Courbit’s investment

arm. LDH has the following other shareholders: the Italian Group De Agostini with 36% of the

capital, and Fimalac, the investment company of Marc Ladreit de Lacharrière, which will own

12% of the capital through a reserved capital increase dedicated to the financing of the

Endemol Shine acquisition. In addition to a direct investment in LDH, Fimalac will reinforce its

long-term partnership with Financière LOV by increasing its stake in Financière LOV from

5.75% to 8.4%.

Marco Bassetti, Chief Executive Officer at Banijay, said: “Endemol Shine brings an incredible

array of industry-leading talent, globally-renowned brands and high-quality creative content.

Combining the resources of these two companies will instantly strengthen our position in the

global market, and our capabilities across genres will further define us as a go-to provider of

first class IP worldwide. Welcoming the Endemol Shine brands and talents to our existing

business will signal enhanced opportunities in the marketplace, and we are all excited by what

the future holds for the combined entity.”

Sophie Turner Laing, Endemol Shine Group Chief Executive Officer, added: “At Endemol

Shine, we have continually inspired and entertained audiences around the world, a testament

to every single person across the Group. This deal takes us into a whole new and exciting

chapter and into a new enhanced global content house with many opportunities ahead.”

Rothschild and PJ Solomon (a Natixis affiliate) are acting as financial advisorsto Banijay Group.

Société Générale is acting as financial advisor to Financière LOV. Darrois Villey Maillot

Brochier and Kirkland & Ellis LLP are advising Banijay Group in connection with the

transaction. Deutsche Bank, Natixis and Société Générale have underwritten the financial

debt required for this acquisition, and were advised by Latham & Watkins LLP.

LionTree Advisors is acting as financial advisor to Endemol Shine Group, including The Walt

Disney Company and the Apollo funds, in connection with the transaction. Deutsche Bank is

acting as financial advisor to Endemol Shine Group in connection with the transaction. Paul,

Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is advising the Apollo funds and Endemol Shine Group

in connection with the transaction. Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP is advising The Walt Disney

Company in connection with the transaction. Hogan Lovells International LLP is advising

Endemol Shine Group in connection with the transaction.

About Banijay

Banijay Group is a global production and distribution company creating premium content for

television and multimedia platforms in all genres including entertainment, drama, factual,

reality, docudrama and kids programming. With leading production entities in 16 territories,

the Group is engaged in strategic partnerships with the best creative talent around the world.

The business is a confederation of entrepreneurs – encompassing Creative Talent and

Innovation. Banijay Group unifies talent and personalities, spreading ideas and formats all

over the world. Key programmes and formats include Versailles, The Secret Life of 4 Year Olds,

Temptation Island, Survivor, Keeping up with the Kardashians, The Real World, Fort Boyard,

The Restaurant, Wife Swap, Catch! and Occupied among many others.

Banijay Group operates under the direction of Marco Bassetti.

About Endemol Shine Group

Endemol Shine Group creates world class content that entertains billions around the world.

Global hits include non-scripted ‘superbrands’ MasterChef and Big Brother, globally loved

favourites Deal or No Deal, Your Face Sounds Familiar, Operacion Triunfo, Money Drop,

Hunted, The Island, All Together Now, Family Food Fight and many more. And a drama

portfolio which includes Black Mirror, Peaky Blinders, Bron, Grantchester and Tin Star

amongst many global hits. Mr Bean and Simon’s Cat lead a digital brand portfolio which boasts

over 3 billion monthly views. In 2018 Endemol Shine Group were responsible for 700

productions on air.