Legal and Financial Powerhouses Behind the Deal
Legal heavyweights are steering this high-value merger.
Latham & Watkins LLP and Brandl Talos represent CVC.
Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier and Hengeler Mueller are advising Banijay.
Kirkland & Ellis LLP is managing a €3 billion financing package for Banijay and Betclic, with a team led by top lawyers Cédric Van den Borren, William Taylor, Luca Meneghini, and Louis Noirault, among others.
The complexity of the financing highlights how seriously Banijay views gaming as a cornerstone of its expansion strategy.
A Strategic Marriage of Scale and Synergy
François Riahi, Banijay’s chief executive, called the move a “perfect alignment” with the group’s vision of fusing entertainment with interactive gaming.
“Tipico is a strong leader in two regulated markets, with an impressive track record of profitability and innovation,” Riahi said. “Together, we will build a new European leader in sports betting, offering the reach, scale, and diversification that this industry demands.”
Tipico, headquartered in Germany, dominates the nation’s online sports betting landscape and recently expanded its reach with the acquisition of Admiral Austria’s sports betting and retail gaming brand in September.
Meanwhile, Betclic continues to thrive in France, Portugal, Poland, and Côte d’Ivoire, making the two entities a near-perfect geographic and operational fit.
