Banijay buys Endemol Shine

The home of formats including Big Brother and MasterChef will join one of the largest content distributors in the world.

Global production and distribution company Banijay Group has entered an agreement to buy Endemol Shine, the production home of global formats including Big Brother, MasterChef and Peaky Blinders.

The deal will see Banijay Group become one of the largest content distributors in the world, owning almost 200 production companies and the rights to thousands of hours of content.

Endemol Shine is co-owned by Walt Disney Co, which acquired its 50 per cent stake as part of its $71bn acquisition of 21st Century Fox, and private equity group Apollo Global Management.

The deal will see formats, including MasterChef, Big Brother and Deal or No Deal, come under the same company as Survivor, Wife Swap and Keeping up with the Kardashians.

Total pro-forma revenue of the group is expected to be €3bn ($4.8bn), but an acquisition figure was not formally disclosed. Reports suggest the acquisition of Endemol Shine is worth $3.2bn.

The acquisition will be financed through a capital increase of Banijay Group and committed debt financing. Subject to regulatory approval and consultation with employee representative bodies, the deal will be held be 67.1 per cent held by LDH, a holding company controlled by Financiere LOV, De Agostini and Fimalac, and 32.9 per cent by Vivendi.

Marco Bassetti, chief executive officer at Banijay, said combining the acquisition would “instantly strengthen” the business’s position.

“Endemol Shine brings an incredible array of industry-leading talent, globally-renowned brands and high-quality creative content,” Mr Bassetti said.

“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, chief executive of Endemol Shine, said the deal would provide both companies with more opportunities.