Mediawan Acquires Leading German Production-Distribution Group Leonine (EXCLUSIVE)
European powerhouse Mediawan has acquired Leonine, a leading production and distribution group active in German-speaking markets.
With the acquisition of Leonine, Mediawan will boast a portfolio of 85 labels, a catalogue spanning 30,000 hours of premium content and revenues exceeding €1.3 billion ($1.4 billion). Mediawan’s worth is now believed to be in the $2-billion range. The deal is an all-stock transaction; both companies have the same shareholder, the U.S. private equity fund KKR whose stake in Mediawan will still be below 50%, according to a source close to the company.
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Mediawan now has a significant footprint in all major European markets, including German-speaking territories which represent the continent’s second largest TV market. The pact positions Mediawan as one of the world’s biggest super indies with a large proportion of scripted business across prestige series and movies. Mediawan now spans 13 countries including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Scandinavia, Benelux and the U.K. in Europe, alongside operations in Africa, Asia and the U.S. The pan-European group’s iconic IPs and hits include “Call My Agent,” “Miraculous Ladybug,” “Rhythm and Flow France,” “Three Body Problem,” “The Agency,” “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story,” “HPI,” “One Day” and “Bob Marley: One love.”
Pierre-Antoine Capton’s Mediawan and Fred Kogel’s Leonine first partnered in 2020 when Mediawan acquired a 25% stake in Leonine. The two companies had joined forces to acquire Drama Republic, the award-winning U.K. production banner behind “Doctor Foster” and more recently Netflix’s hit romance drama series “One Day.” Taking their collaboration to the next level, Capton will continue serving as CEO of Mediawan, while Kogel will keep leading operations in the German-speaking regions alongside the existing Leonine management team, as well as will join Mediawan’s executive committee. Mediawan is controlled by Capton, Xavier Niel and Matthieu Pigasse with financial backing from KKR, among other long-term partners.
“Along with the Nordics, Germany is an important territory where we weren’t present, and it’s a priority for us to develop premium content for platforms there because there is a regulation coming up that will require platforms to increase their investment in Germany,” Capton told Variety.
Since being founded by Kogel in 2019, Leonine has grown into one of the largest integrated independent production, distribution and licensing companies in the German-speaking market. The group has produced and co-produced internationally critical and commercial hits, including the Oscar-winning film “The Lives of Others,” the hit Netflix show “Dark,” “The Gryphon,” “Crooks,” “Juan Carlos-Downfall of The King,” “School of Magical Animals” and “The Cleaners,” as well as owns rights to blockbuster titles such as the “John Wick” franchise, “Hunger Games – The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” “Knives Out,” and Oscar-winning movies “Everything, Everywhere All at Once” and “The Zone of Interest.”
Formed with the financial support from KKR and Atwater Capital, Leonine initially integrated W&B Television and sister company Wiedemann & Berg Film (“The Lives of Others,” “Girl You Know It’s True”), along with Herbert Kloiber’s Tele München Gruppe, RTL distribution firm Universum Film and entertainment producer I&U TV. Today, the group also comprises of non-fiction specialist BeetzBros Film Production (“Eternal You”), and TV series banner Odeon Fiction (“The Seed”). The group also boasts Leonine Distribution (“The Expendables 4,” “John Wick: Chapter 4”) and Leonine Licensing.
Under the pact, Leonine’s scripted banners will join a raft of award-winning production outfits that are already part of Mediawan Pictures, including Brad Pitt’s Plan B, France’s Chi-Fou-Mi, Chapter 2, Italy’s Palomar, the U.K.’s Drama Republic and Misfits Entertainment. Mediawan Pictures, a network of French and international producers, is led by Elizabeth d’Arvieu. Mediawan will also gain Leonine’s extensive catalogue, including rights to over 4,000 titles.
“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,” said Capton. “Together (with Leonine), 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,” Capton continued.
Kogel, meanwhile, pointed out that Leonine has become a “leading integrated independent media group in the German-speaking region and a home to some of the best talent in the industry” in just five years.
“This is a testimony to the hard work and commitment of all Leonine employees over the years. Our combination with Mediawan to create a pan-European powerhouse is the next step and will bring exciting benefits to our valued partners and customers in Germany, the US and beyond,” Kogel continued.
Philipp Freise, KKR’s co-head of European Private Equity at KKR, said the group’s” investments in Mediawan and Leonine follow a long history of investing behind exceptional entrepreneurs in talent- and IP-centered businesses.”
The deal is subject to antitrust clearance in Germany and Austria, along with other regulatory approvals.
Looking ahead, Capton revealed Mediawan is looking to enter Scandinavia and expand into Africa which he says “has a very strong creative potential.” “We’re developing many things there and looking at partnerships beyond the ones we have with Canal+ channels — we want to ramp up our input in local production in Africa,” said the Paris-based executive who is also a producer through his banner Troisième Oeil Productions.
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