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Banijay Group has finalized terms to merge its Betclic business with Tipico Sportwetten. The deal, announced this morning, will allow Banijay to acquire a 65% controlling stake in Tipico from its private equity owners, CVC Capital, and the company’s founders.
With this merger, Banijay, currently the largest entertainment and media production company in Europe, will enhance its gaming portfolio by combining the French-leading Betclic with the German-leading Tipico.
The new entity is projected to generate over €3 billion in revenue, with an adjusted EBITDA of €850 million based on combined pro forma results for FY2024.
In a statement to the Amsterdam Euronext, Banijay CEO François Riahi described the merger as a “transformative step” that solidifies Banijay’s role as the “natural consolidator across the entertainment and gaming industries.”
“Tipico fits perfectly with our DNA — a strong leader in two regulated markets, highly profitable and product-focused. This deal provides Banijay with the reach, scale and diversification that already define our content business.”
Banijay Group to operate three major brands
Once the merger is flnalized, Banijay Gaming will manage three key brands in Betclic, Admiral Austria, and Tipico. Together, they will serve 6.5 million active customers across six regulated markets, including France, Austria, Poland, Côte d’Ivoire, and Germany. The dealmakers noted:
“The combined group will unite strong local champions across key markets. Betclic is a leading operator in France, Portugal, Poland and Côte d’Ivoire, generating €1.4bn in revenues in 20246 through its strong digital expertise.”
Banijay seeking to grow controlling stake in Tipico to 72%
Banijay aims to increase its controlling stake in Tipico to 72% by purchasing additional equity from CVC Capital.
The leading German sports betting and iGaming operator generated €1.3 billion in revenues in 2024 and recently expanded its reach by acquiring Admiral in Austria, another reputable brand in sports betting and retail gaming. Admiral contributed €346 million in revenues last year.
Following the recent merger, the founders of both Betclic and Tipico will reinvest their equity and continue as long-term shareholders in Banijay Gaming.
Tipico CEO Axel Hefer added:
“Joining forces with Betclic represents the deal we’ve been working towards — refocusing on Europe, expanding in Austria and now building a broader European platform. The partnership gives us the scale and resources to accelerate innovation and set new standards for our customers.”
The deal is also supported by a €3 billion financing package to refinance Tipico’s existing debt, which will raise Banijay’s group leverage to 3.5 times. The company targets reducing this leverage to below 2.5 times within three years.
Banijay also expects the merger to generate €100 million in annual synergies through product innovation, platform efficiencies, and shared procurement efforts.
Béraud to chair Banijay Gaming
Nicolas Béraud, founder of Betclic, will take on the role of Chairman of Banijay Gaming under the company’s new governance structure that starts next January. Lov Group Invest will continue to serve as President.
Julien Brun will become CEO of Betclic, while Axel Hefer will continue as CEO of Tipico. Joachim Baca will join the Banijay Gaming board as Vice-Chairman.
The new leadership team has pledged to operate solely in locally regulated markets, upholding the highest standards of player protection, integrity, and responsible gaming. They are also considering options for a public listing or a partial spin-off of the expanded gaming unit within the next two or three years.
Nicolas Béraud, Founder of Betclic and inbound Chairman of Banijay Gaming, concluded:
“This is a landmark moment for Betclic and for Banijay Gaming. Together with Tipico and Admiral, we are building a new European leader that combines scale with innovation and a strong commitment to sustainable, regulated entertainment.
“Betclic and Tipico share the same values — passion for sport, innovation and focus on markets where we can win. United under Banijay, we will deliver unmatched experiences for players while creating lasting value for our teams and partners across Europe.”
Source: SBC America
Image Credit: By CristianNX – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8466688
