Newly founded company Banijay Entertainment has acquired a controlling interest in the Russian production company Intelegencia Entertainment. The acquisition adds to Banijay’s holdings in the entertainment content industry, which include ALJ Production and Depeche Prod.
Intelegencia Entertainment
Founded by Laurent Saillard, a French expatriate in Russia and former employee of RTL Group and Endemol, Intelegencia Entertainment is a non scripted production company. It is best known for producing poker shows for Russian TV channels CTC, REN TV and TV3.
Banijay Entertainment
Banijay Entertainment is a French-based production company that has recently acquired holdings in the European entertainment industry. Headed by CEO Stephane Courbit, Banijay’s management team includes Guillaume de Verges, former CEO of CANAL+, and former CEOs of Cup Management and Polygram N.V.
Banijay is targeting the reality television format by acquiring stakes in Germany company Brainpool and Spain’s Cuarzo Producciones. With sights on the North American market, Banijay has reportedly partnered with Chris Cowan and Jean-Michel Michenaud to form a US based production company.
10/07/2009
Central & Eastern Europe, Private Equity News, Russia, Telecoms & Media