New French indie group ‘circles Cattleya’

New France-based TV consolidator Mediawan is reportedly in the market to buy Gomorrah producer Cattleya.

Following a €270 million (US$285 million) deal to acquire the AB Groupe and proclamations of further deals to come, Mediawan has turned its attention to Italy-based Cattleya, according to several French-language sites.

Another French conglom, Vivendi, is also said to be eyeing Cattleya.

A deal there would see the Italian firm pooled alongside formats firm Can’t Stop Media (now part of Vivendi Entertainment), talkshow specialist Flab Lab and drama and entertainment prodco La Parisien d’Images, which has been rebranded as Studio+. Vivendi also has a 26.2% stake in Banijay Group.

Last year, Studiocanal was in talks to buy Cattleya, whose stock is high following the international success of Gomorrah, Romanzo Criminale

French reports claim Mediawan co-founder Xavier Niel is leading negotiations on a deal for Cattleya, whose financial value has not been named.

Two weeks ago, Mediawan said it would build “the leading premium content platform in Europe”, adding that deal talks with unnamed companies were in advanced stages and could be announced “in coming weeks”.

Co-founder and CEO Matthieu Pigasse added acquisitions would likely be revealed before a shareholders’ meeting on March 13.

Rome-based Cattleya has active in film and TV production, with Sky Italia drama Gomorrah its biggest launch to date.