Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.12267 – LOV GROUP / TIPICO) – Candidate case for simplified procedure
Date: 2026-02-04
Institutions: Directorate-General for Competition, European Commission
Subjects: Austria, Germany, economic concentration, electronic commerce, game of chance, merger control, mobile application, online game, provision of services, retail trade, sporting event








C_202600823EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
C series













C/2026/823


4.2.2026






Prior notification of a concentration
(Case M.12267 – LOV GROUP / TIPICO)
Candidate case for simplified procedure
(Text with EEA relevance)
(C/2026/823)


1.   
On 27 January 2026, the Commission received notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1).
This notification concerns the following undertakings:






—


Betclic Everest Group (‘BEG’, France), controlled by Banijay Group N.V (‘Banijay Group’, Netherlands), which is in turn controlled by the Courbit Family (together with the entities they control through Lov Group Invest, ‘Lov Group’, France),










—


Tipico Group Limited (‘Tipico’, Malta).




Banijay Group will acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation control of the whole of Tipico.
The concentration is accomplished by way of purchase of shares.


2.   
The business activities of the undertakings concerned are the following:






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Lov Group is a diversified group whose main subsidiary is Banijay Group, which is active in the production and distribution of audiovisual content as well as live experiences. It is also active in the online gambling sector through BEG, which offers a full range of online gambling products and services, covering sports betting, casino games, poker and horse racing betting. In the EEA, BEG provides online gambling services in France, Poland and Portugal. Outside of Banijay Group, Lov Group is active in the luxury hotel and lifestyle sectors (food, wine and cosmetics),










—


Tipico is a provider of sports betting services, including live and pre-match betting, as well as online and retail gaming services, including in particular casino games. Tipico’s sports betting products are accessible through digital platforms (web and mobile applications) as well as a network of retail betting shops. In the EEA, Tipico provides gambling services in Austria and Germany.






3.   
On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of the Merger Regulation. However, the final decision on this point is reserved.
Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified treatment for certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 on the control of concentrations between undertakings (2), it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice.


4.   
The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed concentration to the Commission.
Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. The following reference should always be specified:
M.12267 – LOV GROUP / TIPICO
Observations can be sent to the Commission by email or by post. Please use the contact details below:
Email: COMP-MERGER-REGISTRY@ec.europa.eu

Postal address:





European Commission




Directorate-General for Competition




Merger Registry




1049 Bruxelles/Brussel




BELGIQUE/BELGIË







(1)  
            OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1 (the ‘Merger Regulation’).

(2)  
            OJ C 160, 5.5.2023, p. 1.


ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2026/823/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)