Providence Equity Partners L.L.C. entered into an agreement to acquire an unknown majority stake in Groupe La Centrale from Axel Springer SE (XTRA:SPR) on December 16, 2020. Axel Springer will retain a minority interest in the Groupe La Centrale. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including completion of the information and consultation procedures of the Groupe La Centrale works council and clearance by the requisite antitrust authorities. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2021. Charles Andrez of Lazard Ltd (NYSE:LAZ) acted as financial advisor to Axel Springer SE in the deal. Vincent Ponsonnaille, Nadine Gelli and Paula Riedel of Kirkland & Ellis LLP acted as legal advisors to Providence Equity Partners L.L.C. Florent Haïk and Benoît Perrin d´Arloz of Raphael Financial Advisory acted as an advisor to Providence Equity Partners L.L.C. Justin Welstead, Rupert Templeman of Eight Advisory and Jérôme Talleux, Jean-David Parent of KPMG Avocats advised Providence Equity Partners L.L.C. on Financial due diligence. Marc Baffreau of Archers acted as a advisor to Groupe La Centrale SAS.