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25 Aug 2026

Bird & Bird Advises Cosmobilis on Acquisition of FIA WRC and ERC Commercial Rights

"Bird & Bird, Efficiency and Latham & Watkins advised Cosmobilis in the acquisition, alongside Park Square Capital, of the commercial rights to the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) and FIA European Rally Championship (ERC). The deal aims to expand global reach and commercial opportunities leveraging Cosmobilis’s automotive and technology ecosystem."

Bird & Bird, Efficiency and Latham & Watkins advised Cosmobilis in the acquisition of the commercial rights to the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) and the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC), alongside debt investor Park Square Capital. The transaction involves Cosmobilis, a leading European mobility, technology and automotive services platform, acquiring the commercial rights to two of motorsport’s most prestigious championships, the WRC and the ERC. The operation is presented as the start of a new era for both championships, with the ambition to position them among the world’s leading sports franchises by expanding international audiences, developing new commercial opportunities across more than 30 countries and strengthening partnerships with manufacturers, distributors, commercial partners and event organisers. The championships, which attract more than 1.3 billion viewers each year, will benefit from Cosmobilis’s automotive, commercial and technological expertise and gain access to its wider industrial ecosystem, which includes 30 vehicle manufacturers, 12,000 commercial touchpoints and 100,000 automotive professionals. The strategic aim of this combination of mobility, technology, data, media and motorsport is to enhance partner engagement and improve the fan experience. The operation also marks a significant step for the French group Cosmobilis, which becomes the global operator of a top-tier sports franchise. Bird & Bird represented Cosmobilis with a cross-border Franco‑German team composed by: Etienne Guillou, partner, and Mérine Avaby, associate, on French tax matters; Lionel Berthelet, counsel, on French corporate matters; Rolf Schmich, partner, and Michael Brüggemann, counsel, on German tax matters; and Sandra Schuh, partner, Michelle Pohl and Alexander McAboy, associates, on German corporate matters. Efficiency represented Cosmobilis with a team composed by: Ludovic Giraud, Cendrine Mathieu and Gessyca Nicklin. Latham & Watkins represented Cosmobilis.
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