Fremantle has entered into a conditional purchase agreement to acquire the global production studio Asacha Media Group and its portfolio of labels based in France, Italy, and the United Kingdom. The deal will see Fremantle acquire Asacha from Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. Asacha comprises eight distinct labels across scripted, unscripted, and feature films. These labels are Kabo Family (France), Mintee (France), Srab Films (France), Picomedia (Italy), Stand By Me (Italy), Arrow Media (United Kingdom), Red Planet Pictures (United Kingdom), and Wag (United Kingdom).
Headquartered in Paris, France, Asacha will continue to be run by Co-Founder and Group CEO Gaspard de Chavagnac, who will report to Andrea Scrosati. Gaspard de Chavagnac will continue to be supported by Marina Williams, as Chief Content Officer of Asacha. The portfolio of Asacha labels in France, Italy, and the UK will continue to report to Gaspard de Chavagnac.
Andrea Scrosati, Group COO and CEO of Continental Europe, Fremantle, said: "Fremantle is proud to be investing and partnering with the very best international creative talent. Gaspard de Chavagnac, Marina Williams, Marc-Antoine d'Halluin, and the incredible producers and talents that have created Asacha certainly fall into this category, and we are delighted they have chosen to join the Fremantle family. They have built an impressive portfolio of market-leading labels, each of which perfectly complements our existing businesses in each of their markets. This strategic deal underlines both companies' ambitious growth targets, and we look forward to collaborating with their immensely talented creatives across the group."
Gaspard de Chavagnac, Co-Founder and Group CEO of Asacha Media Group, explained: "I am thrilled about this deal with Fremantle, one of the world's leading studios for television and movie production. Fremantle will bring all its expertise and resources in premium content development and distribution to accelerate the growth of our fantastic creative labels. I am very excited to pursue this exciting journey with Andrea Scrosati and all the Fremantle team. I also want to thank Oaktree for their support in our growth so far."
Marina Williams, Co-Founder and Chief Content Officer of Asacha Media Group, added: "In only four years, we have built Asacha to be one of Europe's leaders in scripted and unscripted content production with a unique portfolio of global IP. I am confident that by being part of Fremantle, we will continue on the same great trajectory."
Marc-Antoine d'Halluin, Co-Founder and Asacha's Vice Chairman said: "We are very proud of what we have achieved with Asacha, a unique partnership of great scripted and unscripted producers and independent minds. We know Fremantle will respect these rare qualities and is the perfect home to continue Asacha's successful journey."
Mario Adario, Asacha's Chairman and Managing Director at Oaktree Capital Management, stated: "In 2020, Oaktree launched, together with the management team, the Asacha Media Group platform with the acquisition of three production companies in France and Italy. In less than four years, Asacha has become a leader in the media industry under the stewardship of an exceptional team. We believe Fremantle is the right partner for the next chapter of Asacha's growth."
The acquisition of Asacha Media Group follows several strategic investments made by Fremantle in recent years, including Irish production company Element Pictures ("Normal People," "Poor Things"), UK's Dancing Ledge Productions ("The Responder," "Big Mood"), scripted Italian production company Lux Vide ("Devils," "Leonardo"), international development and production company Fabel ("Bosch"), Australian-American television production company Eureka Productions ("Parental Guidance," "Finding Magic Mike"), 72 Films ("All or Nothing: Arsenal," "9/11: One Day in America"), Wildstar Films ("America The Beautiful," "Epic Adventures with Bertie Gregory"), Silvio Productions ("Shadow of Truth") and Belgium-based A Team Productions ("Baghdad Messi," "Land of the Heroes"). Advising for Asacha Media Group and Oaktree has been Lazard and Mayer Brown, and for Fremantle has been CMS.
The multi-award-winning slate of international IP from Asacha includes: "Death in Paradise" and "Beyond Paradise" (Red Planet Pictures, BBC One); "Mare Fuori" and "La Storia" (Picomedia, Rai 1); "Saint Omer" (Srab Films); "Cimetiere Indien" (Mintee Studio, Canal Plus France); "Don't Pick up the Phone" (Wag, Netflix / Paramount); "Instagram's Worst Con Artist" (Wag, ITVX); "See no Evil" (Arrow Media, Discovery ID); "Magic of Disney's Animal Kingdom" (Arrow Media, Disney+/ Nat Geo); "It's Lunch Time" (Stand By Me, Rai1); "Diaries" (Stand by Me, Netflix); "Scènes de Ménages" (Kabo) and "General Men" (Stand by Me, Rai 1).
Fremantle's existing businesses in the regions in which Asacha operates include Talkback, Thames, Naked, Label 1, Euston Films, Dancing Ledge Productions, Wildstar Films and 72 Films (UK); Fremantle France, Kwaï (France) and Fremantle Italy, The Apartment Pictures, Wildside and Lux Vide (Italy). These will be unaffected by the deal and will continue to operate and report to the current Fremantle structure as before.