Fremantle has inked a deal to acquire Asacha Media Group from Oaktree Capital Management L.P.
Paris-headquartered Asacha houses eight labels in the U.K., France and Italy. They are Kabo Family (France), Mintee (France), Srab Films (France), Picomedia (Italy), Stand By Me (Italy), Arrow Media (United Kingdom), Red Planet Pictures (U.K.) and Wag (U.K.).
Co-Founder and group CEO Gaspard de Chavagnac will continue to run the company, reporting to Fremantle’s group COO and CEO for continental Europe Andrea Scrosati. Scrosati spearheaded the acquisition (which is subject to closing conditions) as part of Fremantle’s investment strategy.
Asacha’s labels will report to de Chavagnac, who founded Asacha in 2020 alongside Marc-Antoine d’Halluin and Marina Williams.
In just a few years the company has become one of Europe’s leading television and film production groups. Its output includes “Death in Paradise,” “Mare Fuori,” “Saimt Omer” and “Magic of Disney‘s Animal Kingdom,” among other fare.
Fremantle’s U.K., French and Italian business, such as Talkback and Kwai, will not be impacted by the acquisition.
Media giant RTL Group is Fremantle’s parent company. RTL said that Fremantle’s recent acquisition of an 80% majority stake in Singapore production company Beach House Pictures, alongside the Asacha acquisition represents an investment of more than €200 million ($216 million) in Fremantle’s expansion.
“Fremantle is proud to be investing and partnering with the very best international creative talent,” said Scrosati. “Gaspard de Chavagnac, Marina Williams, and 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 added: “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.”
Thomas Rabe, CEO of RTL Group, said: ”The acquisitions of Asacha Media Group and Beach House Pictures are part of Fremantle’s boost plan: to invest in and grow premium production companies around the world and to work with world-class talent. With the acquisitions, Fremantle is well on track to reach its €3 billion revenue target, effectively doubling the global video production business within five years.”
Other investments in recent years include a majority stake in “Poor Things” producer Element Pictures and 72 Films (“9/11: One Day in America”).
Lazard and Mayer Brown advised Asacha Media Group and Oaktree. CMS advised Fremantle.
