Industry

Fremantle has finalized the acquisition of Asacha Media. The agreement is signed with Oaktree Capital Management L.P ("Oaktree"), founding partner, administrator, and manager of Asacha Media's funds.

Asacha owns eight production companies in Italy, France, and the United Kingdom that have successfully operated in scripted, unscripted, and cinema production. Among these are the Italian companies Picomedia and Stand By Me, which in recent years have signed successful series and programs, including - under the Picomedia brand - the cult series "Mare Fuori," and successful films such as "Nostalgia" by Mario Martone, "La scuola cattolica" by Stefano Mordini, "Nowhere Special" by Uberto Pasolini, and "Venuto al Mondo" by Sergio Castellitto. And from Stand By Me, successes like "Una pezza di Lundini," "È sempre mezzogiorno," "Nuovi eroi," "16 anni incinta," and "Una giornata particolare." The other companies in the Asacha Media family worldwide include the French companies Kabo Family, Mintee, and Srab Films; and the English companies Arrow Media, Red Planet Pictures, and Wag.

The acquisition of the Asacha Media group was strongly desired and led by Andrea Scrosati, Group COO, and Continental Europe CEO of Fremantle, and underscores Fremantle's strategic plan to continue investing in and developing production companies by engaging creative talents from around the world.

Based in Paris, France, the Asacha Media group will continue to be managed by Co-Founder and Group CEO Gaspard De Chavagnac, who will report to Andrea Scrosati, with the support of Marina Williams as Chief Content Officer. Stand By Me and Picomedia will continue to operate independently under the Asacha brand and report to Gaspard De Chavegnac.

The other Fremantle group companies in Italy will not be affected by the agreement and will continue to operate as they do today.

Among the most critically acclaimed and successful titles produced by Asacha Media group companies - in addition to those already mentioned - are: "Death in Paradise" and "Beyond Paradise" TV (Red Planet Pictures, BBC1), "Saint Omer" (Film, Srab Films), "Cimetiere Indien" (Mintee Studio, Canal Plus France), "Scènes de Ménages" (Kabo), "Don’t Pick up the Phone" (Wag, Co pro 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).

Andrea Scrosati, Group COO and CEO Continental Europe, Fremantle, stated: “We are delighted to welcome Asacha, its labels, its producers, and its talents to the Fremantle family. Following the finalization of the acquisition, we look forward to working closely with Gaspard, Marina, and all the leaders of their companies. As an Italian, I am particularly pleased to work with Simona Ercolani and Roberto Sessa, and with all the teams of Stand By Me and Picomedia. What they have achieved in recent years is truly extraordinary, and together we will continue to invest in the creative talents of our country.”

Gaspard De Chavagnac, Co-Founder and Group CEO of Asacha Media, stated: “I am thrilled about this agreement with Fremantle, which opens a new phase of Asacha's journey as part of one of the world's leading groups in television and film production. We are all very excited to begin working closely with Andrea Scrosati and the entire Fremantle team to grow our labels and our IPs.”

Consulting for Asacha Media Group and Oaktree was provided by Lazard, Mayer Brown, Duroc partners, and Arsene, while consulting for Fremantle was provided by CMS.