from france Asacha Media Group has acquired a majority stake in UK-based factual production company Arrow International Media, the maker of the see no evil and american monster series for Research Discovery.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the majority stake acquisition will be financed with capital provided by existing Asacha shareholders, including Oaktree Capital Management, and debt financing from Tikehau Capital. The deal also takes Asacha beyond its headquarters in France and continental Europe and deepens the production of more factual content in English through a new division entering the US market.
Asacha, since its launch in 2020, has focused on non-English scripted content for linear and on-demand platforms and with a focus on continental Europe. But the company has also sought to produce reality series, children’s entertainment, factual programming and documentaries.
Arrow International’s recent credits include Disney Animal Kingdom Magic for National Geographic and Disney+ and seven days on mars for the BBC. Arrow International co-founders Tom Brisley and Iain Pelling will continue to lead the company as co-managing directors, while John Smithson will leave the company after completing his remaining production slate to work independently, with Arrow and Asacha having an agreement. first sight on new projects.
Brisley and Pelling will retain an unspecified minority stake in Arrow, while Brisley becomes a shareholder in Asacha. Arrow produces around 100 hours of premium factual content a year for networks and streaming platforms in the US and UK, with a focus on the true crime, history, nature, adventure and science genres.
“Adding them to our group makes us a major player in factual English in key markets, including the US and UK. Our focus will be to accelerate Arrow’s growth and extend its reach into new territories as they build their reputation for world-class series and features that captivate global audiences,” Gaspard de Chavagnac and Marina Williams, Asacha Co-CEOs and former Zodiak and Endemol Shine. executives, said about the strategy behind the majority stake acquisition in a statement.
“Becoming part of an independent group gives Arrow the freedom to continue working for anyone, anywhere, and everywhere. We are delighted to join forces with Asacha. They match our ambitions and our understanding of Arrow’s global potential,” Brisley, Arrow’s co-CEO, added in his own statement.
Asacha launched just over three years ago with majority stakes in Italian production companies Picomedia and Stand By Me, and French production company Mintee Studio. The pan-European group also acquired majority stakes in UK true-fact production company WAG Entertainment, UK drama production company Red Planet Pictures, French scripted studios Kabo Family and French production company Srab Films.
