French animation studio Xilam Animation has launched its first initial public offering (IPO) on Paris’ Second Market (Marché d’Euronext). The producers of the series OGGY AND THE COCKROACHES, SPACE GOOFS and THE NEW ADVENTURES OF LUCKY LUKE raised 15 million Euros through this IPO. The company floated 1 million shares representing 27.03% of its capital. Shares rolled out at 15 Euro. The companies’ founder and CEO Marc du Pontavice will retain the remaining 66.7% of the capital. Xilam plans to use the cash raised from the IPO to expand its international developments by acquiring assets in English-speaking markets as well as forging into the pre-school segment. "We are pleased that the IPO went off successfully" said du Pontavice. "We anticipate that there will be future concentration of the animation industry in Europe and now we are much better positioned to play a pivotal role as a consolidator." Xilam Animation is an independent multimedia production company which creates and supplies content for multiple platforms worldwide. Its main areas of business are the production of animated series for television and video, the development of video games and the production of feature films. Based in Paris, the company was founded by Marc du Pontavice following his take-over of the Gaumont Multimedia Studio in 1999.


Marie Beardmore sits down with Marc du Pontavice to learn about the many facets of Xilam as it takes to television, gaming, the Web, features and more.