DIC Ent. (DIC) has acquired the privately-owned, pan-European licensing agency, Copyright Promotions (CPLG), which significantly expands DIC's place in the European licensing arena.
This is DICs first acquisition of an international company. CPLG provides services on a global scale operating through its network of seven European offices, which include the U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal and The Netherlands. CPLG will continue to operate from its London headquarters as a stand-alone agency under the leadership of its ceo Kirk Bloomgarden. CPLGs scope or client list is not expected to significantly change after the transaction.
CPLG represents the licensing rights of a broad portfolio of world-renowned companies operating in the entertainment and sports industries, including DreamWorks Animation, MGM, Marvel, Sony, Twentieth Century Fox, Viacom and The Football Assoc. It has created licensing programs for high-profile brands, including Shrek, The Simpsons, Spider-Man, Star Trek, Pink Panther, Peanuts, Strawberry Shortcake, Dora the Explorer, Care Bears and The FA (The Football Assoc.).
We are thrilled to have management as experienced and proven as CPLGs team to become a part of the DIC organization," commented DIC chairman/ceo Andy Heyward. "I have worked directly with Kirk and his team in their capacity as our European licensing agency for DICs brands including Strawberry Shortcake, Classic Trolls and now McDonalds - and we know firsthand the level of professionalism and execution they will bring to DIC.
We will leverage the strength of CPLGs position as a highly-respected agent to further expand our roots in the European market, Heyward added. "This acquisition complements our overall growth strategy as we continue to build DIC into a leading global brand manager.
Bloomgarden said, "Becoming part of the DIC family is a great strategic move that will further strengthen CPLG's position over the long-term. CPLG will continue to be the leader in European licensing but will have wider access to future productions and markets through our new parent company.
DIC Ent., a fully-integrated global brand management company, creates, develop, produces, distributes, markets and merchandises family-based intellectual properties. DIC has the largest libraries of western-style animation with approximately 2,800 half-hours of renowned programming. In 2003, the company launched the DIC Kids Network, a unique syndicated programming block designed to meet core FCC requirements and the only network for kids that reaches effectively 98% of U.S. households on more than 300 stations. As a pre-eminent supplier of kids programming worldwide, DIC has developed strategic partnerships with key domestic and international broadcast partners throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa and Australia. DIC is headquartered in Burbank, California, with international offices in Paris, London and Cologne.
Copyright Promotions Licensing Group Ltd. (CPLG, www.cplg.com) is one of the world's leading entertainment, sports and brand licensing and merchandising agencies with more than 30 years experience in the industry. With dedicated teams in seven offices across Europe and international agencies servicing the rest of the world, Copyright Promotions has a structure that is unique in the licensing industry today.
