With the acquisition of the company by former Nelvana execs Michael Hirsh and Toper Taylor complete, Cinar's name has been officially changed to Cookie Jar Ent. The once publicly traded company will now be a private entity. The principals include Hirsh and Taylor along with Steve and Patty Carson, TD Capital Canadian Private Equity Partners and Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS). The overall Cookie Jar Group also includes leading education companies Carson-Dellosa and HighReach Learning. The company also maintains a 20% minority interest in Teletoon Canada.
Hirsh will serve as ceo of Cookie Jar Ent. Inc., the companys entertainment division, and the educational division with Taylor serving as president and coo of Cookie Jar Ent. In addition, Steve Carson is the president of Carson-Dellosa with Patty Carson as vp. Carson-Dellosa Publishing and HighReach Learning will continue to operate under their present corporate brands.
"We are delighted to have completed our acquisition of Cinar and look forward to expanding our company with the further acquisition of companies involved in entertainment and education," said Hirsh. "We are particularly excited about working closely with Steve and Patty Carson who have grown Carson-Dellosa Publishing into the world standard in educational products in all categories. Together with Steve and Patty, Toper Taylor and our management team and staff, we are committed to making Cookie Jar a place the entire educational and entertainment industries will want to play in."
"Our company is dedicated to enhancing the development of children during their most formative years, with filmmakers that are guided by the desire to bring quality and innovation to our network of friends and programming that entertains, inspires and enlightens children audiences around the globe," said Taylor. "Teaming with Cookie Jars entertainment assets Cinar and Filmfair with its education assets Carson-Dellosa Publishing and HighReach Learning, we will pioneer the edutainment industry around the world."
"This is the moment we have been waiting for and the opportunity we have been working towards, said Steve Carson. "Michael Hirsh and Toper Taylor have laid out their vision for a dynamic company that will integrate its resources to serve the entertainment, retail, licensing and educational markets in an unprecedented manner."
Cookie Jar made its formal debut at MIP-TV this week. Representing the company there will be company officials Hirsh, Taylor, head of distribution Louis Fournier, head of production Lesley Taylor, and head of marketing and licensing Kelly Elwood.
The Cookie Jar Group also controls Britain's Filmfair and education assets including Carson Dellosa and High Reach Learning. The Cookie Jar Group develops, produces, distributes and markets quality products to children their caregivers, parents and teachers with a commitment to providing the best in childrens published content, animated and live-action programming as well as innovative and creative educational and entertainment driven products worldwide.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
