Chorion acquires The Copyrights Group Ltd
Chorion’s Intellectual Property brands which include Noddy, Mr. Men and Famous Five meets British greats Beatrix Potter and Paddington Bear represented by Copyrights.
London 8th November 2007 - Chorion Ltd, the UK-based owner and manager of classic and contemporary literary-based brands with worldwide appeal, today announces the acquisition of The Copyrights Group Ltd, a leading independent licensing business, for an undisclosed sum.
The combined business will be a leader in licensing and merchandising great British brands around the world and will benefit from Chorion’s expertise in international brand development and exploitation.
Through this acquisition, Chorion and Copyrights will together represent one of the most comprehensive portfolios of classic licensing and merchandising brands in the world. Copyrights clients’ brands range from British children’s classics such as Beatrix Potter, Paddington Bear, Raymond Briggs’ The Snowman, Spot, and Horrible Histories to lifestyle brands such as Marie Claire, Rough Guides and The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady.
The acquisition of Copyrights provides a significant expansion to Chorion’s already-robust brand portfolio, which includes properties such as Noddy, Mr. Men and the works of Agatha Christie and comes as Chorion prepares the major international launch of two new television series featuring Mr. Men and Enid Blyton’s Famous Five.
A major focus for Chorion will be the expansion of the Copyrights’ brands in key international territories, including the world’s two biggest markets: North America and Japan.
Chorion Managing Director Jane Turner said:
“We are thrilled to be adding the licensing and merchandising of such globally-recognised British institutions as Paddington Bear and Beatrix Potter to our portfolio of world-renowned brands. Children around the world continue to delight in these fantastic characters. Global manufacturers, broadcasters and publishers also instantly recognise their value”.
Copyrights Group co-founder and CEO Nicholas Durbridge said:
"We are delighted that Beatrix Potter, Paddington Bear, Flower Fairies and the other properties forming part of the Copyrights Group brand portfolio can now stand along side Chorion’s burgeoning family of classics. Chorion has both the integrity and experience needed to provide these iconic brands with continued success and development around the world.”
Sally Floyer, Managing Director of Frederick Warne, owners and publishers of Peter Rabbit ™, and part of Penguin Books Limited, a
Pearson company, said:
“Copyrights has been Warne’s licensing agent for twenty- three years and we are looking forward to continuing to work closely with Nicholas and his team under their new ownership and to exploring the opportunities for growth which will come with their being part of a bigger entity with Chorion’s resources, reach and expertise.”
Financial terms of the deal are undisclosed.
-ends-
For further information, please contact:
For Chorion
Andrew Sholl or Claire Thom
Portland
+44 (0)20 7404 5344
For Copyrights
Hannah Aspey
Energy PR
01993 823011
For Frederick Warne
Jennifer Norton
Publicity Manager
+44 (0)20 010 3048
Jennifer.norton@uk.penguingroup.com
Photos are available at www.vismedia.co.uk
Notes to Editors
About Chorion Ltd
Chorion owns and manages classic and contemporary literary-based brands with worldwide appeal. Its owned properties include Noddy, Mr. Men and the works of Agatha Christie and Raymond Chandler. Its managed brands include the non-publishing rights to Gaspard & Lisa, Olivia, and Eric Carle. Chorion has offices in London, New York, Tokyo and Sydney. In the US, all its children’s properties are managed by Chorion Silver Lining, a wholly owned subsidiary. Chorion specializes in developing and producing new television content for its properties, directly or with third parties, and then building those properties into worldwide brands. For more information, visit www.chorion.co.uk
About The Copyrights Group Ltd
The Copyrights Group Ltd was established in 1984 and has its headquarters in the UK with offices in Japan and Australia, and works with independent sales agents in the US and Continental Europe. The Copyrights Group is one of the world's leading independent licensing companies representing a portfolio of classic characters, fine art and lifestyle brands including Peter Rabbit, Paddington Bear, The Snowman, Jacqueline Wilson, Flower Fairies, Rough Guides and Marie Claire .