DIC Entertainment Acquires Leading European Licensing Agency, 'Copyright Promotions'

DIC Entertainment Acquires Leading European Licensing Agency, 'Copyright Promotions'

Acquisition Signifies DIC's Expansion in the European Marketplace

BURBANK, Calif., June 12 /PRNewswire/ -- DIC Entertainment (DIC), a leading fully-integrated brand management company, today announces that it has acquired the privately-owned, pan-European licensing agency, Copyright Promotions (CPLG). The announcement was made today by Andy Heyward, Chairman & CEO, DIC Entertainment and Kirk Bloomgarden, CEO, Copyright Promotions.

The deal marks DIC's first acquisition of an international company which will now extend its reach into the European marketplace with offices in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal and The Netherlands. CPLG will continue to operate from its London headquarters as a stand-alone agency under Mr. Bloomgarden's leadership. No post-transaction changes are anticipated to CPLG's scope or client list.

CPLG currently 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 Association. The company has created licensing programs across Europe 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 Association). CPLG provides services on a global scale operating through its network of seven European offices.

"We are thrilled to have management as experienced and proven as CPLG's team to become a part of the DIC organization. I have worked directly with Kirk and his team in their capacity as our European licensing agency for DIC's brands, including Strawberry Shortcake, Classic Trolls and now McDonald's, and we know firsthand the level of professionalism and execution they will bring to DIC," commented Heyward. "We will leverage the strength of CPLG's position as a highly-respected agent to further expand our roots in the European market." He adds, "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." He adds, "CPLG's management team will remain as focused and committed as ever to ensure that our existing client base continues to get the first class service they have come to expect from us."

DIC Entertainment, a fully-integrated global brand management company, is dedicated to creating, developing, producing, distributing, marketing and merchandising family-based intellectual properties. The Company serves as the worldwide licensor for renowned brands such as McDonald's, Strawberry Shortcake, Trollz and Classic Trolls. DIC has distinguished itself by building one of the largest libraries of western-style animation with approximately 2,800 half-hours of programming, including Trollz(TM), Inspector Gadget(TM), Strawberry Shortcake(TM), Sabrina(TM), Madeline(TM), Liberty's Kids(TM), Where On Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?(TM), Sonic The Hedgehog(TM), Super Mario Bros(TM) and Care Bears(TM). This year DIC and CBS, will launch, "CBS's Saturday Morning Secret Slumber Party," an all-new branded block that will feature FCC-compliant children's programming and will serve as a platform to introduce new programs created by DIC. The company also programs the DIC Kid's Network, a syndicated programming block designed to meet FCC standards that airs on over 300 stations in the U.S. As a pre-eminent supplier of kid's 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 offices in New York, Paris and London.

Copyright Promotions Licensing Group Limited (CPLG) is one of the world's leading entertainment, sports and brand licensing and merchandising agencies with over 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. www.cplg.com

Source: DIC Entertainment

CONTACT: Michelle Orsi of Three.Sixty Communications, +1-310-372-2341,
michelle@360-comm.com, for DIC Entertainment; or Gaby Dior for Copyright
Promotions, +44 020 8563 6102, gdior@cplg.com; or Jane Garner of
Kilogrammedia, +44 (0) 1279778919, jgarner@kilog.co.uk

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