DHX Media, a producer, distributor and licensor of children’s entertainment content, has acquired Cookie Jar Entertainment, a provider of children’s entertainment products and a portfolio company of OMERS Private Equity.
Cookie Jar creates, produces and markets animated and live-action children’s programming. Its library of nearly 6,000 half-hour episodes of television features some of the world’s most recognizable series including Caillou, Inspector Gadget, Arthur, The Doodlebops and Johnny Test. The company controls Cookie Jar TV, the weekend morning block on CBS, and has a one-third interest in international children’s television channel KidsCo. Cookie Jar had approximately $57 million in revenue for the 12 months ending May 31, 2012. The company is based in Toronto (www.cjar.com).
DHX Media is a leader in the creation, production and licensing of family entertainment rights. DHX Media owns, markets and distributes over 8,000 half hours of children’s entertainment content, and exploits owned properties through its consumer products licensing business. The company is recognized for brands such as Caillou, Busytown Mysteries, Inspector Gadget, Johnny Test, Animal Mechanicals, Kid vs. Kat, Super WHY!, Rastamouse, and Yo Gabba Gabba. DHX Media has offices in Toronto, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Halifax, London, Paris, Barcelona, Lisbon, Milan, Munich, and the Netherlands (www.dhxmedia.com).
OMERS Private Equity manages the private equity activities of OMERS, one of Canada’s largest pension funds. The group’s investment strategy includes the active ownership of businesses in North America and Europe. Sectors of interest include manufacturing, financial and business services, industrial and consumer products, transportation, and technology. Investment sizes range from $100 million to $500 million. The firm is located in Toronto with offices in New York and London and has $6.5 billion of investments under management (www.omerspe.com).
© 2012 PEPD • Private Equity’s Leading News Magazine • 10-30-12
