August Media Acquires Red Kite Animation

SINGAPORE/LONDON: The Singaporean outfit August Media has expanded its business lines with the acquisition of the U.K.-based children’s producer Red Kite Animation.

August has been actively seeking out inorganic growth opportunities through the acquisition of existing businesses to give the company access to different markets and territories. Red Kite is its first major step in doing so. The Red Kite portfolio includes a number of animated short films and TV series, such as The Secret World of Benjamin Bear, Dennis and Gnasher, Marvo the Wonder Chicken and The Imp.

Red Kite Animation will now operate as a subsidiary of August Media, with Ken Anderson remaining as creative director. He will also serve as executive director for August’s other business interests, in addition to joining August Media’s board of directors.

Anderson, the creative director and CEO of Red Kite Animation, commented, “Red Kite’s consolidation into August Media will provide great opportunities for the company with new access to capital, and entry into the fast growing Asian market and proximity to state of the art production studios. I am delighted to be working with Jyotirmoy Saha and excited about the future”.

Jyotirmoy Saha the CEO of August Media, said, “Red Kite is a great acquisition not only for its development slate but also for the value it brings in its fabulous creative and production teams. For August Media this was a golden opportunity as it gives us a very quick and solid jumpstart into the kids’ animated content business.”

Dr Christopher Chia, the CEO of Media Development Authority, added, "August Media’s acquisition of Red Kite testifies to the coming-of-age of our local animation industry. In moving up the value chain August Media is positioned as a multiplatform demand aggregator that will bring more projects into the region. MDA welcomes this development since it will mean more opportunities for Singapore companies looking to break into international territories with August Media as the bridge. We look forward to more such developments from Singapore’s media businesses.”