Cyber Group Raises Funds for Growth Strategy

ANNECY: French producer Cyber Group Studios has raised 1.5 million euros from company shareholder La Financière Viveris, the private-equity fund of bank Caisses d’Epargne, to boost its internal development strategy and support external growth.

Current productions in various stages of development will strengthen the company’s position in the preschool segment and provide an opportunity to further the strategy in the 6-to-10 segment. In the preschool arena, projects in development include new seasons of OzieBoo!, an OzieBoo! feature animated movie and Zou adapted as a TV series from Michel Gay’s international book publishing success. In the 6-to-10 segment, projects include Fish n’ Chips and Bambalayé! TV series, two recently announced projects developed in co-production with Timoon Animation, a Lagardère Entertainment subsidiary. Fish n’ Chips is an original battle between a cat who is a champion deep-sea diver and a fish that is convinced he is evolving into a mammal. Bambalayé! takes place in Africa and features a group of wacky and out-of-control musician animals.

In addition to strengthening its internal development, the company recently initiated an external growth strategy and is now looking for acquisitions.

Pierre Sissmann, the president of Cyber Group Studios, said: "This fund raising will give us the opportunity to consolidate our internal growth at the time we launch an ambitious production plan which will significantly augment our catalogue. Thank you to the Viveris team for their support. We are pleased to share our first successes with them."

Eric Schettini, the president of Viveris Management, added: "We are quite impressed by Cyber Group Studios’ achievements and are definitely motivated to continue our financial support to help them accelerate their internal growth and start an acquisition strategy."

Dominique Bourse, Cyber Group Studios’ COO, commented: "I wish to deeply thank Viveris, who, from the very beginning, believed in our strategy and in our team’s ability to implement it successfully. As we accelerate the development of our catalogue, enter the 6-to-10 segment and initiate an acquisition strategy, their financial support will continue to be instrumental."

Cyprien Roy, the investment director at Viveris Management, added: "Cyber Group Studios successes prove the team quality both in the artistic, production technology and process and international marketing and distribution. We will continue to back their current and future strategic initiatives."