Banijay Kids & Family Takes Majority Stake in Procidis

Banijay Kids & Family has made a majority acquisition of the French production company Procidis, which includes the Hello Maestro brand.

Procidis’s Hello Maestro incorporates all seasons of the multi-series edutainment IP Once Upon a Time…, which has been translated into 80 languages and broadcast in more than 100 countries. A new 78×7-minute season, Once Upon a Time… The Objects, launched this year.

Procidis was established in 1962 by the late Albert Barillé, and since 2009 has been led by Hélène Barillé as president. Barillé will now remain as managing director of Procidis following the acquisition. Banijay Kids & Family’s CEO, Benoît Di Sabatino, takes on the role of president of Procidis.

Di Sabatino said: “Procidis has been a leader in the educational entertainment market for more than 40 years, and as a huge fan of its work, it’s an honor to welcome the team to the group. Procidis and Hello Maestro have unique identities, which perfectly complement our existing labels and brands. I know how important the company is to Hélène, and with her remaining on board to retain and champion the DNA the business was built on, it is with great enthusiasm that together we will lead Procidis in its next phase of growth.”

Barillé added: “I’m proud of the company and brands we have established, building on Albert’s prescient vision of the importance and positive impact of learning through entertainment. We have an ambitious growth strategy, and with Banijay Kids & Family’s world-class capabilities, we are well-placed to realize these ambitions. The company echoes our core values of family and trust, which makes it the perfect home for us to enter this exciting new chapter.”