Cosmos-Maya Acquired by NewQuest Capital Partners

KKR’s Emerald Media has sold its stake in the Asian animation studio Cosmos-Maya to NewQuest Capital Partners.

Cosmos-Maya is behind IP such as Motu Patlu, Selfie with Bajrangi, Titoo, Dabangg and several Indian and international shows. It also has a bouquet of YouTube channels under the umbrella brand WowKidz.

NewQuest has taken over from Emerald Media as majority shareholder in the company. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Amit Gupta, partner and head of India and Southeast Asia at NewQuest, said: “Cosmos-Maya has been one of the most dynamic companies in this segment with a remarkable growth trajectory. With a portfolio of over 20 IPs and a highly talented team, we strongly believe that Cosmos-Maya is exceptionally well placed to consolidate its leadership position in the segment.”

Ketan Mehta, founder and promoter of the studio, added: “Cosmos-Maya has had a phenomenal journey of 25 years in animation and has grown by leaps and bounds during this period. The partnership with Emerald Media heralded a strong growth era for us I am very happy that we are now getting a partner in NewQuest. The partnership marks yet another important chapter in the global journey of our studio, which is poised for accelerated growth.”

Rajesh Kamat, managing director of Emerald Media, said: “We are privileged to have worked closely with Ketan and Anish over the years to support Cosmos-Maya’s journey in becoming a leading animation studio in India and the wider region. Emerald Media has leveraged our industry expertise and the strength of our platform to help the company establish a solid foundation to expand its footprint in India and across the globe. Cosmos-Maya has shown a robust growth trajectory on the back of its creative and innovative IPs through the years, and we are confident that the company will continue its success in the future with NewQuest.”

Anish Mehta, CEO of Cosmos-Maya, said: “This is a new and interesting chapter for us as we look at larger markets and newer challenges. Emerald Media has been a great support in our growth story and now this investment from another great investor like NewQuest is a testament to our market leadership and strong operating performance. We are excited to bring NewQuest on board as we embark on our next growth phase to become a fully integrated, global animation production and distribution company. Their experience, network and industry knowledge will help supercharge our growth, organically and through strategic acquisitions.”