Tin Roof Media buys Outline

House of Tiny Tearaways indie Outline Productions has sold a majority stake to Tin Roof Media, the investment group backed by Twofour founder Charles Wace.

The investment will allow Outline, which was founded in 1999 by Laura Mansfield and Helen Veale, to “rapidly expand” outside of London.

The duo are also expected to work closely with Blink Films to find “synergies” between the two companies, after Tin Roof invested in Dan Chambers and Justine Kershaw’s indie in January 2016.  

Following the deal, director of programmes Bridget Boseley, who joined Outline in 2008, has left the company.

Outline is currently producing Gender Neutral School for BBC2 and is working with a raft of international distributors to sell its formats abroad.

C4 alternative medicine show Health Freaks is set to launch in the Netherlands following a deal struck by Warner Bros, DRG relaunched BBC3’s House of Tiny Tearaways at Mip TV as a hub production and BBC Worldwide has gained traction with business format Million Dollar Intern in Asia.

Managing director Mansfield said the opportunity was “too good to miss”.

“The team at Rockpool and Neil, Charlie and Charles at Tin Roof will bring expertise and support to our board as we look to the next stage for Outline. Over the years we’ve worked with incredibly talented people and want to thank everyone who has contributed to Outline, and particularly thank Bridget for her outstanding creative contribution,” she added.

Tin Roof was founded by investor Neil Court, founder of DHX Media, the Canadian firm that owns Teletubbies firm Ragdoll Worldwide.

Wace is a shareholder and non-exec director in the firm, which also includes chief financial officer Charles Ogilvie, who was previously chief financial officer at eOne. The investment company is backed by UK private equity firm Rockpool Investments.

Court said: “Outline Productions is an ambitious company and we are excited that our investment will enable the company to further expand its portfolio of quality programmes. Factual and factual entertainment continue to be sought after both in the UK and globally.”