Founder Pascal Breton to lead board as investment banks including Montefiore become majority shareholder
Dustfall and Around the World in 80 Days producer Federation Studios has appointed Lionel Uzan as president amid a refinancing that will see Montefiore and its financial partners becoming majority shareholders in the company.
Paris-based Federation has been exploring its options for two years, as revealed by Broadcast International in late 2024 when it appointed Morgan Stanley to talk to potential buyers, with a price tag of around €500m (£417m) attached.
Financial details of the deal announced today have not been released but the move will allow the French group to “significantly reduce” its debt while also providing capital.
The company is refocusing efforts on “its most promising markets and on scripted content”, it added.
It is unclear what Montefiore’s ownership level stands at, but other financial investors include BNP Paribas. Federation said all of its partners supported the refinancing move.
Uzan takes on the president role from Federation founder and chief exec Pascal Breton, who had previously held a majority stake in the company. He is now chairman of the supervisory board and a producer with the group.
Montefiore first invested around €50m (£42m) in Federation in 2021, enabling the firm to accelerate its growth following its formation by Breton in 2014.
It now owns more than 30 labels including UK-based Britannia and Curfew producer Vertigo Films and Italy’s Fabula Pictures, with a slate that ranges A Tale of Two Cities and I, Jack Wright to Dustfall and Lucky Luke.
A further dozen French firms are also under its umbrella, including Oscar-winner Bonne Pioche and Bardot producer Federation Studios France. Its kids & family firm, Cottonwood Media, was recently reacquired by David Michel.
Rising interest rates are increasingly pushing groups into refinancing and stymying debt-fueled expansion, including giants such as Banijay. Federation said that with its debt level reduced, the company would have “the means to accelerate its growth.”
Uzan will be supported by an executive board comprising Éric Broet, Cosette Liebgott, Simona Rapino and Chiraz Zribi.
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