French firm’s investment in SAM Productions comes alongside restructuring of operations in Nordics
StudioCanal has taken a majority stake in Borgen and The Chestnut Man outfit SAM Productions, which in turn is restructuring its operations in the region.
The studio arm of France’s Canal+ now holds a 51% stake in SAM, alongside owners Adam Price and Meta Louise Foldager Sørensen, who will each retain a 24.5% stake.
SAM Productions is in turn taking over Meta Film and A&M Productions’ operations in Denmark, Sweden and Norway.
A&M, which was wholly owned by Price and Sorensen, had been behind unscripted shows including The Opera Journey, Iconic Meals with Adam Price and The Man in the Hole.
Meta Film Rights, which had been owned by Sørensen, was focused on feature films, with a slate that includes Border, Second Victims, Summer of ’92 and the Ulrik Torp franchise.
As part of the deal, StudioCanal - which first invested in SAM Productions in 2014 - is bringing the operations of all three companies under a single banner in Denmark, Sweden and Norway.
SAM Productions ApS will operate in Denmark, alongside subsidiaries SAM Productions Sverige and SAM Productions Norge. Further financial details have not been revealed.
StudioCanal said the consolidation would allow the group to expand in the Nordics, with undisclosed additional capital being provided to support development ambitions.
SAM Productions, which had focused on series, will now also operate across films, documentaries, unscripted programs and podcasts, while also tapping into StudioCanal’s international production, financing and distribution capabilities.
The move will not result in any changes to the operational activities, teams or projects currently underway, StudioCanal said.
Anna Marsh, chief exec at StudioCanal & chief content officer of Canal+, added: “This new organisation provides us with an even stronger foundation for the future, and we look forward to continuing this journey together.”
Price said: “It is a real pleasure to work with our Swedish and Norwegian teams to develop stories that are deeply rooted in Nordic identity and aimed at an international audience. Several new series and films are currently in development, and I look forward to continuing this journey alongside Meta and StudioCanal.”
Sørensen added: “I am looking forward to this new chapter in my professional life and our international collaboration.
“This new stage opens up many perspectives, and I am delighted to be able to make them a reality thanks to a strengthened organisation, which will give us the means to support our future ambitions.”
No comments yet