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Federation Studios, the Paris-based group behind French spy series “The Bureau,” is overhauling its finances and leadership, with co-founder Lionel Uzan succeeding Pascal Breton as president and Montefiore and the company’s
financial shareholders set to take majority control.
The company said Thursday that it settled on the plan after weighing a number of strategic alternatives. An upcoming capital increase will shore up its equity and cut its debt substantially, giving it the resources to grow faster. Every one of its longtime financial and banking partners is backing the move.
When the deal closes, majority ownership will pass to Montefiore and the group’s financial backers.
Federation Studios is also narrowing its focus. It will concentrate on the markets it sees as having the most potential, and on scripted programming, where it counts itself among Europe’s top players.
The leadership change follows 12 years of partnership between the two founders. Uzan will be supported by an executive board made up of Éric Broet, Cosette Liebgott, Simona Rapino and Chiraz Zribi.
Breton has been named chair of the supervisory board. He stays closely involved in the company’s growth, both as a shareholder and as a producer.
Federation Studios brings together more than 30 production companies across seven countries. Among them are Federation Studio France – which the group says has been France’s top drama producer for several years running – along with Bonne Pioche, Cheyenne Federation, Federation Stories, Fabula Pictures, Empreinte Digitale, Habanita Federation, Picture Perfect Federation and Federation Spain.
Distribution arm Federation International handles both in-house and third-party titles. Its catalog spans all five seasons of “The Bureau,” plus “In Treatment,” “Around the World in 80 Days,” “Find Me in Paris,” “Bardot,” the eight-season “Deadly Tropics” and “Sherlock & Daughter.” Recent additions include “A Tale of Two Cities,” “I, Jack Wright,” now in its second season, “Dustfall” and “Lucky Luke.”
