Annecy, June 11.

Cyber Group Studios, a French producer of animation, fiction and documentaries, raised 1.5 Million Euros from La Financière Viveris, the private equity fund of Caisses d’Epargne, which has been shareholder of the company since 2005.

Annecy, June 11. Cyber Group Studios, a French producer of animation, fiction and documentaries, raised 1.5 Million Euros from La Financière Viveris, the private equity fund of Caisses d’Epargne, which has been shareholder of the company since 2005. These funds will allow boosting the development of the company which has been recently honored by several awards, among which the TV France International 2008 Export Award for « Ozie Boo! » (Most exported French animated TV series in 2008). Cyber Group Studios has been created by former executives from The Walt Disney Company, bringing more than 30 years of experience in the entertainment and media industry, – Pierre Sissmann, Dominique Bourse, Cecilia Dubois-Bossel, the producer and host Billy and Olivier Lelardoux. The company creates and distributes innovative international productions. In three years, Cyber Group Studios has produced, coproduced and distributed a catalog of 170 half-hours of programs and has become a recognized international player, particularly for preschool TV series with productions such as Ozie Boo! (78×7’), a preschool 3D animation TV series, sold to 150 countries, Manon (52×7’), released in December 2008 and already sold to 54 countries or Tatonka (40×11’), planned release in 2011 and already presold to 26 countries. Pierre Sissmann, President of Cyber Group Studios, says: « This fund raising will give us the opportunity to consolidate our internal growth at the time we launch an ambitious production plan which will significantly augment our catalog. Thank you to the Viveris team for their support. We are pleased to share our first successes with them.» Eric Schettini, President of Viveris Management, adds: « We are quite impressed by Cyber Group Studios’ achievements and are definitely motivated to continue our financial support to help them accelerate their internal growth and start an acquisition strategy.» Current productions in various stages of development will strenghten the company’s position in preschool segment and provide an opportunity to duplicate the strategy in the 6-10 children segment. In the preschool segment, projects in development include OzieBoo ! series new seasons, OzieBoo! Feature animation movie and « Zou » adaptation as a TV series of Michel Gay’s international book publishing success (2004 Parents’ Choice Award in the US, « Mention Spéciale de la Foire du Livre Jeunesse de Turin » in 2009,…). In the 6-10 segment, projects involve Fish n’ Chips and Bambalayé ! TV series, developed in coproduction with Timoon Animation (Lagardère Entertainment’s subsidiary). In parallel to its strong internal development, the company recently initiated an external growth strategy and is now looking for acquisitions. Dominique Bourse, Cyber Group Studios’ Chief Operating Officer comments: « I wish to deeply thank Viveris, who, from the very beginning, believed in our strategy and in our team’s ability to implement it successfully. As we accelerate the development of our catalog, enter the 6-10 segment and initiate an acquisition strategy, their financial support will continue to be instrumental. Cyprien Roy, Investment Director at Viveris Management adds: «Cyber Group Studios successes prove the team quality both in the artistic, production technology and process and international marketing and distribution. We will continue to back their current and future strategic initiatives.»