Latest news with #AlphaGroup
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
DeAPlaneta Teams With China's Alpha Group To Relaunch Animated Polar Bear Character ‘Bernard'
Barcelona-based DeAPlaneta Entertainment and Chinese licensing and merchandising company Alpha Group, which is also a producer of children and family content, have signed an agreement to jointly relaunch animated series Bernard globally. The dialogue-free, animated TV series about a bumbling polar bear called Bernard, was first launched out of Spain in 2006 and went on to win fans at home and internationally, with the character known as Backkom in Asia. More from Deadline Andy Serkis' Animated Film 'Animal Farm' Sets Sales With Goodfellas Animation - Cannes Market Annecy Unveils 2025 Line-Up With Matt Groening Honor; First Looks For 'Animal Farm'; Netflix's 'Stranger Things'; DreamWorks' 'Bad Guys 2'; Sony's 'Goat' & Disney's 'Zootopia 2' Shout! Studios Takes North America For Animated Feature 'Into The Wonderwoods' By 'Persepolis' and 'Zombillenium' Directors DeAPlaneta Entertainment announced the partnership ahead of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival next week where the company will be out in force at the MIFA market. The company acquired the Bernard IP in 2023 when it bought the catalogue of Madrid-based children's content company BRB International, in a deal including broadcast rights and operating licences for a number of popular animated shows. Prior to the deal, Alpha Group had acquired Chinese rights to the Bernard IP and produced three feature films devoted to the polar bear and his entourage: Backkom Bear: Agent 008 (2017), Agent Backkom: Kings Bear (2021), and Backkom Bear: Mars Mission (2024). Under the agreement with the Alpha Group, DeAPlaneta Entertainment, the owner of all Bernard-related content previously produced by BRB International in Western markets, will distribute both new seasons and future productions created around the Bernard brand outside of Asia. The agreement also includes the global distribution in Western countries by DeAPlaneta Entertainment of the new animated feature film Bernard: Mars Mission, which enjoyed a successful theatrical release in Group is one of China's top family and children's content companies, with other credits including Petronix Defenders, Super Wings, Katuri and Quantum Heroes: is currently broadcast in more than 180 countries through linear channels such as Disney Channel, Cartoon Network, Televisa, BBC, Televisión Española, KIKA, M6/Gulli, Nickelodeon, and Canal Panda, as well as VOD platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Rakuten, and has also gained digital traction with a dedicated Bernard YouTube channel, which as a subscriber base of 6.7 million; a total of 2.648 billion views, and monthly viewership of two Bernard IP has also generated licensing partnerships with Universal, Ravensburger, Famosa, Panini, Clementoni, Warner Bros., and Comansi, among others. 'Bernard has achieved unparalleled global brand maturity. Both DeAPlaneta Entertainment and Alpha Group are pleased to offer new content to the fans of this unforgettable character,' said Carlos Biern, Content and Media Sales Director of DeAPlaneta Kids & Family. Best of Deadline Sean 'Diddy' Combs Sex-Trafficking Trial Updates: Cassie Ventura's Testimony, $10M Hotel Settlement, Drugs, Violence, & The Feds 'Poker Face' Season 2 Guest Stars: From Katie Holmes To Simon Hellberg 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More
Finextra
07-05-2025
- Business
- Finextra
Corpay and TPG team up to buy AvidXchange
Business payments automation firm AvidXchange is going private through a $2.2 billion deal that sees asset firm TPG take majority ownership with Corpay picking up a minority stake. 0 This content has been selected, created and edited by the Finextra editorial team based upon its relevance and interest to our community. TPG and corporate payments player Corpay will pay $10 per share in cash, a 22% premium on AvidXchange's closing price on 6 May and a 45% premium over the closing price on March 12, the day before media reports sur about a possible sale surfaced. TPG will take a 67% stake in the business, with Corpay paying $500 million for 33%. Founded in 2000, AvidXchange offers a single platform that eliminates the paper invoice and cheque and offers multiple e-payment options for more than 8000 companies. The firm went public in 2021 but called in advisers to explore a sale this year as its share price tumbled. 'We are pleased to have reached an agreement that delivers significant value for AvidXchange stockholders and positions our business for long-term growth and success for our valued customers,' says Michael Praeger, CEO, AvidXchange. Last month, Corpay received a cash injection when Mastercard agreed to pay $300 million for a three per cent stake in its cross-border payments business. It's not all been plain sailing for Corpay in the M&A space, after an all-cash bid for London-based financial services provider Alpha Group International was rejected on Tuesday. Alpha said the board "carefully considered" the proposal with its financial advisers and unanimously rejected it.
Times
07-05-2025
- Business
- Times
Financial group chaired by Virgin Money founder rejects US bid
A London-listed financial services group chaired by Dame Jayne-Anne Gadhia has rejected a cash bid from Corpay, a US rival listed in New York. Corpay confirmed last week that it was in discussions with Alpha Group International about a possible cash deal, although it cautioned that there was no certainty it would make a formal bid for the group. The US financial payments company is listed on the S&P 500 and has a stock market valuation of more than $23 billion. In a statement on Tuesday, Alpha said: 'The board of Alpha notes the announcement by Corpay and confirms that it has received a preliminary and conditional all-cash proposal from Corpay to acquire the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of Alpha. 'The board carefully considered the proposal, together with its financial advisers, and unanimously rejected it.' TheLondon-listed company provides financial and consultancy services to hundreds of clients in more than 50 countries. The group helps clients manage and protect themselves from the risks associated with their exposures to foreign currencies, such as volatility in interest rates, and rapid prices changes for international currencies. Gadhia, who is best known for founding Virgin Money, joined the board of Alpha in March 2024, and was formally appointed non-executive chairwoman in November 2024. Alpha and Corpay did not disclose the price discussed for the deal, but the takeover interest boosted the London company's shares, which closed up by 240p or 8.5 per cent to £30.50. Revenues at Alpha were up by 23 per cent to £135.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, with profit before tax rising 6 per cent to £123.1 million. The group moved into the FTSE 250 index last year after listing on the junior segment of the London stock exchange in 2017. Page 2
Daily Mail
06-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
FTSE 250 fintech rejects takeover offer from US payments giant Corpay
Financial services firm Alpha Group International has turned down a takeover bid from US business payments giant Corpay. Alpha, which provides fintech and consultancy services, announced last Friday that it was in discussions with Corpay regarding a potential cash offer. But the London-based firm told investors on Tuesday that its board had unanimously rejected the proposal, having 'carefully considered' it with financial advisers. Under City takeover rules, Corpay now has until 5pm on 30 May to put forward a concrete offer for Alpha or walk away. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the S&P 500 company was previously known as Fleetcor and designs tools that allow businesses to pay vendors. It achieved record turnover of almost $4billion last year, alongside an adjusted net income of $1.4billion. Alpha Group International shares were 5.7 per cent up at £29.70 on late Tuesday afternoon, making them one of the FTSE 250's biggest risers. Alpha's rejection of Corpay's approach comes on the same day Deliveroo agreed to a £2.9billion takeover by fellow takeaway giant DoorDash. Deliveroo's co-founder, Will Shu, could make a reported £172million from the sale, given his 6.4 per cent stake in the firm. The London-listed platform only scored its first annual profit last year after struggling since its founding in 2013 with massive losses caused by high staff, marketing and technology costs from pursuing breakneck expansion. Should the acquisition be finalised, DoorDash will have a presence in nine countries where it does not currently operate, including the UK, Ireland, France and Italy. It will also represent another loss for the London Stock Exchange, which is losing multiple prominent companies to foreign predators. Among the UK groups bought last year were music rights investor Hipgnosis Songs Fund, cybersecurity specialist Darktrace, and building products manufacturer Tyman. And since the start of 2025, Bank of England currency printer De La Rue, GP surgeries owner Assura, and investment firm BBGI Global Infrastructure have all struck takeover deals. Many analysts have blamed the high level of acquisition activity on the discounted valuations possessed by British businesses. Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said: 'European shares remain cheap relative to the US market despite greater investor interest this year. 'That means markets like the UK are still ripe for M&A given widespread valuation opportunities. If a foreign or domestic company was in the mood to do deals, there remain plenty of UK-listed stocks ripe for the taking.'
