DreamWorks to buy Classic Media for $155M, gaining rights to ‘Casper,’ ‘Rocky & Bullwinkle’

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This film image released by DreamWorks Animation shows, Alex the Lion, voiced by Ben Stiller, left, and Gia the Jaguar, voiced by Jessica Chastain, in a scene from "Madagascar 3: Europe\'s Most Wanted." THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, DreamWorks Animation - Paramount Pictures

GLENDALE, Calif. – DreamWorks Animation SKG says it has agreed to buy Classic Media, custodian of a library of movies and TV series, including “Casper the Friendly Ghost,” ”Lassie,” ”Rocky & Bullwinkle,” and “The Lone Ranger.”

Dreamworks Animation is paying US$155 million in cash to Classic Media’s owner, Boomerang Media Holdings. Boomerang was formed by private-equity firm GTCR and Eric Ellenbogen and John Engelman, who founded Classic Media in 2000.

“Classic Media brings a large and diverse collection of characters and branded assets that is extremely complementary to DreamWorks Animation’s franchise business,” said Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO of DreamWorks Animation.

Classic Media has about 80 employees and is based in New York. It had an operating profit of $19.2 million on $82.2 million in revenue in the year that ended Feb. 29.

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Abbey Westbury

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