Argonon snaps up UK indie Windfall

Growing UK production group Argonon has acquired factual specialist Windfall Films for an undisclosed amount.

The deal is described as the biggest since Argonon was founded in 2011 as the new parent of prodcos Leopard and Remedy Productions.

Windfall is behind UK shows such as Channel 4’s doc shows The Murder Trial and Inside Nature’s Giants, BBC Two series The Wonder of Dogs and Channel 5’s Monster Moves; multiplatform series including C4’s Foxes Live: Wild in the City; and US shows including Big Bigger Biggest for National Geographic Channel; Strip the City for Discovery and Railroad Alaska for Destination America.

Windfall’s CEO, chairman and co-founder David Dugan (above, second left) will now join the Argonon board and along with fellow directors Ian Duncan, Carlo Massarella and Krisina Obradovic, takes a stake in the group.

Windfall will remain working out of its East London headquarters but will now have access to Argonon’s production and distribution facilities.

Argonon has already acquired a majority stake in another UK factual company, Transparent Television, and launched joint ventures BriteSpark Films and Blacklisted Films since its launch in May 2011.

CEO James Burstall (right) said this latest deal “marks the halfway point in Argonon’s five year business plan and we are on target to achieve our goal of reaching a group turnover of £100 million [US$166 million] in 2016”.

“Windfall are an innovative, talented and maverick team of producers who we have followed closely for many years. Their award-winning credentials are unrivalled in the specialist factual space and we are very excited to welcome their world class creatives into the group,” he said.

Dugan, who co-founded Windfall back in 1987 with Oliver Morse and director Duncan, added: “This deal with Argonon offers an unusual and exciting opportunity for Windfall. James Burstall fully supports our wish to maintain our unique creative ecology; while at the same time helping us to build on the growth we’ve been enjoying over the past few years. We are looking forward to working with the Argonon team.”