Lagardère buys The Box Distribution

The international content arm of Lagardère has acquired The Box Distribution.

Lagardère Entertainment’s LE Rights has bought the French programme sales business for an undisclosed amount. LE Rights said the deal will allow it to “boost its capacity to acquire programmes and formats”.

The Box managing director Frédérik Rangé will stay with the company after it is absorbed into Lagardère. He will also take the role of head of acquisitions at LE Rights, overseeing format acquisitions.

The Box sells third-party content from French producers including La Parisienne d’Images, Label Image and KNTV and it also has French-language rights to drama series including Underbelly and The Sniffer.

“In a world that’s increasingly fragmented, our strategy for strengthening distribution – already under way with LE Rights and Telmondis Distribution – is now and more than ever a major stake in Lagardère Entertainment’s global development,” said Takis Candilis, president of Lagardère Entertainment.

“Now, with Frédérik Rangé on board and the acquisition of The Box Distribution, our group is pursuing its implementation,” he added. “I am very pleased that Frédérik is bringing all his energy and talent to our group, especially in the acquisition of formats.”