Zinc Media buys The Edge Picture Company

Zinc Media Group has raised £5m of investment and has purchased The Edge Picture Company.

Zinc’s acquisition of The Edge has been facilitated by a £5m City fund raise by Zinc, £2.1m of which will form an initial consideration in the purchase. The funds were confirmed this morning, and are subject to shareholder approval. The rest of the cash will be invested in “talent, potential IP, and in future acquisitions and collaborations.”

Founded in 1990, and operating from its bases in London, Doha, Vancouver and Paris, The Edge is one of the largest brand film making production companies in the UK. It has won over 700 awards including – for 15 years running – New York Festivals TV & Film Awards’ Production Company of the Year Worldwide.

Mark Browning, CEO, Zinc Media Group, says: “The Edge is renowned for creating high-quality content for brands. Their business is built on trusted relationships and exceptional access. That’s why they are a perfect match for Zinc.

“The Edge is a truly impressive business – highly-respected, sustainably profitable with a world-class reputation, and we are thrilled that it is joining the Group. The Edge will sit alongside Zinc Communicate, our branded entertainment, corporate film, publishing and audio business, and our award-winning TV businesses. This adds further scale to our Group enhancing our creative, commercial and cultural ambition. It will enable us to increase our branded content offering in the marketplace, both on a domestic and international level, and move into new content markets including animation, e-learning and education.”

Marjorie Blake-Convey, CEO, The Edge Picture Company, says: “Like Zinc, we are driven by a single focus: to produce inspiring films that tell clients’ stories in unforgettable ways. We also share the same cultural, creative and commercial values as Zinc and that’s why this deal is so important to us.

“We have had over 30 years of success as an independent production business and the time is now right to fuel The Edge’s long-term growth within the context of a larger content group, where we can benefit from creative and commercial scale, and where we can make new investments in organic growth. Being part of Zinc offers this and we are beyond excited to be joining the Group.”

The Edge joins Zinc Media Group at the end of August, subject to approval by Zinc Shareholders in a few weeks’ time. The Edge will continue to operate in line with other companies wholly owned by Zinc Media Group and it will continue to be run by the same management team, “but benefit from the creative and commercial opportunities presented by being part of an enlarged organisation.”

Mark Browning adds: “Our success is testament to our teams’ amazing work and to our strategy of continuing to invest in new talent, push into new markets and grow relationships with clients who demand the highest quality in factual storytelling. We’re definitely open to other key hires, acquisitions and strategic collaborations to help drive our continued growth and diversification in the factual content space. Our doors are well and truly open in that regard.”