KKR buys Germany’s Tele München Group

New York-based investment firm KKR has acquired one of Germany’s leading film and TV production companies.

Herbert G Kloiber

Tele München Group (TMG)’s owner Herbert G Kloiber, who has held the company since 1977, announced the sale today.

The group includes German broadcaster Tele 5 and a 31.5% stake in RTL II, held jointly with Disney. It also owns television and film production and distribution companies such as Clasart Film- und Fernsehproduktions, Tele München International, Concorde Filmverleih and Concorde Home Entertainment.

KKR has appointed former Constantin Medien CEO Fred Kogel to oversee the group, while Kloiber’s son, Herbert L Kloiber, will remain its MD.

TMG was set up in 1970 and has over the years produced feature films and TV movies including ZDF’s long-running TV movie series based on the works of British writer Rosamunde Pilcher, as well as adaptations of literary classics such as The Sea-Wolf, Moby Dick and the forthcoming The Name of the Rose, starring John Turturro and Rupert Everett.

Philipp Freise, a KKR partner and head of the company’s European investment team for technology, media and telecommunications, said the company would “create something new together with TMG in the film and TV business: a platform that covers the entire value chain with strong in-house production, from the film set to cinema and TV exploitation, and which we will expand through further acquisitions.”

The companies did not disclose the financial terms of the deal, which remain subject to regulatory approval.