LEONINE extends pact with Eden Rock Media

With the agreement, Eden Rock Media will continue to advise LEONINE on licensing US-produced feature films and television series for the German-speaking territories. Augsberger will also continue to work on third party acquisitions for LEONINE's English-language television content available for international sales.

The Germany company is backed by the leading global investment firm KKR and was formed in 2019 from the merger of Tele München Group, Universum Film, i&u TV, Wiedemann & Berg Film and W&B Television and focuses on inspiring viewers with premium content and being a reliable partner for creative talents. The new agreement with Eden Rock Media is the latest iteration of Augsberger's 22-year partnership with the media company that initially began with TMG and now expands to LEONINE.

Starting in Cannes 2019, Augsberger worked with LEONINE's CEO Fred Kogel, COO Dr. Markus Frerker and SVP Acquisitions, Alexander Janssen to establish LEONINE as a major European buyer. Augsberger consulted on high-profile all-rights acquisitions for German speaking Europe, such as Roland Emmerich's and AGC Studios' Moonfall, which was later acquired for the US by Lionsgate; Solstice Studio's Russell Crowe starrer Unhinged; STXs' Hustlers and Lionsgate's Knieves Out.

During the AFM Augsberger worked on the acquisitions of Film Nation's Channing Tatum starrer Dog, co-written and to be co-directed by Channing Tatum and Reid Carolin and produced by Free Associates. Dog was recently acquired by MGM for US distribution. LEONINE also licensed The Plane which is to be produced by Lorenzo DiBonaventura and Marc Butan with G-Base's Gerard Butler who will also star in the lead role. The Plane will be distributed in the US by Lionsgate. And during the recent Virtual Cannes Market, Augsberger supported LEONINE with 4 major acquisitions, including eOne/Sierra-Affinity's Arthur The King, to be directed by Baltasar Kormakur and to be produced by Tucker Tooley with Mark Wahlberg starring.

Kogel said: 'I've known Thomas for more than 20 years and it has been a great pleasure to work with him over the last few months. We are happy that we could extend our partnership with Thomas. His excellent relationships across the industry make him a valued partner in growing LEONINE's business and in living up to our ambition to inspire viewers with premium content'.

Augsberger completed: 'For Fred and Markus to extend LEONINE's consulting and co-production relationship with Eden Rock at the height of the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic as our industry experiences unprecedented change, demonstrates our joint conviction that opportunities outweigh challenges in this marketplace. I am grateful for Fred, Markus, LEONINE, and their affiliates in Munich and Cologne for their trust in me as their overall North American representative. I am excited to continue to accomplish great things together'.