Entertainment One completes Peppa Pig acquisition

Entertainment One has completed the acquisition of a 70% stake in Peppa Pig creator and producer Astley Baker Davies Limited (ABD) for £140m

The FTSE 250-listed company previously held joint ownership rights for Britain's favourite pig with ABD, and funded the acquisition through a four-for-nine rights issue raising £193.6m, with the extra cash used to pay off debt.

It announced in September that it wants to double the size of its business over the next five years and will make Peppa sweat for her money as it looks to increase its share of earnings from her cartoons to 85% from 50%.

The company believes retail sales from the show’s products could be doubled in the medium term, which it believes is currently in excess of $1bn (£660bn) annually.

There is also a commitment for the existing creators and the producers to work on 52 new Peppa Pig episodes.