DreamWorks Animation’s Acquisition of Classic Media

On July 23, 2012, DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (Nasdaq: DWA) announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Classic Media, owner of one of the most extensive portfolios featuring many of the best-known and most-enduring franchises in all of family entertainment, for $155 million in cash from Boomerang Media Holdings I LLC, a portfolio company of Chicago-based private equity firm GTCR. Cravath represented DreamWorks Animation in this transaction. With well-established titles such as Casper the Friendly Ghost, Where’s Waldo?, Lassie, The Lone Ranger, George of the Jungle and Rocky & Bullwinkle, Classic Media’s properties have been a fixture in mainstream entertainment for decades. The transaction is expected to be completed during the third quarter of 2012.

The Cravath team included partner Faiza J. Saeed and associate Jose R. Coleman Tio on corporate matters; partner Michael L. Schler and associates Michelle M. Garrett and Jarrett R. Hoffman on executive compensation and benefits matters; and partner Stephen L. Gordon and associates Joanne J. Lee and Rachel H. Kiwi on tax matters. James J. Desjardins and summer associate Jennifer Uren also worked on corporate matters.