Bastei Lübbe AG: BASTEI Media and m4e AG agree upon far-reaching cooperation and co-production of m4e's new TV-series 'Wissper'

BASTEI Media and m4e AG agree upon far-reaching cooperation and co-production of m4e's new TV-series "Wissper"

Köln, 16 October 2014. BASTEI Media GmbH, a subsidiary of Bastei Lübbe AG
(ISIN DE000A1X3YY0), and the brand management and media company
m4e AG (ISIN DE000A0MSEQ3) will be cooperating extensively in the production of the new 3D computer-animated (CGI) TV-series "Wissper". Thus two leading family-entertainment companies within the German market will be combining and complementing their expertise in the brand management, TV production, publishing and digital media sectors - as well as in licensing & merchandising - in order to achieve successful brand-establishment of the eagerly awaited CGI series "Wissper".

Thomas Schierack, chairman of Bastei Lübbe AG commented: "This collaboration with m4e are another important keystone of our strategic plan to establish own IP-rights in the long-term via as many as possible product variants and distribution alternatives. With the participation in game publisher "Deadalic" and the founding of Bastei LLC in the USA we already reached important milestones this year. Now we are about to realize this idea with the first global project "Wissper" within the children's and youth genre. Especially in the field of children's and family entertainment, we see great potential."

"We are very pleased about the successful conclusion of this agreement with BASTEI Media. We are now conviced that we have found the perfect partner with Bastei Lübbe in order to develop the new entertainment brand "Wissper". Due to their timely collaboration, we are now both in a position to offer an extensive range of medial products using a high degree of creativity from the start, thus perfectly addressing the target group." - explains Hans Ulrich Stoef, CEO of m4e AG.

The CGI series "Wissper" comprises 52 episodes and it is aimed at young girls in the target group of 4 to 7-year-olds. The series concerns a little girl called Wissper with a very special talent: She is able to communicate with animals. She is thus in a position to understand their problems and then to assist them. Consequently, Wissper the animal-whisperer is a wholly natural heroine for young viewers all around the world.

The collaboration provides for Bastei Lübbe AG taking over a large part of international publishing rights as well as the development, production and distribution of apps and games for "Wissper". Marketing of international book rights will be carried out via the Bastei Lübbe subsidiary Baumhaus Verlag. Worldwide distribution as well as worldwide licensing & merchandising will be conducted by m4e AG.

In addition, within the scope of this agreement BASTEI Media will act as co-producer for "Wissper" (52 x 7 minutes). The series will be developed and co-produced by Dan Good and the London animation studio Absolutely Cuckoo (famous by the BBC's "Waybuloo"). Additional co-producers are the Irish Telegael and the Indian animation studio Discreet Art Productions.

Michael Luda, chief executive at BASTEI Media: "This joint production with m4e signifies for us an important part of our new international orientation. With "Wissper" we can contribute our experience in the children's sector as well as our good relationships with German TV stations."

The preparations for the production of "Wissper" begin in the fall 2014. The completion of the series is planned for the end of 2015.

Contact for Bastei Lübbe AG:
Barbara Fischer
Director of PR and Event Marketing
Tel.: +49 (0) 221 / 82 00 28 50
E-Mail: barbara.fischer@luebbe.de

About Bastei Lübbe AG:
The Bastei Media GmbH is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bastei Lübbe AG, a media company organised around its publishing venture. The Cologne-based company currently has around 335 employees. It publishes books, audio books, ebooks and digital products in both the literary and popular science genres, as well as serialised novels and puzzle magazines. Bastei Lübbe is also actively involved in brand licensing and the development, production and distribution of gift, decoration and merchandising articles. Bastei Lübbe has for many years enjoyed an almost unbroken streak as the market leader in the growing segment of hard-cover literature; in 2013 its literary ebooks division was also ranked number one on the market. 2013 saw the company's 60th anniversary celebration and its launch as a publicly traded company. Shares of Bastei Lübbe AG are listed in the Prime Standard segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (WKN A1X3YY, ISIN DE000A1X3YY0).

About m4e AG:
The m4e Group, founded in 2003, is an international brand management and media company focussing on children's and family entertainment content. m4e AG is a leader in creation, production, distribution and marketing of animated and live action programming. Its library of more than 2,200 episodes features some of the most recognizable brands such as Lizzie McGuire, Mia and me(R), Tip the Mouse, Miffy, Rainbow Fish, Conni and Something Else.
The m4e Group includes Tex-ass Textilvertriebs GmbH, Telescreen B.V., m4e Television GmbH, the joint venture companies Lucky Punch GmbH and YEP! TV Betriebs GmbH & Co.KG, as well as m4e Licensing & Merchandising, a full service agency/division that represents entertainment and lifestyle brands such as Beyblade or Little Princess.
Since July 2007, m4e AG is listed on the Entry Standard at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ISIN: DE000A0MSEQ3).

m4e Group - key facts:

- The full value-added chain from one source

- Library of nearly 2,200 episodes of best children and family program

- Award-winning shows in over 150 territories worldwide

- New shows in development/production: Mia and me(R) (season 2 and 3), Tip the Mouse, Pinkeltje, Atchoo!, Wissper and many more