Roald Dahl Story Company - a giant peach of a deal

RSM UK has advised Roald Dahl Story Company (RDSC) on its landmark sale to Netflix. The deal joins together Netflix and RDSC to bring some of the most well-known and beloved stories to new and existing fans around the world, and presents an exciting future for the Roald Dahl brand, globally.

The client

Netflix is the world’s leading OTT media company, and the transaction will build on the existing partnership with RDSC in delivering more premium content to its 200-plus million subscribers.
With over 300 million books sold, and characters known and loved around the world, Roald Dahl is acknowledged as one of the greatest British novelists and storytellers of all time. RDSC owns the intellectual property (IP) to all the novelist’s work and, having previously agreed a fixed term IP rights deal with Netflix in 2018, the acquisition marks a natural next step for the business.

What RSM did

RSM’s M&A and private equity team supported RDSC and Roald Dahl’s grandson and managing director Luke Kelly, providing strategic advice and leading key negotiations around transaction mechanics and protecting and enhancing valuation.

The transaction team at RSM was led by Connor Agnew and Helen Brocklebank with support from Davin Kandola.

Testimonial

“RSM UK provided invaluable support and advice throughout, going far beyond to help in ways both tangible and intangible across the transaction.”

Gideon Simeloff
Entertainment and Commercial Director