DHX Media to acquire Cookie Jar Entertainment, creating the world's largest independent library of children's entertainment content

Transaction significantly enhances DHX's scale and digital distribution capabilities

HALIFAX, Aug. 20, 2012 /CNW/ - DHX Media Ltd. ("DHX" or the "Company") (TSX ticker: DHX), has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the business of Cookie Jar Entertainment ("Cookie Jar") to create Canada's largest  children's entertainment company. The combined company will own the world's most extensive independent library of children's entertainment, including more than 8,550 half hour episodes.  The transaction implies an enterprise value for Cookie Jar of $111 million, to be paid through a combination of approximately 36 million DHX shares, $5 million in cash, and the assumption of $66 million of debt.

"The acquisition of Cookie Jar is a transformational event for DHX that will significantly enhance our scale and our growth opportunities," said Michael Donovan, Chief Executive Officer of DHX. "Through this combination, we will strengthen our portfolio of brands, global reach, management depth and our position in the rapidly emerging digital distribution channels to become the market leader."

Expected benefits of the transaction include the following:

• Significantly strengthens DHX's capabilities in the rapidly growing digital segment, and broadens its relationships with distributors including Amazon, Comcast, DISH, Hulu, Netflix,  Samsung, Telmex and Vivendi;
  
  
• Creates substantial scale with the addition of Cookie Jar's approximately $56.7 million in revenue (unaudited, for the last twelve month period);
  
  
• Brings together two portfolios of globally recognized brands that can be seen in over 160 countries;
  
  
• Increases DHX's current content library of children's programming by a factor of more than three times, from approximately 2,550 to over 8,550 half-hour episodes; expands merchandising opportunities for owned properties as well as third-party brand management and licensing opportunities;
  
  
• Diversifies DHX's revenue streams and generates significant cost synergies, currently estimated to be $8 million annually.

"Today is an exciting day for Canada's children's entertainment industry," said Michael Hirsh, Cookie Jar's CEO. "Cookie Jar joining forces with DHX results in a company that is an independent global market leader in all aspects of children's entertainment from distribution to production to licensing and merchandising.  There is an insatiable appetite for kids content in the new digital streaming universe and we are very well positioned with our extensive library of evergreen, popular and recognizable brands to satisfy the market demand."

Cookie Jar has a significant content library and features some of the world's most recognizable series including Caillou, Inspector Gadget, and Johnny Test. The company controls Cookie Jar TV, the weekend morning block on CBS. Cookie Jar has offices in Toronto, Los Angeles and in addition, throughout Western Europe, as part of its Copyright Promotions Licensing Group ("CPLG"), a leading licensor and merchandiser of third party brands and characters.

Cookie Jar has experienced significant growth in digital distribution, growing revenue from that channel to $8.0 million in the 12 months ending May 31, 2012 (representing growth of 353% vs. the prior 12 month period). Over the same 12-month period, Cookie Jar had total revenue of $56.7 million and EBITDA of $12.6 million (unaudited, see "Non-IFRS Measures" below). By combining operations of the two companies, DHX expects to realize cost synergies of at least $8 million annually which should be achieved within the first year following the closing of the transaction. Synergies are expected to be achieved from a consolidation of locations, marketing efficiencies and the integration of operations.

The definitive agreement provides that the current shareholders of Cookie Jar will receive consideration consisting of approximately 36 million common shares of DHX, representing pro forma ownership of approximately 40%, plus $5 million in cash. $66 million of existing Cookie Jar debt will be assumed and refinanced on closing of the transaction. Based on the volume weighted average price of DHX's common shares for the 5 days ending on August 17, 2012 this implies a value of Cookie Jar of approximately $111 million. Funds managed by Birch Hill Equity Partners ("Birch Hill"), Cookie Jar's controlling shareholders, have also agreed to certain restrictions over the DHX shares that they will receive in connection with the transaction.

"We believe this is an excellent strategic combination with great potential to create long-term value," said John Loh, Partner at Birch Hill. "We are excited to become a significant shareholder in the combined business, and look forward to working with the DHX team to grow the company."

Concurrent with the execution of the definitive agreement, DHX has entered into a commitment agreement with RBC Capital Markets to provide a fully underwritten senior debt financing. The new financing package will consist of a $60 million four-year term loan facility to be used to refinance substantially all of DHX's and Cookie Jar's current indebtedness and a $20 million revolving credit facility for working capital and general corporate purposes.

Management and Board of Directors

Following the closing, Michael Donovan, current CEO of DHX, will continue to serve as CEO.  Michael Hirsh, current CEO of Cookie Jar, will become Executive Chairman of DHX. Steven DeNure and Dana Landry will continue in their current roles of President & COO, and Chief Financial Officer, respectively. Cookie Jar's current President & COO Toper Taylor will continue to focus on digital distribution and business development.  Aaron Ames, CFO of Cookie Jar, will assume the role of Chief Integration Officer reporting directly to the CEO.

Upon the closing of the transaction, the Board of Directors will consist of eight directors including Michael Donovan and Michael Hirsh. Another four of DHX's existing directors will continue serving on the Board and Birch Hill will have the right to appoint two additional directors.

Completion of the transaction is subject to a number of conditions including the receipt of regulatory and Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") approvals. Pursuant to TSX rules, the transaction must also be approved by a majority vote of DHX's shareholders due to the number of DHX common shares issuable in consideration to the vendors.

Recommendation of the Board of Directors

Canaccord Genuity Corp., financial advisor to DHX's Board of Directors, has provided its opinion that the acquisition consideration is fair, from a financial point of view, to DHX. The Board of Directors, based upon its investigations, including its consideration of that fairness opinion, has concluded that the transaction is in the best interests of DHX shareholders, and will be unanimously recommending that shareholders vote in favour of the share issuance resolution at the special meeting of shareholders.

In addition, certain insiders including Michael Donovan who collectively hold 19.7% of the DHX shares outstanding have agreed to vote in favour of the transaction.

Special Meeting and Information Circular

DHX will be convening a special meeting of its shareholders to consider the transaction. DHX currently anticipates that the special meeting will be held on October 15, 2012 and that an information circular containing additional details regarding the business of the special meeting will be mailed to shareholders in mid-September, 2012.

Investor Conference Call

DHX Media will hold an analyst conference call to discuss the transaction on August 20, 2012 at 10am EDT. Media and others may access this call on a listen-in basis. Conference call details are as follows:

• To access the call via telephone, please dial [phone] toll-free or [phone] internationally. Please allow 10 minutes to be connected to the conference call.
  
  
• A telephone replay of the call will be available beginning approximately one hour after the call on [phone] toll free or [phone], and passcode 22762722, until midnight EDT August 27, 2012.

About DHX Media:

DHX Media (www.dhxmedia.com), together with its subsidiary, W!LDBRAIN Entertainment, is a leading international family entertainment rights creation and management company with three-award-winning production facilities, worldwide distribution and a global consumer products business. DHX Media has produced over 40 original television series, including world-recognized series such as Franny's Feet, Animal Mechanicals, Kid vs. Kat, Angela Anaconda and Martha Speaks, and maintains a library of over 2,550 half-hours of animation and live-action programming.  The company's global licensing group oversees a diverse merchandising portfolio for proven properties, including the hit U.K. series Rastamouse, airing on BBC. DHX Media has offices in Toronto, Halifax, Vancouver, Los Angeles and London.  DHX Media is listed on the TSX (Toronto Stock Exchange).

About Cookie Jar Entertainment:

Cookie Jar is one of the world's leading independent entertainment and consumer products companies with offices around the globe. Cookie Jar Entertainment is a leader in the creation, production and marketing of animated and live-action programming. Its library of nearly 6,000 half-hour episodes of television features some of the world's most recognizable series including Caillou, Inspector Gadget, The Doodlebops and Johnny Test. The company controls Cookie Jar TV, the weekend morning block on CBS.  Copyright Promotions Licensing Group, (CPLG) Cookie Jar's full-service international licensing agency, represents numerous entertainment, sport and design brands such as Caillou, Strawberry Shortcake, Care Bears, Richard Scarry, and St. Andrews Links. For more information, please visit www.cjar.com and follow CEO, Michael Hirsh, on twitter @happyhirshcjar.

Non-IFRS Measures

The term "EBITDA" refers to earnings before deducting interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, foreign exchange gain or loss, and stock-based compensation. Management believes that EBITDA is a useful measure as it provides an indication of the operational results of the business prior to taking into consideration how those activities are financed and taxed and also prior to taking into consideration asset amortization. EBITDA does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and is not necessarily comparable to similar measures provided by other companies. In the case of Cookie Jar's $12.6 million of adjusted EBITDA it is calculated as follows: Gross Margin of $30.5 million (defined as $56.7 million of revenue less cost of sales of $26.2 million), less SG&A of $23.8 million, plus write down of film costs of $5.0 million, plus restructuring costs of $0.9 million. Accordingly, investors are cautioned that EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an alternative to operating income or net income determined in accordance with IFRS as an indicator of the Company's financial performance or as a measure of its liquidity and cash flows.

Disclaimer

This press release contains forward looking statements with respect to DHX and the proposed acquisition of Cookie Jar, including statements regarding the expected benefits of the acquisition, the estimated cost synergies that may be generated, the completion of debt refinancing concurrently with the closing of the acquisition and the expected shareholder meeting and transaction closing dates. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties and are based on information currently available to the Company. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations, among other things, include risks related to receipt of shareholder and regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other conditions to closing the acquisition, DHX's ability to successfully integrate the Cookie Jar business and realize expected synergies, the ability to retain required employees and customer contracts, the accuracy of the assumptions upon which the expected synergies were estimated, market factors, customer contract interpretation, application of accounting policies and principles, and production related risks, and other factors discussed in materials filed with applicable securities regulatory authorities from time to time including matters discussed under "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended June 30, 2011 and risks that will be discussed in the information circular to be distributed to DHX shareholders in connection with the shareholder meeting. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

Video with caption: "Video: A made-in-Canada deal, DHX Media's proposed acquisition of Cookie Jar Entertainment will form the world's largest independent library of children's television shows.". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20120820_C8185_VIDEO_EN_17035.mp4&posterurl=http://photos.newswire.ca/images/20120820_C8185_PHOTO_EN_17035.jpg&clientName=DHX%20MEDIA%20LTD%2E&caption=Video%3A%20A%20made%2Din%2DCanada%20deal%2C%20DHX%20Media%27s%20proposed%20acquisition%20of%20Cookie%20Jar%20Entertainment%20will%20form%20the%20world%27s%20largest%20independent%20library%20of%20children%27s%20television%20shows%2E&title=DHX%20MEDIA%20LTD%2E%20%2D%20DHX%20Media%20to%20acquire%20Cookie%20Jar%20Entertainment%2C%20creating%20the%20world%27s%20largest%20independent%20library%20of%20children%27s%20entertainment%20content&headline=DHX%20Media%20to%20acquire%20Cookie%20Jar%20Entertainment%2C%20creating%20the%20world%27s%20largest%20independent%20library%20of%20children%27s%20entertainment%20content

Image with caption: "Caillou is one of the most recognizable names from Cookie Jar Entertainment's library of more than 6,000 half-hour episodes across more than 245 television properties. (CNW Group/DHX MEDIA LTD.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120820_C8185_PHOTO_EN_17024.jpg

Image with caption: "Cookie Jar's Inspector Gadget has aired in more than 190 countries worldwide. A recent Inspector Gadget mobile game realized more than 1 million downloads. (CNW Group/DHX MEDIA LTD.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120820_C8185_PHOTO_EN_17025.jpg

Image with caption: "Cookie Jar Entertainment is the #1 supplier of children's entertainment to Netflix, with shows like Johnny Test, one of the most popular series for boys across all television. (CNW Group/DHX MEDIA LTD.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120820_C8185_PHOTO_EN_17026.jpg

Image with caption: "A leading animated preschool program in the UK, DHX Media's Rastamouse has been licensed to more than 40 broadcast territories since its debut in January 2011. (CNW Group/DHX MEDIA LTD.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120820_C8185_PHOTO_EN_17027.jpg

Image with caption: "DHX Media has produced more than 60 original television properties, including the critically acclaimed Yo Gabba Gabba!, one of the most recognizable children's live-action series. (CNW Group/DHX MEDIA LTD.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120820_C8185_PHOTO_EN_17028.jpg

PDF available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2012/08/20/20120820_C8185_DOC_EN_17068.pdf

SOURCE: DHX MEDIA LTD.

For investor relations, please contact:

David A. Regan - EVP, Corporate Development & IR, DHX Media Ltd.
[phone]

For media relations, please contact:

Shaun Smith - TMX Equicom
[phone] ext 252