Coolabi specialises in the ownership, development, creative management and exploitation of high quality intellectual property assets.

Our current properties include Poppy Cat, Purple Ronnie, The Large Family, King Arthur's Disasters, The Worst Witch, Fungus The Bogeyman and Scarlett & Crimson. In addition we also license rights to selected properties that include the Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin trio of properties Bagpuss, The Clangers and Ivor The Engine.

Our strategy is to build a diversified portfolio of cash-generative intellectual property assets that have international potential across a broad range of media platforms. This is expected to be achieved through the development of our existing portfolio complemented by our ongoing strategy of focused acquisitions. 

Coolabi Limited (company number 3735898) is incorporated in the United Kingdom which is also its main country of operation.

History

In 2011, Edge Performance VCT, a leading specialist fund in the entertainment and media sector, partnered with Coolabi’s Chief Executive, Jeremy Banks, and the rest of the Coolabi management team, to effect a management buyout and take the company private.

Coolabi started life as Alibi Communications plc (“Alibi”). Alibi, formed in 1999, completed a successful flotation on the London Stock Exchange via the alternative investment market (“AIM”) that year and was a producer of prime time television drama and children’s television drama.

In 2004, Alibi merged with Coolebah Limited, a business engaged in licensing and animated children’s television production. In 2005 Alibi changed its name to Coolabi plc.

In the period from 2006, Coolabi acquired the children’s division of Zenith Entertainment, Purple Enterprises, Indie Kids, Licensing By Design and, via the acquisition of Owatonna Media, 51% of Eric Ambler Literary Management and 100% of Michael Innes Literary Management and John Creasey Literary Management.