German comedy powerhouse Brainpool TV has taken another step in its strategy of establishing an international network of companies, acquiring 50% of French light entertainment outfit Show Devant Productions (SDP).

Together with its Swiss subsidiary Gregoire Furrer Productions (GFP), Brainpool paid $2.6m for the stake in SDP. Half of this is being invested as part of a capital increase in the financing of joint projects. The remaining $1.3m is going to SDP's Jimmy Levy, who discovered such French comedians as Jamel, Michel Muller and Eric and Ramzy.

Levy will now serve as artistic director of SDP's operations. He will be joined by Gregoire Furrer, who will manage the company's strategic expansion.