DreamWorks Animation and REGIONS GC Form Landmark Alliance to Develop Theme Parks in Russia

GLENDALE, Calif., Feb. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Guests of all ages can anticipate an all-new entertainment experience unlike any other as DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (Nasdaq: DWA) and REGIONS Group of Companies have signed a licensing agreement to develop Europe's largest indoor theme parks, and the first to feature the franchises of DreamWorks Animation in major cities throughout Russia.  The theme parks, scheduled to open in 2015, will be located in St Petersburg, Moscow, and Yekaterinburg.  REGIONS Group of Companies will design, build and manage all properties.

The DreamWorks Animation theme parks will be Europe's largest year-round indoor entertainment zones, and in each instance will be part of a larger entertainment development featuring a mixed-use movie and concert hall, 4D movie theater, three-star 400-room hotel, and a retail center with 11,000 parking spaces.  The height of each park will be 35 meters, comparable to a 13-floor building, giving visitors the sense of being outdoors.

Each park will feature immersive environments, state-of-the-art attractions, and character entertainment bringing to life DreamWorks Animation's beloved franchises including: Shrek, Madagascar, How to Train Your Dragon and Kung Fu Panda, in addition to yet-to-be released DreamWorks Animation feature films including Turbo, which is set for its worldwide debut in Russia on July 11 before arriving in US theaters on July 19.

"DreamWorks Animation parks are ambitious projects unprecedented in Russia and the rest of the world. The foundation of our success lies in the DreamWorks team's wealth of experience in the field of entertainment and the experience of the REGIONS Group of Companies in developing and managing retail and entertainment centers," commented Amiran Mutsoev, Member of the Board of Directors, REGIONS GC.

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted — the third installment in the blockbuster hit franchise about the adventures of Alex the Lion and his friends from the Central Park Zoo— is currently the second highest-grossing animated film in Russia's box office history and the fourth highest-grossing film of all time in Russia.  Six of the top 10 animated films of all time in Russia are DreamWorks Animation pictures: Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted, Shrek Forever After, Puss In Boots, Madagascar Escape 2 Africa, Kung Fu Panda 2 and How to Train Your Dragon.

"Russia is one of the most important markets in the world for us," said DreamWorks Animation's Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Katzenberg.  "All of us at DWA are extremely excited to work with REGIONS CG to be the first Hollywood studio to create not just one, but three theme parks in Russia. These parks are going to be groundbreaking cultural hubs that will give families the chance to truly enter the world of DreamWorks."

About DreamWorks Animation

DreamWorks Animation creates high-quality entertainment, including CG animated feature films, television specials and series and live entertainment properties, meant for audiences around the world. The Company has world-class creative talent, a strong and experienced management team and advanced filmmaking technology and techniques. DreamWorks Animation has been named one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" by FORTUNE® Magazine for five consecutive years. In 2013, DreamWorks Animation ranks #12 on the list.  All of DreamWorks Animation's feature films are produced in 3D. The Company has theatrically released a total of 25 animated feature films, including the franchise properties of Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon and Puss in Boots.

About REGIONS Group of Companies

REGIONS GC is a vertically integrated holding comprising more than 20 different companies engaged in development and management of world-class retail property. INFOline information agency ranks it as the fourth largest retail property owner in Russia. REGIONS GC manages 29 operating properties with a GBA of over 700 thousand sq. m, located in 22 Russian cities. The Group's assets include 6 operating properties within the JUNE chain: in St Petersburg (2006, GBA: 62 thousand sq. m), Krasnoyarsk (2008, GBA: 75 thousand sq. m), Cherepovets (2010, GBA: 46 thousand sq. m), Ufa (2012, GBA: 42 thousand sq. m), Krasnogorsk (2012, GBA: 25 thousand sq. m), and Mytishchi, Moscow Region (2012, GBA: 178 thousand sq. m), as well as 23 "Siberian Town" retail centers.

The website of REGIONS GC: www.regionsgroup.ru, www.гкрегионы.рф

Contact:
Allison Rawlings
818-695-3278
[email protected]

SOURCE DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc.