PORTLAND, OR & FRIEDRICHSDORF, GERMANY — Maxon, the developer of professional 3D software solutions, and Red Giant, the creator of tools for editors, VFX artists, and motion designers, have announced that the two companies have reached an agreement to merge under the media and entertainment division of Nemetschek Group to better serve the post production and content creation industries. The transaction is expected to close in January 2020, subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions.
Maxon (maxon.net) and Red Giant (www.redgiant.com) are already well known and established in the digital content creation industries, and share synergies in philosophy and long-term goals. Maxon is best known for its flagship 3D product Cinema 4D. The company was formed in 1986 with a passion for providing powerful-yet-accessible 3D software solutions. In April of this year, Maxon acquired Redshift, the developer of the GPU-accelerated Redshift render engine.
Founded in 2002, Red Giant’s visual effects tools include Trapcode, Magic Bullet, Universe and PluralEyes. The company has differentiated itself in the industry through its artist-driven approach to software creation, its popular training resources, and its award-winning short films.
Combined, the two companies provide tools to ABC, CBS, NBC, HBO, BBC, Sky, Fox Networks, Turner Broadcasting, NFL Network, WWE, Viacom, Netflix, ITV Creative, Discovery Channel, MPC (Moving Picture Company), Digital Domain, VDO, Sony, Universal, The Walt Disney Company, Blizzard Entertainment, BMW, Facebook, Apple, Google, Vitra, Nike and many more.
“This merger is a major milestone, not only for Maxon and Red Giant but also for the design industry as a whole,” explains David McGavran, CEO of Maxon. “Our combined technology and knowhow have the potential to progressively reshape the content creation landscape for years to come.”
“The combination of our companies is an exceptional fit of people, culture and technology,” notes Chad Bechert, CEO of Red Giant. “We look forward to working together under a shared vision of how to design powerful and approachable software to serve creative artists around the world.”