BBC Worldwide has acquired a 25% in UK indie Curve Media.

The company, which was launched last September by ex-Cineflix Media executives Rob Carey and Camilla Lewis (pictured) after they reached a management buyout deal, has converted its start-up funding to equity.

The commercial arm of the British pubcaster had previously inked a distribution deal with the factual producer. BBC Worlwide will continue to have a first-look option to take distribution rights to Curve Media titles and formats until 2019.

The equity arrangement will also give BBC Worldwide a representation on the company’s board.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“This deeper relationship with Curve supports BBC Worldwide’s commitment to deliver a strong pipeline of high quality British factual entertainment content,” BBC Worldwide’s genre director for factual, Mark Reynolds, said in a statement.

Under the buyout deal with Cineflix, the company acquired a slate of titles – including Claimed and Shamed, Salvage Hunters, Trauma Doctors: Every Second Counts and Pet School – that Carey and Lewis had produced or coproduced.