The Bella Sara Company, LLC, a new U.S. company owned by Bella Sara creator Gitte Braendgaard and her husband Henrik Heindorf, will get global rights to the property and begin producing game products.  Former licensee Hidden City Games, founded by WotC founder Peter Adkison, is going out of business.  “It wasn’t sold or acquired, it’s simply closing up shop,” a company spokesperson told us.  

Adkison will consult with Conceptcard, the Danish company founded by Braendgaard, during the transition; and 10 of 12 Hidden City employees will move to the new company.  The Bella Sara Company will be led by George Stetar, who was Senior Vice President of International Businesss and Licensing at Hidden City, as Global Rights Manager.

The first two products released by Bella Sara, both planned by Hidden City, will be Bella Sara Chibis late this summer and Winter Festival, a new TCG release, this fall. 

The U.S. company has an international focus, reflecting the 14 languages and 27 countries in which Bella Sara is currently sold.  “Because the brand is global, it makes sense for us to have a presence in Europe as well,” Stetar told us.  “In fact, our first new adventure as The Bella Sara Co. is that we are launching Poland this fall for the Winter Festival card set as well as our new Chibi line.  Plans are in the works for launching other new countries in 2012.”

Braendgaard had nice things to say about Bella Sara’s tenure with Hidden City.  “It’s been a wonderful five years with Peter Adkison and his team at Hidden City Entertainment, “she said.  “Working closely with Hidden City in developing such a beautiful property worldwide has been an honor and a pleasure.  As owners of The Bella Sara Company, my husband, Henrik Heindorf and myself, are excited about moving forward with the new Bella Sara Company and its team of former key staff members from Hidden City.”