Ingenious Corporate Finance has advised the shareholders of Objective Productions Ltd (''Objective'') on the sale of the company to All3Media announced today. Ingenious advised Objective on its strategic options and led the negotiations and structuring of the deal.
Objective is the UK's leading independent producer of magic, comedy and entertainment programming with hit shows such as Derren Brown, Peep Show, The Real Hustle and Balls of Steel. The business has achieved impressive growth in the last 3 years and has established a reputation amongst both leading producers and on-screen talent as ''the'' television production company to work with. Objective is a key supplier to both Channel 4 and the BBC, where its programming delivers an attractive young demographic audience profile. Employing 120 staff and freelancers, the company had a turnover in excess of £24 million in the year to April 2007.
The transaction with All3Media, the private equity backed, international production and distribution group, will facilitate Objective's overseas growth, particularly into the lucrative US market, as well as its ability to better exploit its international rights.
Tom Manwaring, Director Ingenious Corporate Finance, said:
''We are extremely pleased to have advised the shareholders of Objective on this important transaction. Objective is the UK's leading independent producer in its field with an enviable array of production and on-screen talent. This next phase of its growth should prove extremely compelling as it leverages All3's international network to better monetise its large and valuable catalogue of finished programme sales and format rights.''
Andrew O'Connor, CEO of Objective said:
''We are delighted with the deal that Ingenious has put together for us with All3Media. Their expertise and experience in the independent television production sector is impressive and they provided us with invaluable advice throughout the process in negotiating and steering the deal through to a successful conclusion.''
Simon Nicholls, Managing Director; Tom Manwaring, Director; Kat McMaster, Senior Associate; and Phill Jones, Senior Associate acted on the transaction for Ingenious Corporate Finance.
About Ingenious
Ingenious, which was founded in 1998 by Patrick McKenna, former Head of the Media and Entertainment Group at Deloitte and Touche and chairman and CEO of the Really Useful Group, is a specialist media investment and advisory business with six principal operating subsidiaries; Asset Management, Consulting, Corporate Finance, Investments, Securities and Ventures.
As the market leader in media investment and strategy, Ingenious provides the full range of services to companies in the media sector, from strategic and corporate finance advice to private equity funding, as well as providing innovative investment solutions for the private investor.
About Ingenious Corporate Finance
Ingenious Corporate Finance provides advice on the full range of corporate finance transactions, including corporate sales, fund-raising and all aspects of mergers and acquisitions, including MBOs, disposals and restructurings.
Providing specialist advice in the media sector, Ingenious Corporate Finance acts for shareholders in owner managed companies, major corporate groups, private equity investors and management teams across the full spectrum of media businesses including Film and Television Production & Distribution, Music Publishing, Mobile Content, Broadcasting, Business & Professional Publishing, Consumer Publishing, Marketing Services, Radio, Media Services, Recorded Music, Broadband Content, Digital Media and Video Games.
Ingenious Corporate Finance
Simon Nicholls / Tom Manwaring
+44 (0)20 7319 4000
Fishburn Hedges
Andrew Reid / Paul French
+44 (0)20 7839 4321