Peaky Blinders maker nears takeover

Deal or no deal? It was a case of the latter for Endemol Shine Group (ESG) in 2018, when the UK’s biggest super-indie group failed to attract a buyer despite a high-profile sales process. The likes of ITV, Endeavor Content and Banijay were all linked to the Black Mirror and Big Brother producer, but a combination of highly indebted balance sheet and a high minimum price expectation ($2.5bn/￡1.9bn) derailed the process, amid questions about whether the company is generating new shows of comparable scale to its back catalogue of hits. The sales process was time-consuming for management and must have been highly frustrating, although ESG chief executive Sophie Turner Laing remains upbeat and believes the lessons she learned during that period can help to reshape the business. She is confident about the 2018 numbers ESG will announce imminently – “our CAGR [compound annual growth rate] is looking good” – and believes potential buyers were put off because they believed the business was too complex. “Our shareholders will decide what they want to do, but we’re an enormous asset and we were never going to be a fire sale,” said Turner Laing. “It’s about reducing the complexities at the centre of the company. I want to get this place humming”

Running Wild‘s Bear Grylls has launched a new #production outfit focusing on #unscripted and #scripted content with the backing of #France’s #Banijay Group. The Natural Studios will focus creating and producing #adventure #TV and #film content for all #platforms and has been funded by Banijay, which serves as #production and #distribution partner. Grylls is launching the company with Bear Grylls Venture partner Delbert Shoopman, with the duo developing original #IP [...]. The duo will maintain full #strategic control over the new #label, which becomes the latest addition for Banijay in adventure #programming. [...] The deal was brokered by ACF Investment Bank, as advisors to Grylls and Shoopman. #artsandentertainment https://lnkd.in/dNT5F9S

The power of the screen....Birmingham tourists now at 43mil per annum and a 26% increase since Peaky Blinders was first screened. Lots of factors responsible (not the least the huge investment in the City, Business District, New Street Station and University of Birmingham) but the “Peaky Phenomenan” has played its part. A huge well done to all involved. D