Bridgepoint

All3Media is one of the UK's largest independent TV production companies producing a broad portfolio of programme formats covering sport, drama, factual and comedy from operations in the UK, Holland and New Zealand. Bridgepoint first invested in the business in a €72m MBI in July 2003 and sold it in July 2006 in a transaction totalling €454m. Formerly part of Chrysalis plc (which had decided its TV business was no longer a core activity), All3Media was identified by both Bridgepoint and a team of four highly respected media executives as a broad-based platform acquisition within the independent TV production sector. Working with this management buy-in team, Bridgepoint set out to lead the consolidation within the sector and further develop All3Media’s existing portfolio of profitable, long-running, recurring series. Under Bridgepoint ownership, the company made four acquisitions designed to extend the programme range it offers to major broadcasters and give the group better access to on-screen talent. In June 2004 it acquired Lion TV Group which specialises in history, factual and entertainment programmes and which has a significant customer base in the US; in October 2004 it then acquired Company TV, a film and TV production company focusing on prime-time TV drama and feature films; in June 2005 it made its largest acquisition, Mersey TV, a renowned producer of high quality TV drama programmes. Its final acquisition was that of Artists Rights Group in March 2006, a leading UK talent agency. In July 2006 All3media was acquired by Permira in a transaction totalling €467 million. This resulted in Bridgepoint achieving a 5.5 times money multiple on its investment. Bridgepoint has also invested in the TV production sector through its stake in Finhera, a French producer and distributor of TV programmes.

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