Lord of the Rings Deal
Lord of the Rings Deal
LOTR

CREDIT: THE SAUL ZAENTZ COMPANY

EXCELLENCE
"One Deal to rule them all"
Thomas Dey

INTEGRITY

EXCELLENCE

INSIGHT

Syco

CREDIT: SYCO ENTERTAINMENT

EXCELLENCE
"ACF's certainly got talent"
Ian Rosenblatt OBE

INTEGRITY

EXCELLENCE

INSIGHT

Bear Grylls
INTEGRITY
“You only get one chance
at life and you have to
grab it boldly”
Bear Grylls

CREDIT: BEAR GRYLLS VENTURES

INTEGRITY

EXCELLENCE

INSIGHT

Paddington
INSIGHT
“Success doesn't come
to you, you go to it.”
Marva Collins

CREDIT: PADDINGTON AND COMPANY

INTEGRITY

EXCELLENCE

INSIGHT

Shamrock Capital - Boardwalk Pictures credit
INSIGHT
“Stay true to yourself, never let
what somebody says distract
you from your goals.”
Michelle Obama

CREDIT: BOARDWALK PICTURES

INTEGRITY

EXCELLENCE

INSIGHT

Pilgrim

CREDIT: PILGRIM STUDIOS

INSIGHT
“Success comes to
those who act!”
Henry David Thoreau

INTEGRITY

EXCELLENCE

INSIGHT

Pilgrim

CREDIT: PILGRIM STUDIOS

INSIGHT
“Success comes to
those who act!”
Henry David Thoreau

INTEGRITY

EXCELLENCE

INSIGHT

Leftfield
INSIGHT
“The key to success is to
focus on goals not obstacles”
Unknown

CREDIT: LEFTFIELD ENTERTAINMENT

INTEGRITY

EXCELLENCE

INSIGHT

Plimsoll Productions

CREDIT: PLIMSOLL PRODUCTIONS

INSIGHT
“Success is not final,
failure is not fatal:
it is the courage to
continue that counts.”
Winston Churchill

INTEGRITY

EXCELLENCE

INSIGHT

Love Productions

CREDIT: LOVE PRODUCTIONS

INTEGRITY
“ When something
is important enough,
you do it even if the odds
are not in your favour”
Elon Musk

INTEGRITY

EXCELLENCE

INSIGHT

Top Gear
EXCELLENCE
“Success comes to
those who act”
Henry David Thoreau

CREDIT: TOP GEAR

INTEGRITY

EXCELLENCE

INSIGHT

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ACF advised Grant Mansfield on the formation of a new indie, Plimsoll Productions

Secret Millionaire

ACF Investment Bank has advised Grant Mansfield, former CEO of Zodiak USA on establishing Plimsoll Productions (“Plimsoll”), a new Bristol based TV production company.

ACF Investment Bank, acted as Investment Banker to Plimsoll Productions.

ACF is a leading international specialist investment bank with offices in London and Los Angeles, assisting individuals and businesses wishing to maximise the value of people and intellectual property-based businesses.

ACF’s global track record in TV production and distribution is unrivalled and have advised on more than 50 deals in the sector.

Our team’s deals include: the sale of Thinkfactory, High Noon, The Garden and Gurney Productions to ITV plc, Leftfield Entertainment’s acquisition of Sirens Media, Jeremy Clarkson’s and Andy Wilman’s stake in Top Gear to BBC Worldwide, the sale of BASE Productions and A. Smith & Co Productions to the Tinopolis Group, Left Bank Pictures to Sony Pictures, Left Right to Red Arrow, 19 Entertainment to CKX (Core Media Group), Shed Media to Warner Bros., Firecracker to the Tinopolis Group and Kuperman Productions to Endemol.

If you are considering selling your company, buying a company or raising finance, we have the expertise and track record to help you find the right solution.

For further information or to arrange a meeting please contact: Melissa Castelyn on + 44 (0) 207 467 9600 or Katherine Robbins on + 1 424 332 0450.


Plimsoll will focus on factual entertainment, specialist factual and wildlife programming. Grant will be joined at Plimsoll by a senior management and creative team comprising Christine Owen, Managing Director, Gavin Henderson, Creative Director, Martha Holmes, Executive Producer, Wildlife and Kate Beetham, Executive Producer, Factual.

Grant was responsible for a number of Zodiak, USA’s  strongest performing television programmes, including: truTV’s top-rated series, Hardcore Pawn, ABC’s Celebrity Wife Swap, USA and Secret Millionaire.


Grant was previously Managing Director of RDF Television in the UK and was responsible for programmes including: Rock School, Ladette to Lady, Holiday Showdown and Dickinson’s Real Deal.  He was also Head of Programmes at Granada Television, where he was responsible for the launch of I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here.

Grant will look to leverage his experience and knowledge, on both sides of the Atlantic, to create factual and factual entertainment programming for the UK’s terrestrial and multi-channel broadcasters, as well as changed formats for the lucrative US cable market.  Working with UK’s regional commissioners to deliver high quality programming which can then be exported to the US is an attractive opportunity.

Christine Owen has 29 years of experience in the TV production sector. This includes Head of Production for RDF West, Head of Production at Quickfire Media, Managing Director at Scorer Associates as well as production roles at the BBC.

Gavin Henderson has 11 years of creative experience in the TV production sector, most recently as Executive Producer at the BBC’s Natural History Unit where his credits included Planet Earth Live, Autumn Watch and Great Bear Stakeout.  Gavin was also Creative Director of Big Brother, re-launching the brand on Channel 5 in 2011, and Creative Director at Endemol West where he ran a slate of shows including Deal or No Deal.

Martha Holmes’ experience at the BBC’s Natural History Unit includes: Blue Planet and Life in the Freezer.

Kate Beetham’s, experience in the BBC Features’ Team, includes: DIY SOS, Bargain Hunt and Flog It.


Key Shows and Productions

Celebrity Wife Swap
Celebrity Wife Swap
Hardcore Pawn
Hardcore Pawn

“When I left Zodiak USA, I wanted to set up my own TV production company and to help grow a regional television production presence.  Tom’s advice and experience was extremely valuable in making this happen and I very much look forward to working in and growing the business and capitalizing on all the opportunities available to us.”

Grant Mansfield, Chief Executive Officer, Plimsoll Productions

“It has been a pleasure working with Grant to establish his new business.  His strategy of focusing on rights ownership through regionally advantaged terrestrial commissions before using his US cable relationships to sell into the market is attractive, and I look forward to watching the business grow.”

ACF Investment Bank


5/5

What People Are Saying

“Since this was our first time working with an investment bank and raising capital for any of our businesses, I wasn’t sure what to expect. ACF has a great reputation and came highly recommended from several people that I hold in high regard. Overall, the experience working with Richard, Milos and Thomas was pure joy. They were the perfect partner for us, as they educated us as we were working through the process, they challenged us to think bigger about the scope and scale of our business, and they aggressively represented our business in the marketplace bringing multiple opportunities to us in a very challenging economic time. The partnership and guidance they provided was essential and they were extremely easy to work with. I only hope this is the first of many deals that we are able to execute together.”

Shawn Gee
Two One Five Entertainment

"ACF’s certainly got talent. Their team, led by the ever-tenacious Thomas Dey, delivered on their promises and introduced the perfect partners to achieve our goals."

Ian Rosenblatt OBE, Director
Syco Entertainment

"Given the complexities and importance of the rights at stake in our transaction, we interviewed several investment bank candidates at length before retaining ACF to guide our process.  We could not have chosen better!  ACF personnel were dedicated, creative, practical, responsive and deeply knowledgeable about the intricacies of the sales process. Over the months involved, Thomas, Richard, Tatiana and the rest of the ACF staff met with and worked skillfully and credibly with scores of potential buyers and with our own employees leading ultimately to a high value and very fair outcome benefitting both our company and the buyer. They have our deep respect and gratitude for a job so well accomplished"

Marty Glick, COO
The Saul Zaentz Company

“At this stage of 72’s development, there are great advantages and opportunities of joining forces with Fremantle. Their extensive international infrastructure and expertise will provide 72 Films with the platform to have our work seen across the world. We know and like their excellent team. And they offer us not only fantastic support but complete creative freedom so we can continue to work in the same way.

It’s been a real pleasure working with Thomas Dey and the whole team at ACF. They are brilliant at what they do. And alongside Matisse it’s been an incredible team behind this deal.”

Mark Raphael, David Glover, Founders and Chief Executive Officers
72 Films

“This exciting new deal between Broke and Bones and Netflix marks an exciting period of content creation, demonstrating the strong relationship between market leading creatives and the streaming platforms. ACF brokered the deal using our strong track record, experience and access in the UK and USA scripted markets. Premium content continues to lead the market with strong deals that ACF have closed including advising Mammoth Screen on sale to ITV, Neal Street to All3Media, Left Bank Pictures to Sony, Thinkfactory to ITV, Paddington Bear to Studio Canal, New Pictures to All3Media, and Carnival Pictures to NBC Universal.”

Thomas Dey, CEO
ACF Investment Bank

"It has been an incredible journey for Delbert and I to get to the stage where we can build out our adventure shows under our own Studio. We stand on the shoulders of many giants, the ACF team have been incredible guides through the process - at its heart this is about building the ultimate home of adventure programming worldwide."

Bear Grylls & Delbert Shoopman
The Natural Studios

"Critical Content has been a leading player in the unscripted space for the last decade, led by a first class team. Media continues to dominate the deal landscape, with content leading the pack. What a great start to 2022! Congratulations to the whole team."

Thomas Dey, CEO
ACF Investment Bank

"Boardwalk Pictures are one of the preeminent producers of premium content and this partnership with Shamrock secures Boardwalks positioning as a leading player in this market. Shamrock’s deep understanding and experience in the content space makes them great partners for Andrew and the team at Boardwalk. I look forward to seeing the growth and future success of this partnership."

RIchard Gray, Managing Director
ACF Investment Bank