Media and Entertainment Finance

Home
Practices and industry sectors
Industries & Sectors
Technology, Media and Telecommunications
Media
Media and Entertainment Finance

Media and Entertainment Finance

{969C9120-E5F1-43CC-BE08-C95A62BC598A}

Fundamental to the production of many media and entertainment products is securing the financing necessary to successfully complete and release these products. The media and entertainment industries are dynamic businesses which require innovative financing structures and the legal expertise to ensure proper implementation.

At Dentons, our lawyers are recognized around the world as being top practitioners in complex media and entertainment financings. We have extensive experience in multiple jurisdictions in creating and working with unique funding structures to meet the needs of each of our clients' businesses. Whether you are a lending institution, private equity, corporate financier, studio or production company, leverage our expertise in all areas of financing including:

Corporate acquisitions
Single-production financings of feature films, television movies and series
Gap financing
Joint ventures and international co-productions
Private equity investment.

No matter where you are or how complicated the financing structure, Dentons will work with you to close the financing to ensure project completion.

Experience

Confidential Client: Acting for the lender in connection with Vision Globale A.R. ltée’s CAD$62 million financing of three acquisitions: Studios Mel's and Locations Michel Trudel, and Les G n ratrices Star (1997). Vision Globale A.R. is a provider of digital content creation, distribution, and delivery services to the film and television industries.
Corus Entertainment Inc.: Counsel to Corus Entertainment Inc. in respect of the amendment and restatement of their existing credit facilities. The new syndicated CA$650 million facility includes both term and revolving loans, the guarantees for which are drawn against Corus operating subsidiaries. The proceeds are to be used for operating purposes including the acquisition of all the third party interests in YTV Canada.
JPMorgan Chase: Advising as administrative agent on a CA$800 million five-year revolving credit facility for Lionsgate Entertainment Corporation. This is one of the largest revolving credit facilities raised by an entertainment company in more than a decade. The new facility replaces Lionsgate's previous CA$340 million revolving credit facility.
Groupe Canal+: Advising on a strategic investment in TVN, a leading private media group, listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. This involved: (i) €230 million equity investment in TVN Group and strategic partnership with ITI Group, a shareholder controlling TVN, and (ii) €1.5 billion merger of Canal+’s and TVN’s satellite TV digital platforms in Poland. Groupe Canal+ will pay a total cash consideration of around €230 million for a 40 percent minority stake in N-Vision, which indirectly owns a 51 percent majority stake in TVN, with an option to buy the rest of the stake over time. ITI Group will continue to own the remaining 60 percent controlling stake in N-Vision. The satellite TV platforms of Canal+ and N-Vision are to be merged to create a leading premium TV platform in Poland.
iTech Capital: Assisting the Russian private equity and venture capital fund on a US$10 million investment in a minority stake in SeoPult, one of the largest automated search engine optimization (SEO) and e-advertising platforms in Russia.
JPMorgan Chase Bank: Advising lenders in the US$300 million syndicated refinancing for Entertainment One Ltd. (eOne). The 5 year senior revolving term loan allowed eOne to acquire Alliance Films Inc., a leading independent distributor of filmed entertainment products in Canada, the United Kingdom and Spain, from affiliates of Goldman Sachs Capital Partners and Investissement Québec. JPMorgan Chase Bank acted as Administrative Agent for the Lenders.
Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.: Advising this leading global entertainment company on its cross-border US$375 million fixed rate second lien term loan.
MediaBrix: Advising this leading provider of end-to-end, in-app and in-game social and mobile advertising solutions for Fortune 500 marketers in its Series B financing with Edison Ventures.
Mediacom: Representing the US’s eighth-largest cable television company in connection with a US$382 million “going private” transaction with Rocco B. Commisso, the company’s founder, chairman and CEO.

Insights

Top 10 IP and TMT CJEU judgments of 2023

March 19, 2024

EU: The past year witnessed several landmark CJEU judgments with direct implications for data protection, technology, media, and intellectual property. These rulings not only influence the interpretation of existing laws but also introduce fresh obligations for businesses. Dentons hereby draws your attention to what it considers to be the top 10 CJEU judgments that you should be aware of as a must.

Producing in Canada

November 21, 2023

Canada is recognized as a major player in film, television and interactive digital media production. The growth of Canada’s multibillion-dollar production industry is attributable to our high-standard facilities, competent workforce, physical and cultural proximity to the United States, as well as many favourable economic factors. These include lower location and production costs than in the US and Europe, a good exchange rate, and advantageous government tax incentives and funding policies.

Top 10 IP and TMT CJEU judgments of 2022

March 9, 2023

EU: Last year brought a number of interesting CJEU judgments that directly affect the fields of data protection, TMT and intellectual property. The decisions impact the application of current laws and give rise to new obligations for businesses. Dentons has compiled a list of the top 10 CJEU judgments that you need to know.

View all insights for Media and Entertainment Finance

News and Events

Recent Press Releases

Dentons advises on Oscar-winning film “The Zone of Interest”

March 12, 2024

Global law firm Dentons advised Extreme Emotions on the Polish co-production aspects of the critically acclaimed film “The Zone of Interest”. The film won two Oscars for Best International Feature Film and Best Sound at the 96th Academy Awards.

Dentons bolsters litigation and dispute resolution team in Vancouver with new partner Morgan Burris

May 1, 2023

Dentons Canada is pleased to welcome Morgan Burris as a partner in the Firm’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution and Construction groups in Vancouver.

Cross-border Dentons team negotiates financing for independent film “Alex of Venice”

March 20, 2014

A Dentons team from the Los Angeles and Vancouver offices worked together to negotiate the financing for an independent film directed by TV and movie actor Chris Messina, which will premiere in the Spotlight section of the 13th annual Tribeca Film Festival in April.

See the full global team

Local

Select a country to find a local key contact

Contact a member of the team below

Keep in touch

Media and Entertainment Finance

Media and Entertainment Finance

Experience