Field Fisher Waterhouse advises on Hammer Horror renaissance
11 May 2007
Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP has advised new client, Hammer Film
Holdings, on a $50 million leveraged buy-in. Hammer Film Holdings
is a buy-in vehicle for the new management, led by Simon Oakes and
Marc Schipper, to take over Hammer Film Productions Limited. The
firm advised Hammer Film Holdings and the new management on the
fundraising for the buy-in, which was provided by John de Mol’s
Cyrte Investments.
Field Fisher Waterhouse will now act for Hammer Film Holdings on
on-going matters.
Hammer is best known for its gothic horror productions in the
‘50s and ‘60s, when it was the most innovative producer in the
horror genre, enjoying global box-office success, and making the
Hammer brand synonymous with horror. Hammer was responsible for the
classic movie series of Dracula, Frankenstein, and
Quatermass.
Hammer will return to film and television production after more
than 30 years with an active development programme designed to
emulate the best traditions of Hammer. The new management plans
aggressively to reinvigorate the Hammer brand for a new
generation of horror-lovers utilising web and mobile technologies,
whilst retaining Hammer’s significant heritage.
Field Fisher Waterhouse corporate partner
Neil Foster led
on the deal, assisted by corporate solicitor Owen Oliver, tax
partner Graeme
Nuttall and tax solicitor Mark Gearing. This latest deal
demonstrates the firm’s expertise in the media sector. Other corporate media
clients include the BBC, Chellomedia, Zonemedia, MTV and AIM-listed
Chinese media company, Sun TV Shop.
Neil Foster
said: “The new management has teamed up with John de Mol’s fund,
Cyrte, and Spitfire Pictures in the US, for this major new film
project. The media sector
continues to be one of our leading areas, and our sector coverage
is now complemented by our new European offices’ extensive media
expertise. This is a new client for us, and we won the work
following a recommendation to the new management team by a mutual
contact at one of the world’s leading private equity funds.”
Hammer Film Holdings’ CEO Simon Oakes said: “We have been
working on this deal for almost a year now, and are very proud at
having brought together this incredibly talented group of people in
combination with Hammer’s heritage. Hammer is a great British brand
– we intend to take Hammer back into production and develop its
global potential.”
SJ Berwin media partner Tim Johnson and corporate partner Mark
Sanders advised Cyrte Investments.
For further press information please contact:
Louise Eckersley, PR Executive on +44 (0)20 7861 4120
Scarlett Yianni, PR Assistant on +44 (0)20 7861 4795