Field Fisher Waterhouse advises on funding for Ian Dury film
13 May 2009
Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP has advised Aegis Film Fund (Aegis),
a newly launched debt fund, on the financing of a film about the
life of pop singer Ian Dury. The film,
‘Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll’, started shooting this month and
will be directed by Mat Whitecross.
Aegis is the lead debt financier of the film with the UK Film
Council and Lip Sync Productions providing equity funding. This is
the first film that the fund has committed to as part of a total
$50 million it intends to invest in films, with a focus on big
budget productions. Aegis plans to use the cash pool to invest in
film and media content by providing various forms of short to
medium term loans and debt, including discounting of government tax
credits and re-sales contracts, basic gap funding and secured
bridge financing.
Media partner Tim Johnson, who joined Field Fisher Waterhouse
in March this year to head up the firm’s media group, led on the
deal, assisted by solicitor Emily Spence.
The firm has a strong reputation in the media sector, with
clients that include the BBC, Chello Zone and Hammer Film
Holdings. Tim and his team advise on all aspects of media and
communications law, with particular emphasis on media asset
financing and the distribution and production of audiovisual
assets.
Tim Johnson said: “Since joining Field Fisher Waterhouse in
March, we have been working on a number of film financing deals. We
are delighted to have advised Aegis on their first funding and look
forward to supporting them in their future projects.”
Tim Smith, director of Aegis, said: “In the current financial
climate, we aim to provide competitive finance to help fill the gap
left by some of the European banks ceasing activity. The team at
Field Fisher Waterhouse has been instrumental in helping us achieve
this and did a fantastic job on ‘Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll’
in a very short timescale.”
The producers of the film were advised by Wiggin LLP, the UK
Film Council was advised by its in-house team and Lip Sync
Productions was advised by Lee & Thompson.
For further press information please
contact:
Louise Eckersley, PR Manager,
Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP on +44 (0)20 7861 4120.
Margherita Orlandini, PR
Executive, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP on +44 (0)20 7861 4995.