NAB 2022 – MediaBridge Capital Advisors M&A Transaction Update

MediaBridge Capital Advisors is pleased to be attending NAB 2022. Managing Partners Ethan Jacks, John Bowen, and Courtney Spencer, along with Managing Director Rob Levy will be in attendance throughout the Show. We look forward to meeting with our colleagues and partners in all market segments of the industry, discussing your strategic growth plans and options, and sharing our perspective on our recent transactions and other significant M&A and Private Equity financing transactions.

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity in the media technology sector has continued to thrive despite the challenges imposed by the pandemic and world events. Since January 2021 MediaBridge Capital, a leader for over a decade in originating and managing media tech M&A transactions, has closed six significant M&A deals, as highlighted below.

Media sector businesses were impacted by the pandemic in a variety of ways, with supply chain issues posing a nearly universal problem on the hardware side. Creative deal structure solutions had to be developed to establish fair, long-term valuations for companies impacted by these transitory challenges. The future, however, looks promising as pandemic constraints fade and buyers/investors continue to actively pursue their growth strategies, and new market segments like the “creator economy” become increasingly significant. The following is a brief summary of our six recent transactions, which included both software and hardware vendors, in the video, audio, and IP management sectors. These deals offer important insights regarding evolving trends in the media technology M&A marketplace.

1. REAL Software Systems was acquired by Rightsline in March 2022.

REAL Software Systems, a leading provider of IP Commerce software globally managing over $12 billion in royalties annually, was acquired by Rightsline, an LA-based company that offers a cloud-based IP Commerce deal, rights, strategy, and finance platform serving global IP owners across several industries including media and entertainment, gaming, and publishing. Rightsline is a portfolio company of Klass Capital, a Toronto-based private equity firm focused on leading cloud-based enterprise software vendors.

2. Audix was acquired by Vitec Group in January 2022.

Based in Oregon, Audix is a leading full-line manufacturer of professional microphones and headphones for the professional audio and installed/commercial sound markets. Audix was acquired by The Vitec Group plc, a publicly traded UK-based global provider of premium-branded hardware products and software solutions to the professional media and fast-growing content creation market, for a purchase price of up to $54.3 million in cash and other consideration.

3. Sound Devices was acquired by Audiotonix in November 2021.

Sound Devices, a Wisconsin-based pioneering manufacturer of premier audio production equipment, was acquired by Audiotonix, a UK-based global market leader in professional audio mixing consoles and related products for the live sound, broadcast, and studio markets. Sound Devices is a leading manufacturer of professional recording/mixing and wireless microphone systems for field and studio production of film and television and has won multiple industry awards. Audiotonix is a portfolio company of Ardian, a global private equity firm.

4. Kino Flo was acquired by Chauvet in August 2021.

Kino Flo, a Southern California-based pioneer in professional lighting systems and color science technologies focused on cinema and television production, was acquired by Chauvet & Sons, a Florida-based leading global provider of professional lighting solutions ranging from concert touring to festivals, theater, broadcast, corporate, and architectural applications. Kino Flo is a well-established Oscar® winning technology innovator, and its products are used in film and television production worldwide. Chauvet is a portfolio company of The Cortec Group, an NYC-based private equity firm.

5. Townsend Labs assets were acquired by Universal Audio in July 2021.

The assets of Townsend Labs, an innovator in software-based microphone modeling technology, were acquired by Universal Audio, a leading Silicon Valley-based manufacturer of professional audio recording hardware and software. Townsend’s proprietary Sphere L22™ microphone system accurately models the characteristics of the most sought-after large-diaphragm condenser microphones and allows selection of different mics and patterns even after the recording is completed.

6. FileCatalyst was acquired by HelpSystems in January 2021.

Unlimi-Tech Software is the developer of FileCatalyst, an Emmy® award winning accelerated-file-transfer solution, designed to optimize and transfer extremely large files swiftly and securely across global networks. The acquisition of FileCatalyst expands HelpSystems’ existing managed file transfer and robotic process automation offerings. HelpSystems is a portfolio company of Boston-based private equity firm TA Associates.

Key characteristics of these 6 transactions and trends for M&A in the media technology sector.

1. Clients are primarily founder-owner companies.

Five of the six companies mentioned above were owned by the founder(s) at the time of sale. In many cases the owners had been operating their business for decades and were ready to achieve a liquidity event while also placing a high priority on putting their company in the hands of strong and trusted stewards for their company’s customers and employees.

2. Growth of private equity backed buyers in our industry.

REAL Software Systems, Sound Devices, Kino Flo, and FileCatalyst were acquired by ‘platform companies’, controlled by private equity (PE) firms. Platform companies are expected to grow both organically and by acquisition. The presence of PE-backed buyers has significantly changed the face of M&A in the past 20 years and has created important new options for sellers who are seeking to maximize their valuations and expand the field of potential buyers of their business.

3. Growing importance of audio-focused companies.

Of these six deals, three of the sellers – Audix, Sound Devices, and Townsend – are in the audio sector. Audio is a major focus for MediaBridge, and we believe it will show continued vitality as a growing number of strategic buyers and financial investors demonstrate strong interest in acquiring or investing in quality professional audio companies. Also noteworthy is that two of the companies are hybrid hardware/software companies, and the products of the third are often married to third-party DSP/software to enable expanded functionality. Both software and hardware are essential components in virtually all forms of audio production. Advanced DSP, whether embedded or standalone, is enabling capabilities that go far beyond traditional audio tools.

4. Transition from on-premise to cloud-based software as a service.

A number of our clients successfully built their businesses using a perpetual license-based business model based on customer-managed infrastructure, and were in the process of transitioning to SaaS at the time of transaction. In each case, the buyer’s business model was cloud-based SaaS.,/p>

5. Importance of scale. Scale is an important driver in today’s media technology M&A market.

Our clients often see the value of joining a larger firm which can help them develop and grow their product lines and distribution networks. Smaller companies often struggle to gain the market visibility needed to grow and larger companies usually have greater ‘clout’ in the competition for strong global distribution, and in marshalling R&D, purchasing and other resources to maximize the strengths of their innovation and brands. Becoming part of a larger platform can open the door to heightened opportunities and a bigger playing field.

MediaBridge: Domain expertise, Strategic analysis, and Industry relationships.

MediaBridge Capital’s Global Reach, Vertical Depth™ has never been more relevant. We are uniquely versed in the essential elements of the media technology industry. Our team is comprised of media industry veterans, each with expertise of 20+ years. We are tightly coupled with the buyer universe and know what their strategic interests and timing parameters are. We can explain how product alignment and strategy generate substantial synergies for buyers and sellers. Our expertise has enabled transactions to occur efficiently and smoothly, and we often make critical connections where neither buyer nor seller knew or considered the other party prior to our M&A process.

More than ever, we believe our deep industry relationships and business, financial, technical, and legal expertise are critical to the identification, management, and completion of successful transactions.

MediaBridge Capital Advisors Represents REAL Software Systems in Its Acquisition by Rightsline

Transaction Demonstrates Global Market Leadership Through Rightsline’s Expansion from Hollywood into a Global IP Commerce Powerhouse

BOSTON March 30, 2022 — MediaBridge Capital Advisors today announced that it served as the exclusive investment advisor to REAL Software Systems, a leading provider of IP Commerce software globally, with its Alliant platform managing over $12 billion in royalties annually across multiple industries. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Rightsline’s acquisition of REAL unites two leading rights and royalties management systems into one complete platform covering the full intellectual property lifecycle, operationalizing millions of contracts and processing billions of dollars in royalties annually. The acquisition will extend Rightsline’s core IP rights management services to fully support end-to-end financial and royalties workflows while simultaneously expanding its market from media and entertainment into gaming, publishing, consumer products, life sciences and high tech, among other global industries.

Since its founding in 1993, REAL Software Systems has grown to become a leading provider of IP Commerce software globally. Today, its flagship platform – Alliant – automates the contractual rights, royalties accounting, revenue sharing and profit sharing of more than 70 notable companies with a wide range of underlying IP.

REAL’s CEO noted, “The MediaBridge team played an important role in the execution of this transaction. Their deep knowledge of the media technology sector and professional expertise was instrumental in guiding REAL through the complexities of the acquisition process.”

In November 2020, Rightsline was acquired by Klass Capital, a Toronto-based investment firm, in a majority transaction. As part of that transaction, Klass Capital’s investment provided Rightsline with growth capital to scale their platform offering, fuel hiring efforts and accelerate growth into new verticals and product categories, both organically and through M&A. With the acquisition of REAL, Rightsline cements itself as the leader in the $8.7-billion global IP Commerce market. The combined worldwide team of industry and technology experts tops 160 employees and is slated for sustained growth as the company sets its sights on continued expansion.

Ethan Jacks, Managing Partner of MediaBridge, remarked, “Early in the process we identified the potential synergies between these two highly respected companies. As they engaged with each other, the principals quickly recognized their shared values and the many potential benefits that joining forces would create. We were honored to represent REAL in this important transaction between two industry leaders and see a very bright future for them.”

MediaBridge Capital Advisors Represents Audix in Sale to The Vitec Group

Transaction Demonstrates Market Leadership Through Market Expansion

BOSTON February 9, 2022 — MediaBridge Capital Advisors today announced that it served as the exclusive investment advisor to Audix Corporation, a leading manufacturer of professional microphones and headphones that address the Professional Audio and Installed Sound markets, in its sale to The Vitec Group plc, a global provider of premium-branded hardware products and software solutions to the professional media and growing content creation market, for up to $54.3 million in cash, including retention, transaction and financing costs.

For over 38 years, Audix, headquartered in Wilsonville Oregon, has designed and manufactured award-winning microphones that are known for excellent sound, build quality and versatility. Audix is one of the few microphone companies worldwide that produces a comprehensive range of wired and wireless microphones including vocal and instrumental microphones for recording and live sound, as well as a range of microphone solutions for business, educational, government and telemedicine users. Audix products have been endorsed by leading artists, have received numerous industry awards and are the preferred solution for many leading systems integrators, consultants, and contractors.

Audix products are designed and manufactured in the Company’s facility in Wilsonville, Oregon. Audix is passionate about innovation through advanced design and manufacturing techniques and processes. Having R&D and manufacturing under one roof enables Audix to develop and streamline new products from concept to prototype to production rapidly and efficiently. Audix has a substantial Intellectual Property portfolio including patents, trademarks and trade secrets.

Audix ownership remarked, “It has been an incredible journey to build Audix over the last 38 years into the world-class manufacturing operation and high-quality brand that it is today. Vitec Group’s global sales and marketing presence combined with their other resources will help us immensely, and the resulting scale will allow us to significantly expand our offerings.”

They further noted, “The MediaBridge team played an essential role in the execution of this transaction. They helped manage the complex acquisition process through a challenging time, and we are very appreciative of their experience and advice throughout the transaction.” Martin Green, CFO of Vitec Group, added, “MediaBridge are experts in the Pro Audio and Video marketplaces. They are quite successful in matching companies with highly complementary products, capabilities, and teams.”

Courtney Spencer, John Bowen and Ethan Jacks, Managing Partners of MediaBridge, remarked, “Early in the process we identified the potential synergies between these two well-respected companies, each of which is known for top quality products in their respective market segments. As they engaged with each other, the principals quickly recognized their shared values and the many potential benefits and synergies that joining forces would create. We see a very bright future for them.”,/p>

MediaBridge Capital Advisors Represents Sound Devices in Sale to Audiotonix

Transaction Demonstrates Market Leadership Through Consolidation

BOSTON November 4, 2021 — MediaBridge Capital Advisors today announced that it served as the exclusive investment advisor to Sounds Devices LLC, the pioneering manufacturer of premier audio production recording and mixing equipment, in its sale to Audiotonix, a global market leader of professional audio mixing consoles and related products for the professional broadcast, live sound and studio markets. Audiotonix is a portfolio company of Ardian, a global private equity firm with over $100 billion under management. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed

For over 20 years, Sound Devices, headquartered in Reedsburg, Wisconsin, has designed and built award-winning multi-track audio recorders, field production mixers, high-end wireless microphone systems, and related equipment. Sound Devices products have become the de facto audio production standard for major movies and TV shows, documentaries, and for a range of broadcast applications.

Matt Anderson and Jon Tatooles, co-founders of Sound Devices, remarked, “It has been an incredible journey to build Sound Devices over the last 23 years into the organization it is today. Audiotonix brings us more strength in terms of access to capital, depth in manufacturing, knowledge in engineering, sourcing of parts, and expanding our sales and marketing presence. Audiotonix is a great organization that will build on the success we have achieved. We don’t believe there is a better partner.“

James Gordon, CEO of Audiotonix, commented, “The addition of Sound Devices and their fantastic team to our portfolio of premium audio brands is a proud moment for all involved. Their expertise and technical pedigree in film production, broadcasting and professional recording is a great fit.”

Matt Anderson and Jon Tatooles noted, “The MediaBridge team played an important role in the execution of this transaction. They helped manage the complex acquisition process through a challenging time, and we are very appreciative of their experience and advice throughout the transaction.” James Gordon of Audiotonix added, “The MediaBridge team are experts in the Pro Audio marketplace. As was our experience with MediaBridge in the purchase of another leading audio manufacturer, they are highly successful in matching companies with highly complementary products, capabilities, and teams.”

John Bowen and Courtney Spencer, Managing Partners of MediaBridge, remarked, “Early in the process we identified the potential synergies between these two highly-respected companies. As they engaged with each other, the principals quickly recognized their shared values and the many potential benefits that joining forces would create. We see a very bright future for them.”

MediaBridge Capital Advisors Represents Kino Flo in its acquisition by Chauvet

Transaction Leverages Substantial Market and Product

BOSTON SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 — MediaBridge Capital Advisors announced today that it served as the exclusive investment banking advisor to Kino Flo Inc., a Southern California based pioneer and leader in lighting systems and color science technologies focused on cinema and television production, in its acquisition by Chauvet & Sons, LLC. Chauvet is a leading global provider of professional lighting solutions ranging from concert touring to festivals, theater, broadcast, corporate and architectural applications.

“This represents an important step for our company in our ongoing mission to expand our broadcast, studio, and film lighting capabilities,” said Albert Chauvet, CEO of Chauvet. “Kino Flo has a longstanding tradition of innovation and a commitment to excellence, which makes the company an excellent fit with Chauvet’s own philosophy. We are excited to invest in the future of Kino Flo and build on their technologies, while adding resources to accelerate product development and commercialization.”  “Based on our shared longstanding commitment to our customers and cultural alignment, I am confident our customers will benefit from our new partnership,” said Frieder Hochheim, Founder of Kino Flo, who will continue to lead Kino Flo. “The combined solutions from Kino Flo and Chauvet have limitless possibilities.” Founded in 1987, Kino Flo has developed a series of color technology innovations and earned an award from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences for its development of cool, tube-based arrays with color corrected tungsten and daylight balanced light.

Mr. Hochheim remarked: “The MediaBridge team was essential in the negotiation and execution of this transaction. Their deep knowledge of the media technology sector and professional expertise was instrumental in guiding Kino Flo through the complexities of the acquisition process.”

Ethan Jacks, Managing Partner, and Rob Levy, Managing Director of MediaBridge, noted: “We were honored to represent Kino Flo, an iconic player in film in TV production, in this important transaction between two industry leaders. This highly strategic combination will spur game changing applications, including the new and exciting world of virtual production.”

MediaBridge Capital Advisors Represents Townsend Labs in its Asset Purchase Agreement with Universal Audio

Transaction Leverages Audio Hardware and Software Synergies

BOSTON July 29, 2021 — MediaBridge Capital Advisors announced today that it served as the exclusive investment banking advisor to Townsend Labs Inc., a Silicon Valley based pioneer in proprietary microphone modeling technology, in its asset purchase agreement with Universal Audio, Inc. (UA), a leading manufacturer of professional audio recording hardware and software.

The Townsend Labs Sphere L22 has established itself as a premier microphone modeling solution, which incorporates highly innovative hardware and software technology to bring to life the signature sound of over 30 of the world’s most revered microphones.

“The Sphere L22 microphone is the perfect platform for us,” said Bill Putnam, CEO of Universal Audio. “With UA’s expertise in modeling vintage audio gear, and Townsend’s industry-leading mic modeling technology, we’re poised to bring customers significant innovations in this fast-growing segment of the pro audio industry.”

Townsend Labs’ co-founders Chris Townsend and Erik Papp remarked: “The MediaBridge team was instrumental in the negotiation and execution of this transaction. Their deep knowledge of the audio technology sector and strategic advice guided Townsend Labs in its asset purchase agreement with UA, a long-time strategic partner and ideal buyer.”

Ethan Jacks, a Managing Partner of MediaBridge, noted: “We were delighted to represent Townsend Labs in this important transaction between two industry leaders. We look forward to seeing the results of this highly strategic combination.”

MediaBridge Capital Advisors Represents FileCatalyst in its Acquisition by HelpSystems

Transaction Supports IT Industry Consolidation

BOSTON January 19, 2021 — MediaBridge Capital Advisors today announced that it served as the exclusive investment banking advisor to Unlimi-Tech Software Inc., the creator of FileCatalyst, an Emmy® award winning accelerated-file-transfer solution for customers such as NBC Olympics, Comcast, Dell, GE, the United Nations and Bell Canada. FileCatalyst enables organizations working with extremely large files to optimize and transfer their information swiftly and securely across global networks.

With the increasing need to share video and other media-rich files, big data, and extensive databases, many businesses struggle with technology and bandwidth constraints. FileCatalyst solves these challenges by enabling files to move at speeds hundreds of times faster than what FTP allows, while ensuring secure and reliable delivery and tracking. This empowers businesses to work more efficiently, without the latency and packet loss that can plague the movement of vast amounts of information when it comes to content distribution, file sharing, and offsite backups.

“Our customers and partners have expressed a growing need to move significant volumes of data more quickly than ever before, and FileCatalyst addresses this problem effectively for many well-known organizations,” said Kate Bolseth, CEO, HelpSystems. “FileCatalyst is an excellent addition to our managed file transfer and robotic process automation offerings, and we are pleased to bring the FileCatalyst team and their strong file acceleration knowledge into the global HelpSystems family.”

“We are thrilled to become part of a company with deep roots and expertise in both cybersecurity and automation,” said Chris Bailey, CEO and Co-Founder, FileCatalyst. “Our customers will find value in pairing our file transfer acceleration solutions with HelpSystems’ extensive solution suites.”

“This acquisition is another example of the IT-industry consolidation of leading brands in Media and Entertainment,” said John Bowen, co-founder, and Managing Partner of MediaBridge Capital Advisors. “HelpSystems’ robust cybersecurity and automation solution portfolios will offer FileCatalyst customers a powerful extended suite of capabilities.”

MediaBridge Bolsters its Team as Courtney Spencer Joins as Managing Partner, Robert Levy Joins as Managing Director, Heather Rafter and Richard Wear Join as Senior Industry Advisors.

Boston – January 7, 2020  — MediaBridge Capital Advisors today announced that it has added four new senior members to its team in order to more effectively support its leading advisory services in M&A and corporate financing for firms in broadcast, streaming, pro audio, pro AV, and related industries.

Ethan Jacks and John Bowen, co-founders and Managing Partners of MediaBridge Capital Advisors, noted, “The addition of Courtney Spencer as a Managing Partner is an acknowledgment of his contributions and our confidence that he will greatly enhance our capabilities, especially in the professional audio marketplace. Appointing Rob Levy as a Managing Director reflects his contributions to our work and his deep knowledge of the entertainment industry. Heather Rafter and Richard Wear add enormous experience and knowledge to our senior advisory group and have already made very meaningful contributions to the Firm.

The MediaBridge team, including all four new members, will be attending the NAMM Audio Industry Show starting on Jan 16th in Anaheim CA.

Courtney Spencer has joined the firm as a Managing Partner.  Courtney, who is based in the New York City area, has been a Senior Executive Advisor to MediaBridge and was a key contributor for several MediaBridge transactions, including the sale of SSL to Audiotonix and Minnetonka Audio Software to Telos Alliance. He brings extensive experience of professional audio and broadcast, was a partner in CRX Partners, an industry-focused management consulting firm, and held senior management positions with D&M Holdings (including Denon, Marantz, Calrec,  and Allen & Heath), where he served on the M&A team, and previously with Sony Broadcast and Professional Group, where he served as VP, GM of Professional Audio. Courtney was a recording and radio producer/engineer earlier in his career. He has focused on investment banking and management consulting for over a decade.

Robert Levy has joined MediaBridge as a Managing Director. Rob, who is based in LA, has more than 20 years of experience in the media and entertainment industry. He has played an instrumental role as a Senior Executive Advisor on several M&A assignments for MediaBridge, including the recent sale of FilmTrack to City National Bank, and the sale of Final Draft to Cast & Crew. Previously, Rob served in various operational roles for high-profile entertainment companies including Artist Management Group, Warner Brothers, and Untitled Entertainment, and was President of InterMedia Entertainment. He began his business career at the investment banking firm of Houlihan Lokey.

Heather Rafter has joined the MediaBridge team as a Senior Industry Advisor. Heather has been providing legal and business development services to the audio, music technology and digital media industries for over twenty-five years. As a founder and principal counsel at RafterMarsh US, she leads the RM team in providing corporate and IP advice (US practice) and entertainment law services (UK) to content creators, hardware and software developers, and event producers, among others.

Heather served as General Counsel for Digidesign, formerly the audio division of Avid Technology. During this time she was instrumental in the company’s acquisition of M-Audio and Sibelius Software. She also represented audio console leader Euphonix in its acquisition by Avid. Heather has served in a variety of leadership roles in the American Bar Association, including Chair of the ABA Section of Science & Technology Law. She is a magna cum laude graduate of Princeton University and Columbia University School of Law (J.D., Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar).

Richard Wear has joined the MediaBridge team as a Senior Industry Advisor. Richard is founder and MD of global executive search firm Interfacio, specializing in the media technology sector, based in London and established in 2002. Richard held previous roles as Director and General Manager of Celestion where he led global sales, marketing, product development and distribution for the professional products business, and prior to this was a global product lead for Fostex Corporation of Japan, where he worked closely with R&D teams in Japan and the USA on ground-breaking digital audio products for the recording, post-production and broadcast markets.

Through his work with Interfacio, Richard is continuously engaged with a wide variety of industry leading businesses and their senior management teams across the broadcast, music, lighting, professional and consumer audio sectors as they advance their business development initiatives, and maintains a keen interest and insight into strategic growth and investment opportunities.

Richard graduated from Warwick University, England in 1986 with a BSc Hons in Engineering Science.

MediaBridge Capital Advisors represents FilmTrack in its acquisition by City National Bank

Boston – August 13, 2019– MediaBridge Capital Advisors announced today that it served as the exclusive investment banking advisor to FilmTrack, Inc., a Studio City-based pioneer and leader in content rights and business management, in its acquisition by Los Angeles-based City National Bank, the leader in banking and finance for the entertainment industry.

FilmTrack’s proprietary Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) based platform allows hundreds of film, television and media clients worldwide, ranging from major studios to independents, to manage the complex intellectual property lifecycle, including availabilities, financial reporting, and royalty and participation rights, representing billions of dollars in distribution revenue and participation payments.

This acquisition, the latest in a series of acquisitions by City National of media-oriented  software vendors, will enhance City National’s role in providing the entertainment industry with complex payments solutions and intellectual property rights management.

Regarding the role of MediaBridge Capital Advisors in the process, FilmTrack CEO and Co-founder Jason Kassin remarked: “The MediaBridge team, led by Ethan Jacks and Rob Levy, was instrumental in the initiation and execution of this successful outcome. Their deep knowledge of the media technology sector and strategic guidance resulted in FilmTrack being acquired by a highly strategic buyer. We are very appreciative of the MediaBridge effort.”

Ethan Jacks, a Managing Partner of MediaBridge, noted: “We were delighted to represent FilmTrack and its primary investor Insight Venture Partners in this successful transaction. This is a noteworthy example of two market leaders in different but complementary sectors combining in pursuit of massive market synergies. We look forward to seeing the results of this highly strategic combination.”

Below is a link to the Press Release for the transaction by City National Bank.

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/08/06/1897341/0/en/City-National-Bank-Acquires-FilmTrack.html

MediaBridge Capital Advisors – 2018 IBC Overview

BOSTON September 12, 2018 — Here is our 2018 IBC Industry Overview, containing our views on the major trends in the Media Technology marketplace, detailed information about the performance of key industry players, and also recent public company performance, and M&A and PE activity and transactions

Read our 2018 IBC Industry Overview. 

 

MediaBridge Capital Advisors Represents Solid State Logic in Sale to Audiotonix

Transaction Demonstrates Strength Through Consolidation by Industry Leaders

BOSTON January 9, 2018 — MediaBridge Capital Advisors today announced that it served as the exclusive investment banking advisor to Solid State Logic Holdings Limited (“SSL”), the iconic manufacturer of high-end mixing consoles and recording studio systems, in its sale to Audiotonix, a global market leader in the design, engineering and manufacturing of professional audio mixing consoles and related products for the professional broadcast, live sound and studio markets.

SSL was majority owned by musician and innovator Peter Gabriel, whose Real World Studios has been an SSL customer for 35 years. Mr. Gabriel has become an investor in Audiotonix as part of the transaction.

Mike Large, Director at SSL and Chief Operating Officer at Real World, remarked, “The MediaBridge team was instrumental in both the initiation and execution of this transaction. They were with us from the outset in the complex acquisition process, and we are very appreciative of their industry experience and strategic advice during the transaction. James Gordon, CEO of Audiotonix, added, “the MediaBridge team are well known in the Pro-Audio marketplace, which was particularly beneficial in the introduction and initial discussion phase of the process.”

Ethan Jacks, co-founder and Managing Partner of MediaBridge Capital Advisors, noted, “This acquisition is an excellent example of a carefully executed, highly synergistic consolidation among leading industry brands. Our team’s deep knowledge and demonstrated experience in the professional audio and video technology marketplace provides pre-eminent clients like SSL with a unique advantage in achieving a successful outcome.

Read the press release that further describes the transaction.

 

MediaBridge Capital Advisors – 2017 IBC Overview

BOSTON October 2, 2017 — MediaBridge Capital Advisors attended the 2017 IBC Show in September in Amsterdam. Managing Partners Ethan Jacks and John Bowen, together with Industry Advisors Graham Sharp and Chad Knowles, attended the Show.

Below is a link to our 2017 IBC Industry Overview, containing information about:

  • recent M&A transactions managed by MediaBridge
  • major technology and business trends in the broadcaster marketplace
  • the market performance of key industry players
  • recent significant M&A transactions and PE/VC investments

Read our 2017 IBC Industry Overview.

 

MediaBridge Capital Advisors announces sale of Ultimatte to Blackmagic Design at commencement of IBC Show in Amsterdam

BOSTON September 9, 2016 — MediaBridge Capital Advisors announced today at the commencement of the IBC Show in Amsterdam that it served as the exclusive investment banking advisor to Ultimatte Corporation, the leading maker of chroma key and matting products, in its recent acquisition by Blackmagic Design, an international manufacturer of creative video solutions. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Based in Los Angeles, Ultimatte designs, manufactures and sells the world’s most sophisticated chroma key (blue screen/green screen) products to leading organizations in the entertainment, corporate and education sectors, and has been recognized with numerous industry awards, including three Oscars and one Emmy.

Ultimatte President Lynne Sauve remarked, “We could not have gotten through this without the MediaBridge team. The quality of support MediaBridge provided was unbelievable.”

Ethan Jacks, co-founder and Managing Partner of MediaBridge Capital Advisors, noted “We were delighted to represent Ultimatte in its sale to Blackmagic Design. Blackmagic has demonstrated a successful history of making industry leading products, built on unique intellectual property, available to a large segment of video professionals worldwide. We look forward to the results of this powerful new combination.”

Read the press release that further describes the transaction.

 

MediaBridge Capital Advisors Represents Final Draft in its Acquisition by Cast & Crew Entertainment Services

Transaction Supports Shift to Software and Cloud-based Solutions for Media & Entertainment Technology Marketplace

BOSTON April 5, 2016 — MediaBridge Capital Advisors today announced that it served as the exclusive investment banking advisor to Final Draft®, Inc., maker of Hollywood’s industry-standard Final Draft screenwriting software for the film, television and other media industries, in its acquisition by Cast & Crew Entertainment Services, a leading provider of payroll and production services for the film and television markets.

Cast & Crew is a portfolio company of Silver Lake Partners, a leading technology-focused private equity firm. Terms of the transaction, which closed in early February, were not disclosed.

Read the press release that further describes the transaction.

 

 

MediaBridge Capital Advisors Represents Minnetonka Audio Software in its Strategic Merger with The Telos Alliance

Transaction Supports Shift to Software and Cloud-based Solutions

BOSTON September 11, 2015 — MediaBridge Capital Advisors today announced that it served as the exclusive investment banking advisor to Minnetonka Audio Software, Inc. (“MASI”) in connection with its merger with Linear Acoustic, part of The Telos Alliance, on September 11, 2015. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Based in Minnetonka, MN, MASI is a recognized and award-winning world leader in audio processing solutions for the professional marketplace, with a 20-year history in professional audio services and software application development for motion picture, video, broadcast, game, and optical disc production applications. The Telos Alliance is a global leader in the research, development, and manufacturing of IP Audio, telephony, and high-performance audio processing equipment for broadcasters. The Telos Alliance brands include Telos, Omnia, 25-Seven, Axia, and Linear Acoustic.

“Efficient broadcast audio workflow is shifting from reliance on function-per-box hardware to integrated software and cloud-based solutions,” said Tim Carroll, Linear Acoustic founder and Telos Alliance CTO. “John Schur, Markus Hintz, Jayson Tomlin, and the entire Minnetonka Audio team share a keen understanding of this balance. We are proud to finally be working shoulder-to-shoulder to help our industry move forward with better audio today and towards more personalized and immersive next generation audio.”

“Our goal has always been to offer world class, industry standard audio technology in convenient, ready-to-deploy software kits, plug-ins and enterprise level systems.” said John Schur, president of Minnetonka Audio. “This new chapter for our company dramatically increases the technology that we can offer our customers to solve critical workflow issues. Look, or rather, listen for big things from this new relationship.”

“This merger demonstrates the importance of software and cloud-architected solutions in today’s media markets that enable the delivery of powerful and flexible solutions to customers,” said Ethan Jacks, co-founder and Managing Partner of MediaBridge Capital Advisors.

The newly united companies bring together multiple tools and resources covering all facets of television audio from production to transmission, and many aspects of radio, streaming and future broadcast delivery methods. Current products include hardware, application software, software plugins, and widely-used licensed and OEM versions of key technologies such as loudness
measurement and control, upmixing and downmixing, and Dolby and DTS encoding, decoding, and transcoding. Whether it is a hardware implementation, a software solution, or integrated combination, this team now has the expertise and resources to meet any audio production workflow requirement.

 

MediaBridge Capital Advisors Represents SVSi in its Strategic Acquisition by Harman

Transaction Supports Move Toward Standard IP-based Solutions

BOSTON September 8, 2015 — MediaBridge Capital Advisors today announced that it served as the exclusive investment banking advisor to Southern Vision Systems, Inc. (“SVSi”), the leading maker of networked AV products, in its acquisition by HARMAN International ( NYSE: HAR), a multinational manufacturer of connected products and solutions for consumers, automakers and enterprises worldwide. Terms of the transaction, which closed in June of this year, were not disclosed..

Based in Huntsville, Alabama, SVSi manufactures and sells an extensive portfolio of products for delivering a complete AV experience over an IP network, including a full range of high-performance encoders and decoders, windowing/wall processors, an audio transceiver, video recorder, and management software. SVSi joins the HARMAN Professional Services Division.

Harman has been steadily introducing new products to serve growing customer demand for IP-based products. The acquisition of SVSi will accelerate its development plan with the addition of extraordinary expertise from the SVSi team.

SVSi networked AV products have enjoyed tremendous success and acceptance at leading organizations in the entertainment, government, education, and corporate sectors, and have been recognized with numerous industry awards.

SVSi Founder Andy Whitehead remarked, “The MediaBridge team was with us every step of the way in our acquisition process, and we are deeply appreciative of their efforts in completing the
transaction.”

“This acquisition is another example of the new dynamic in today’s media markets: a move toward standardized IP-based technologies that enable vendors to evolve and adapt more quickly to changing customer and business requirements,” said John Bowen, co-founder and Managing Partner of MediaBridge Capital Advisors.

 

MEDIABRIDGE CAPITAL ADVISORS MANAGES TWO STRATEGIC ACQUISITIONS REFLECTING NEW TREND IN M&A LANDSCAPE

Deals Are Latest in Move Toward Hardware/Software Mergers to Better Serve Customers’ Growing Requirements for Broader IT and Cloud-Based Solutions

BOSTON March 31, 2014 — MediaBridge Capital Advisors today announced that it has served as the exclusive investment banking advisor on two international acquisitions that both closed on March 18, 2014. Reflecting a growing M&A trend toward consolidation of hardware and software enterprises, the deals include the $25 million sale of U.K.-based broadcast automation and channel-in-a-box software leader Pebble Beach Systems to Vislink plc, a global U.K.-based wireless communications vendor, and the CA$21 million sale of Montreal-based visual communications software pioneer X2O Media to Barco N.V., a multinational manufacturer of visualization systems based in Belgium.

“Although occurring primarily in two different markets — Broadcast and Pro A/V — these acquisitions represent a new dynamic in today’s media markets: a move toward standardized IT and cloud-based technologies,” said John Bowen, co-founder and managing partner, MediaBridge Capital Advisors. “Not only are end user customers able to evolve and adapt more quickly to changing business requirements, but the vendors benefit from higher-margin business and the potential for recurring revenue models.”

Ethan Jacks, MediaBridge’s other co-founder and managing partner, added, “MediaBridge is focused on the leading edge of the hardware/software consolidation model. We are pleased to have represented Pebble Beach and X2O, both leading digital media software innovators, in highly synergistic acquisitions by global enterprises Vislink and Barco.”

“MediaBridge has been advising us for several years to secure the best strategic partner for our next stage of growth,” said Peter Hajittofi, co-founder and managing director of Pebble Beach Systems. “With its fantastic global tier-1 client base in the broadcast sector, Vislink offers us an ideal platform for accelerated growth and expansion of our software solutions. MediaBridge was integral to this successful outcome.”

“The MediaBridge team was with us every step of the way in our acquisition process with Barco,” said David Wilkins, founder and CEO of X2O Media. “MediaBridge’s expertise in all aspects of the transaction, particularly the transaction structure and closing execution, was superb. We are delighted to be joining the Barco family, and we are deeply appreciative of the effort from the MediaBridge team in completing the deal on excellent terms.”

MEDIABRIDGE CONGRATULATES CLIENTS ON THREE PRIMETIME EMMY TECHNOLOGY WINS

On October 23, 2013 three clients of MediaBridge Capital Advisors won Technology Emmys at the 65th Annual Primetime Emmy Engineering Awards. The event was held at the Dolby Theater complex in LA and was hosted by The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
Pictured below are Ethan Jacks, Managing Partner of MediaBridge, together with Josh Kline (left) who won an Emmy for Digital Dailies ®, and Mark Ethier (right), CEO of iZotope, which won an Emmy for its Rx Audio Repair Technology used throughout television post-production. Also, Marc Madnick, CEO of Final Draft, was awarded an Emmy for the industry standard Final Draft script-writing software.
MediaBridge congratulates these three leaders in media technology for their recognition this year by the Academy.

 

 

MEDIABRIDGE CAPITAL ADVISORS ANNOUNCES THE COMPLETION OF TWO SIGNIFICANT TRANSACTIONS IN THE DIGITAL MEDIA MARKETPLACE

  • Wireless video leader Teradek LLC acquired by The Vitec Group plc
  • $12 million private equity financing of audio-software leader iZotope, Inc. by ABS Capital Partners
 
 
 
 
 
Boston, MA – 09.05.13  MediaBridge Capital Advisors served as exclusive investment banking advisor to Teradek, LLC and iZotope, Inc. Both transactions were completed in August 2013. “We were pleased to represent these two leading media technology innovators in strategic growth transactions” commented Ethan Jacks, co-founder and Managing Partner of MediaBridge. “We look forward to seeing both companies redefine key elements of the digital media landscape.”

Teradek acquired by The Vitec Group plc for up to $30.4 million

Based in Irvine, CA, Teradek is a world leading provider of wireless video devices and platforms used by broadcasters, filmmakers, businesses and web channels to wirelessly transmit high-quality images. Teradek’s products are used in live electronic news gathering, real-time monitoring and recording, aerial visual capture and webcasting. All products are designed and manufactured in California and sold internationally.
The Vitec Group plc is a leading international provider of products and services for the broadcast, photographic, and military-aerospace- government markets. The acquisition will not only strengthen Vitec’s product offerings particularly to the growing number of independent videographers and business users, but will complement Vitec’s existing video activities including its range of broadcast microwave systems, and allow Teradek’s products to be sold through Vitec’s global sales and distributor network. Teradek will operate as an autonomous business unit within Vitec’s Videocom division.
Under the terms of the acquisition, the initial estimated consideration is $14.9 million payable primarily in cash, with the balance in Vitec shares. Up to a further $15.5 million is payable based on the future profitability of Teradek over a three year period ending in 2015.
Nicol Verheem, CEO and co-founder of Teradek, said: “This represents a major step forward for Teradek which I believe will expand our reach, fuel our continued growth and enhance our focus on product innovation. We will undoubtedly benefit from the resources and reach of Vitec Videocom and will embrace the opportunity to work alongside some of its other market-leading brands.”
Matt Danilowicz, CEO of Vitec’s Videocom division, commented: “Teradek is a tremendously exciting acquisition for Vitec Videocom. Whether it’s a cinema director seeking an on-set monitoring system, an ENG journalist transmitting breaking news from a challenging environment, or a professional videographer live-streaming his client’s ceremony, class or conference, Teradek’s products will enable us to provide an affordable solution for our customers’ wireless transmission requirements.”

iZotope, Inc. receives $12 million Investment from ABS Capital Partners

iZotope, Inc., a leading audio technology company founded in 2001 and based in Cambridge, MA, received a $12 million investment from ABS Capital Partners, a private equity investor in later-stage growth companies. iZotope will use the funds to develop new products, expand their markets and increase sales and marketing efforts. As a result of the financing, ABS Capital General Partner Laura Witt will join iZotope’s board of directors, as will Dean Goodermote, a former ABS Capital portfolio company CEO, a board member of Berklee College of Music, and a successful technology and software executive. With over $2 billion raised since inception, ABS Capital Partners has invested in over 100 growth companies over the past two decades.
“iZotope is a company driven by a wealth of creative brainpower. Coupled with our position as a market leader, this funding will enable us to realize more of our creative vision, accelerating innovation and new products for our loyal customer base,” explained Mark Ethier, CEO and co-founder of iZotope. “Taking outside funding is a huge opportunity, and we felt that ABS would be a true partner in the business. With more resources, we’ll be able to expand the reach of our current offerings and develop products to address new opportunities in ways we never imagined.”
“iZotope already has an incredible brand and is well-recognized for its leading audio technology. It’s a unique opportunity to work with a strong, entrepreneurial business to help them broaden their market presence,” said Laura Witt. “This new funding means they can reach more customers and markets, and professional and amateur musicians and engineers alike will benefit.”
iZotope creates professional audio products for the music, entertainment and education industries. The Company’s current product portfolio is comprised of solutions for audio creation, repair, mixing and mastering. iZotope’s award-winning products and technologies are used by millions of people in over 50 countries. The Company is well-positioned to continue to be at the center of two very important trends. First, production of both audio and video content is increasingly shifting from traditional, expensive studio settings outfitted with hardware tools to software-based production environments. This trend is democratizing audio production to a broader market of freelance professional or “prosumer” producers, eager to acquire affordable, best-in-class tools to differentiate their sound production. Second, the increasing volume of video produced for corporate and educational purposes and the proliferation of user-generated video content create new potential markets for iZotope’s audio production tools.
iZotope’s products are sold directly online, as well as through brick and mortar and online retail channels such as Guitar Center. iZotope’s clients include musical giants such as Depeche Mode, Garbage, Skrillex, and Wu-Tang Clan; radio stations and TV programming such as CBS’s Survivor, the Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch, the World Cup broadcast and the GRAMMY awards. iZotope technology is also directly integrated into products made by industry leaders such as Adobe, Avid and Sony; video games from companies like Microsoft, Harmonix and Ubisoft; and a growing number of mobile phone applications.

 

MediaBridge Capital Advisors represents London-based Sohonet, the global leader in network and data management for the media and entertainment industry, in connection with significant investment by FF&P Private Equity.

01.15.13 – MediaBridge Capital Advisors, an investment bank focused on the digital media marketplace worldwide, is pleased to announce that it served as primary advisor to London-based Sohonet, the leading provider of mission critical networks and data management for the media and entertainment industry in connection with a significant investment by FF&P Private Equity, the private equity business of Fleming
 
Family & Partners, based in London. MediaBridge was assisted in the transaction by Media Asset Capital, based in Devon, UK.
Sohonet offers an extensive range of services backed up by unrivalled support and expertise to enable pan-global collaboration within the media community. It has offices in the UK, Los Angeles and Sydney. The Sohonet Media Network provides a high-speed, end-to-end secure data delivery solution that reliably transports media content between multiple industry participants across the globe, helping to facilitate global collaboration in the media industry.
The new capital investment by FF&P in Sohonet will enable the company to fund international expansion of the existing Sohonet Media Network, increasing the number of network locations in conjunction with the launch of integrated and flexible hosted data storage and remote computing services for Sohonet Media Network participants.
Dave Scammell, CEO of Sohonet commented, “I am very excited to be able to announce this investment, and believe FF&P are the perfect partner to help us to take Sohonet to the next level. Sohonet’s customer proposition is market-leading and this investment will support our rapid roll-out to new territories, as well as allow us to respond better to the increasing client demand, both internationally and within our existing core markets”.
Ethan Jacks, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of MediaBridge Capital Advisors, said “Sohonet has established itself over the past decade as the premier supplier of essential high-speed network connectivity and data management for the media and entertainment industry on a world-wide basis. From the creation of blockbuster 3D movies to the delivery of everyday television advertisements, the Sohonet Media Network provides seamless support to the thousands of content creators, producers, and vendors of media throughout the world. Now with the support of top-tier investors FF&P, we look forward to Sohonet’s exponential growth in this expanding marketplace.”


 

RADIANTGRID ACQUIRED BY WOHLER AT NAB 2012

04.18.12 – RadiantGrid Technologies, developer of transcoding, transformation, and new media automation service platforms, has been acquired by Wohler Technologies at the 2012 NAB show. This acquisition will provide current and new RadiantGrid users the benefit of additional sales, technical and development support worldwide.
“Like Wohler, RadiantGrid is always looking to keep itself ahead of emerging technologies, offering our users access to the latest file format support,” said Kirk Marple, RadiantGrid president and chief software architect. “Now being a Wohler Technologies company, RadiantGrid will be able to offer even more innovations to meet the industry’s changing needs, combined with expanded sales and support.”
“We see ourselves as an innovator in this file-based workflow space. The big thing we’re looking at for NAB this year is faster than real-time standards conversion. It’s a first time offering for this space,” added Marple at yesterday’s press conference. “We’ve been looking for the right partner in the industry to accelerate our growth internationally and domestically. I think it’s really going to pay off for both companies.”
Wohler is a provider of audio and video monitoring, and data management solutions for the broadcast, motion picture and professional audio/visual markets. Its acquisition of RadiantGrid will allow the two companies to streamline file-based workflows with a full range of video, audio, data, and QC solutions that support broadcasters for the latest distribution needs such as IPTV and VOD.
“Over the past 20 years, we have watched the industry change and evolve and have always been right there along with it, offering our users the latest video and audio monitoring, and data management technologies,” said Carl J. Dempsey, president and CEO of Wohler Technologies. “In this latest evolution of the industry, we are seeing broadcasters moving to a more file-based realm.”
Dempsey also added that when they asked their customers what they needed, they came back with “faster than real-time processing, and there was nothing in their bag of tricks that could get there. We’ve really ramped up our engineering and so we’re on the road to a file-base solution.”
By bringing RadiantGrid into the Wohler family, Dempsey said “the association now accelerates and expands that. The acquisition of RadiantGrid, which has a proven reputation of providing innovative file-based solutions, is a great complement to the technologies we are currently developing to make the migration to an IT-based infrastructure easier and faster.”
RadiantGrid was represented in the sale process by Ethan Jacks and John Bowen, principals at MediaBridge Capital Advisors, a digital media-focused investment bank. “We see this acquisition as a benchmark for the transformational change occurring in the broadcast and new media marketplace,” said Jacks. “Wohler and RadiantGrid together will help redefine the best practices for the industry.”