Houlihan Lokey Advises Hartswood Films
Houlihan Lokey is pleased to announce that Hartswood Films, the multi-award-winning production company behind a raft of landmark scripted series, has been acquired by ITV Studios, a global studio that creates, owns, and distributes high-quality TV content. ITV Studios is part of ITV PLC, listed in the U.K.
Based in London and Cardiff, Hartswood Films was founded in 1979 by Beryl Vertue, making it the longest-established scripted producer in the U.K. Led by CEO and Executive Producer Sue Vertue, alongside Director of Operations Debbie Vertue, Managing Director Dan Cheesbrough, and Creative Director and Executive Producer Steven Moffat, and working with A-list talent such as Benedict Cumberbatch, Hugh Bonneville, Jessica Raine, and Stanley Tucci, Hartswood Films has a broad slate of exceptional returning drama and comedy series, produced for global broadcasters and platforms, including the BBC, ITV, Netflix and Prime Video.
Its landmark productions include the BBC’s nine-time Emmy-Award-winning Sherlock, recent ITVX and ITV1 hit Douglas Is Cancelled, and Prime Video’s critically acclaimed returning psychological thriller The Devil’s Hour.
ITV is a leading British media and entertainment company, operating the largest commercial broadcaster and streamer in the U.K., ITVX. ITV Studios, which is part of ITV PLC, creates, produces, and sells a wide range of content around the world, from high-quality drama, entertainment, and natural history to factual programmes. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 index.
Following the transaction, the existing management and creative team of Hartswood Films will continue to run the business and play a key role in programme development to maintain their creative pipeline.
Houlihan Lokey served as the exclusive financial advisor and assisted the shareholders of Hartswood Films throughout the transaction, including the preparation of marketing materials, buyer outreach, structuring of the process, coordination of due diligence, and negotiating key deal terms.
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