Syco in $125 Million Securitization Deal for Got Talent IP

Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertainment has secured what is being billed as a groundbreaking $125 million securitization deal for the Got Talent IP with investment bank ACF.

The format has been commissioned in 72 territories. The $125 million in financing will be used as a “war chest” to expand the franchise via strategic acquisitions and organic growth projects.

ACF advised Syco through the securitization deal of the Got Talent IP, which includes margins and fees, digital income, franchise and original content sales and sponsorship income.

Commenting on the investment deal, Thomas Dey, ACF’s founder and CEO, said: “ACF worked with Syco to formulate this financial strategy to support its plans and managed the entire process as the lead bank. Our brief was to create a structure to enable the company to maximize the full potential of its existing passive royalty income stream. ACF has created a winning formula using our extensive experience from across the media and entertainment sector. We are certain that this groundbreaking structure will be one that we will use for many media formats in the future.”

Ian Rosenblatt OBE, director of Syco Entertainment, added. “ACF’s certainly got talent. Their team, led by the ever-tenacious Thomas Dey, delivered on their promises and introduced the perfect partners to achieve our goals.”