Tuesday August 3, 2021

FRP’s Restructuring Advisory team completes deal that secures jobs and future of award-winning production company.

Our Restructuring Advisory team has supported the Directors of BAFTA award-winning KEO Films in securing a deal with three-time Oscar winner Passion Pictures which will see it become the majority shareholders in a new company with KEO Films.

KEO Films, which was formed in 1996 and run by Co-founder Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Chief Creative Officer Andrew Palmer and Creative Director Will Anderson, consistently delivers some of the most celebrated premium factual and features content, and has won 9 Broadcast Awards, 8 RTS Awards, 2 International Emmys and 8 BAFTAS, most recently for Best Factual Series for Once Upon A Time in Iraq on BBC Two.

Chris French worked with the management team to market the business and assets of KEO Films Limited for sale and secured the pre-pack administration transaction with Passion Pictures.

The deal with Passion Pictures, and the consequent restructuring of the business, ensures that despite the significant challenges caused by COVID-19, all KEO staff jobs are secured and current productions will continue as normal. KEO Films will retain its bases in London and Bristol, allowing them to continue making challenging, inspiring and high-end content for a range of UK and international broadcasters.

Chris French, Manager at FRP, said: “We set out to secure the future of KEO Films and have been able to create a formidable partnership between two stand-out names in the British film industry. We wish them all the best with the new venture as they look to create more award-winning content.”

Nick Southgate, CEO at Passion Pictures said: “KEO Films track record in strong factual content is unrivalled. We’re delighted to welcome them as part of the Passion Pictures family and look forward to working with such a creative company, supporting their success and future growth.”

Andrew Palmer, CCO at KEO Films added: “Passion Pictures is the perfect partner to support our ambitions in growing our portfolio of documentary and factual features programmes. For our valued and hard-working team, this means we can continue to deliver high quality programming for a range of UK and international broadcasters, and also now accelerate our ambitions to make more quality content for a wider audience.”

Charlotte Møller at Brown Rudnick provided legal advice to KEO Films and its Directors on the transaction.