< Back to News

EFA in the News

News

EFA Partners Selected to Participate in Leading Entertainment, Media, and Telecom Conferences

June 24, 2015

EFA Partners, a boutique financial advisory firm focused on arranging capital and providing investment banking and strategic consulting services for entertainment, media and telecom companies, recently had three members of its senior team participate as speakers in several leading industry conferences.  Senior executives across leading industry and trade organizations regularly acknowledge EFA’s extensive financial and industry expertise within the entertainment, media and telecom sectors. Ongoing invitations to speak at influential and high-profile conferences reflect the valuable insights and unique perspectives that EFA Partners brings to each of these events.

Brandt Gully, EFA Partners – Creative Financing Panel at CinemaCon 2015

In April 2015, Brandt Gully, Managing Partner and founding principal of EFA Partners, participated on the Creative Financing: Alternative Funding Sources panel at CinemaCon, the official convention of The National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO).

Brandt has approximately 20 years of experience in financial services and has closed and/or managed over $3 billion of transactions within the media, leisure and entertainment sectors, with a primary focus on film exhibition and related sectors.

Brandt utilized his financial expertise and deep understanding of the out-of-home entertainment and film exhibition industry to bring CinemaCon attendees valuable insights on navigating the complexities and challenges of obtaining the right financing structure for their specific strategic business objectives.  

Since CinemaCon’s debut in 2011, the event has become the largest gathering for the worldwide motion picture theater industry, with attendees from more than 80 countries. Featuring the largest cinema trade show in the world, CinemaCon attracts all facets of the industry including exhibition, distribution, marketing, technology, concessions and others. 

David Harrington, EFA Partners – Future of Television Panel at Digital Hollywood: Spring Entertainment and Technology Conference

In April 2015, David Harrington, Managing Partner of EFA Partners, participated on the Future of Television panel at the Digital Hollywood: Spring Entertainment and Technology Conference.

David has over 25 years of corporate finance and investment banking experience, and has closed over $1.5 billion in leveraged capital and equity financings within the media, communications and entertainment sectors. 

David utilized his deep understanding of the evolving business dynamics within the broadcast, telecom, digital and cable television industries to bring the conference attendees valuable insights on the latest industry trends, including syndication, technology, streaming video/mobile OTT services, and the challenges to traditional bundled programming offerings and  viewing  habits, among other areas.  

Digital Hollywood, a leading authority on the convergence of the entertainment and technology industries, has developed and produced over two hundred conferences. The Digital Hollywood: Spring Entertainment and Technology Conference focused on the advancement of digital technology and how it has impacted financing, programming, advertising, and content creation within the telecommunications industry. 

Robert Raciti, Ph.D., EFA Partners – Financing Media and Technology Panel at Digital Hollywood: 2015 Media Summit New York

In March 2015, Robert Raciti, Managing Partner of EFA Partners, participated on the Valuing and Financing Media and Technology panel at the Digital Hollywood: 2015 Media Summit New York.

Robert has over 25 years of technology, operational, and financial experience. Over the course of his career, he has provided industry diligence to support transactions within the media, communications and entertainment sectors that represented more than $8 billion in funded deal volume. 

Robert utilized his expertise in origination, capital raising and deal execution within the media and telecom industry, to bring summit attendees valuable insights on various financial activities, from effectively financing corporate strategic investment and M&A opportunities, to securing venture capital and private equity.  He has also been a regular speaker at investment / technology conferences and has been profiled in business and industry publications including The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg TV, and the Commercial Lending Review.

Digital Hollywood, a leading authority on the convergence of the entertainment and technology industries, has developed and produced over two hundred conferences. The Digital Hollywood: 2015 Media Summit New York is an international conference focused on the innovation, investment and growth opportunities within the motion picture, television, advertising, and publishing industries, among others. 

If you have questions about EFA Partners and are interested in having a member of the EFA team speak at your event individually or as part of a group panel discussion; or if you would like to have EFA write an article for your publication, please contact the Company’s media relations firm, JCIR, at (212) 835-8500 or efa@jcir.com.

About EFA Partners
EFA Partners is a boutique financial advisory firm that provides investment banking services focused on arranging capital, M&A, and financial consulting services for entertainment, leisure, media, and telecommunications companies. Its senior team has closed and managed over $13 billion of financings in its targeted sectors.  EFA has a wealth of relationships from which to source capital including local and regional banks, national and international banks, specialty finance groups, equipment financiers, providers of mezzanine debt and private equity groups.  Since its formation in 2009, EFA has been retained by over 90 clients and placed over $800 million of capital, plus it has advised on over $1.2 billion of additional transactions.

 

Leading provider of digital media services for film and television

Background: Seasoned management team formed new film and television digital media services company and approached EFA to arrange financing for potential acquisition targets.

EFA Process: The company retained EFA to arrange acquisition financing and EFA approached several banks and specialty lenders.

Result: Closed debt financing to support two company acquisitions and working capital facility.

start quoteWe selected EFA as our advisor due to their financial experience specific to the film and television services sector. The past year has been tremendous for us as we significantly grew our business with EFA arranging financing that allowed us to execute on our growth plans very quicklyend quote

John Suh
Co-Founder and Co-President of  Pixelogic

quote tail

NEXT CLIENT

Television broadcast company owning and operating WGGB-TV and WGGB-TV D2, the ABC and FOX network affiliates serving the Springfield-Holyoke, MA market

Background: Initially approached by Gormally Broadcasting to arrange financing to recapitalize the company and fund planned acquisition growth. EFA became company’s sell-side advisor when industry changes and market forces made exploring a sale a more advantageous and financially rewarding strategic option for the company.

EFA Process: EFA was successful in securing financing commitments to fund a recapitalization and several acquisitions during the initial engagement focus. However, marketplace dynamics noted above resulted in EFA recommending a company sale. EFA provided a tailored, results-oriented approach from start to finish.

Result: EFA identified Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP) as the leading buyer and managed all aspects of the sale, maximizing the sales price received for the company.

start quoteIt was a pleasure working with Dave Harrington and the team at EFA. Through Dave’s deep industry knowledge, relationships and marketplace expertise, we were able to maximize the ultimate value of our company’s broadcast assets. end quote

John Gormally,
Founder, Owner and President of Gormally Broadcasting

quote tail

NEXT CLIENT

Growing movie theatre company that provides an in-theatre dining experience with over 300 screens throughout the US

Background: Longtime client that initially approached EFA seeking junior capital to grow its business.

EFA Process: After reviewing the company's capital structure and growth plans EFA recommended a financing structure that would recapitalize the company and provide significant growth capital.

Result: Closed three financings that recapitalized the company and provided growth for new theatres. Studio Movie Grill also retained EFA for M&A opportunities and to assist with restructuring process.

start quoteWe were delighted to work with the EFA Partners team on our second successful financing with them. Their wide range of capital markets experience, banking relationships and deep knowledge of the cinema and location-based entertainment industries made them the perfect choice to assist with our financing efforts, which support SMG's active growth strategy. end quote

Brian Schultz,
Owner, founder and President of Studio Movie Grill

quote tail

NEXT CLIENT

Television and motion picture post-production and digital content management services

Background: Company approached EFA seeking refinancing of its debt subsequent to other advisors attempting to do so with a combination of senior debt and equity.

EFA Process: After reviewing its capital structure EFA recommended a debt structure to fully refinance the company's debt.

Result: Closed senior debt facility that refinanced the company's existing debt, which was much more cost-effective than equity.

start quoteThe EFA team proposed a creative strategy to recapitalize Modern VideoFilm that met our needs in a way that was unique and different from what other financial advisory firms proposed to us. We appreciated their understanding of the entertainment industry and EFA's extensive financial relationships and we look forward to continuing our relationship. end quote

Moshe Barkat,
CEO and President of Modern VideoFilm

quote tail

NEXT CLIENT

Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner's well established movie theatre company - with almost 300 screens located throughout the US

Background: Landmark approached EFA for an equipment financing to convert its screens from 35mm to digital projection.

EFA Process: While the company had many financing options given its strong ownership, its management was busy with business operations and retained EFA to handle the digital conversion financing process.

Result: Closed equipment financing facility utilized for all of its digital projectors. EFA led all aspects of the financing including negotiation of complex digital cinema conversion agreements.

start quoteEFA's unique knowledge and experience with film exhibition and digital cinema was extremely helpful in leading our financing process. Landmark prides itself in providing the best customer experience to its patrons and we are excited that this financing will allow us to continue that with our digital conversion. end quote

Sky Hansen,
Chief Financial Officer of Landmark Theatres

quote tail

NEXT CLIENT

Provider of digital information services to the film industry

Background: Company approached EFA seeking funding to refinance debt and provide growth capital.

EFA Process: After reviewing its capital structure and growth plans, EFA approached the specialty lender market and arranged debt facility. Subsequently, company retained EFA as sell-side advisor. 

Result: Arranged debt for refinaning existing debt and for growth. Also, handled sale process from start to close for successful sale of business.

start quoteIt was a pleasure to work with the team at EFA Partners who served as our advisor on the sale of West World Media. Through deep industry knowledge, relationships and marketplace expertise, we were able to achieve a successful outcome. end quote

Brett West
Founder and President of West World Media

quote tail

NEXT CLIENT

Television industry management group formed to manage and operate US TV stations

Background: Huntington approached EFA seeking capital for potential television station acquisitions.

EFA Process: EFA understood that private equity firms and lenders are seeking experienced management teams to back for acquisition opportunities in the television sector.

Result: EFA has introduced the company to several private equity firms as well as senior lenders, resulting in bids for groups of television stations and the company continues to seek other opportunities, with EFA’s assistance.

start quoteWe are acutely aware of the trends that are transforming the local broadcast TV business and have recently begun to explore opportunities to acquire stations. We are very excited about the prospects for the industry and the opportunities to capitalize upon. We are also pleased to have EFA Partners as our financial advisor as their many years of media industry experience and extensive financial relationships will help us accomplish our goal of building a best-in-class station group.

end quote

 

David Tynan,
CEO of Huntington Broadcast Management Group

quote tail

NEXT CLIENT