A Financial Advisory and Capital Placement Firm NEW YORK - ATLANTA
EFA in the News
EFA Partners Presents at Dine-In Cinema Summit Regarding Financing Alternatives and M&A
February 8, 2023
New York, NY (February 8, 2023) – During the week of February 6th, the 5th annual Dine-In Cinema Summit took place in Dallas, Texas. This year’s conference was a three-day event that covered numerous topics related to dine-in cinema including theater/auditorium design and the latest industry technology. In addition, a portion of the conference was dedicated to hybrid entertainment venues that include both movie theater auditoriums and family entertainment center attractions.
Brandt Gully and Ralph Willis, both Managing Partners and Co-Founders of EFA Partners, were invited to present at the conference since EFA has a specific focus and background financing both movie theater and family entertainment center clients. They discussed the various financing alternatives that are available in the current market and also presented an overview of the M&A environment.
They based much of their presentation on their experience in 2022 since EFA closed several transactions including construction financing, refinancing of existing debt, equipment financing for new attractions, and M&A as sell-side advisor. That experience gave them a broad view of the capital markets and they provided color on financing alternatives including traditional bank financing, specialty lenders, REITs, and equipment financiers. In addition, they provided an overview of the current M&A markets with an emphasis on buyers/sellers of movie theaters and other leisure venues.
EFA’s principals have over 70 years of collective experience in providing financing solutions for entertainment, and media companies. They have deep relationships with banks, equipment lessors, construction lenders, specialty finance groups, REITs, and private equity groups. The team prides itself on handling its clients’ financing processes from start to finish with a transparent, defined, and success-based process.
“We really appreciated the invitation to present at the conference and discuss some of the financing alternatives that are available in the current market,” said Mr. Willis. “We feel we have a good perspective on the current financing market and M&A market given our many clients and closings in 2022. Hopefully, conveying that experience was helpful for the conference attendees. We look forward to next year’s show.”
About EFA Partners
EFA Partners is a boutique financial advisory firm with offices in New York and Atlanta focused on the entertainment, media, and technology companies. It provides investment banking services focused on arranging growth capital, mergers and acquisitions, and financial consulting. In entertainment, its targeted sectors include movie theaters, family entertainment centers, theme parks, water parks, concert venues, hotels, casinos, observation wheels, sports, and others. In media and technology, EFA focuses on companies in film/television post-production, film/television distribution, communications services, SaaS, recorded music, music publishing, and others. Since its inception in 2009, EFA has been retained by over 190 clients, has arranged over $1.6 billion of capital, and has advised on over $3.6 billion of additional capital.
