An American private equity firm is snapping up a controlling stake in a British-based company which collects royalties on behalf of Hollywood studios including The Walt Disney Company and Amazon-owned MGM.
Sky News understands that Great Hill Partners has struck a deal to take majority ownership of Motion Picture Licensing Company (MPLC), which was put up for sale earlier this year.
MPLC’s existing private equity backer, Tenzing, is understood to be rolling over part of its interest and will remain an investor as part of the transaction, according to insiders.
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The value of the deal was unclear on Tuesday, although it is estimated to be worth several hundred million pounds.
MPLC, which describes itself as the leading global provider of audio-visual public performance licences, streamlines the process for companies and other organisations which want to legally display content in public places such as offices, transport hubs or pubs.
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The company issues a permit known as a blanket licence, encompassing thousands of content-owners, meaning licensees can be certain they are complying with copyright laws.
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Among the other rights-holders it represents are Marvel Studios, CNN, Dreamworks and NBCUniversal, which – like Sky News – is ultimately owned by New York-listed Comcast.
MPLC has been part-owned by Tenzing, a private equity firm, since 2019.
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The company was founded in 2004, and is based in Sussex.
Bankers at Guggenheim Securities are understood to have advised Tenzing on the process.
Tenzing has been contacted for comment.
