ACF Investment Bank’s Thomas Dey talks next-level consolidation

Today, we hear from Thomas Dey, CEO of ACF Investment Bank, about becoming part of the Forest Road Company as media and entertainment reaches a new phase of mega-mergers, with Hollywood studios in play and the LA Screenings around the corner.

Thomas Dey

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ACF Investment Bank CEO Thomas Dey has wrapped up some of the biggest deals in media and entertainment over the past decade, handling Leftfield Entertainment’s sale to ITV Studios; Bear Grylls Ventures to Banijay; The Lord of the Rings to Embracer Group; and many more.

But at the start of this year, ACF itself was the subject of such M&A, when it sold a majority stake to American merchant bank Forest Road Company. The partnership recently saw ACF advise an investor group led by Forest Road and including Liberty Global on their backing for US talent management company Range Media Partners.

According to Dey, the scale of M&A on the horizon is only set to grow as media and entertainment reaches a new phase.

“Mediawan has absorbed Leonine, Asacha was sold to Fremantle. All the consolidators themselves will be consolidated, and then you move up to the next level, which is the studios – and all are effectively in play one way or another,” says the exec.

Dey spoke to Jonathan Webdale about these seismic shifts, with Paramount currently seeking a deal. He also discussed Hollywood’s place on the global stage as the LA Screenings roll around again following on from last year’s strikes, with US studios again focusing on licensing as they attempt to claw back investment in streaming.

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