Village Roadshow Pictures Launches Renewal of $750 million Film Production Facility to Boost Upcoming Slate with Warner Bros. and Sony Partnerships
Village Roadshow Entertainment Group (VREG), led by Greg Basser and Bruce Berman, has completed a $480 million recapitalization, including $325 million of new capital from a consortium of worldwide investors including Vine Alternative Investments, Falcon Investment Advisors, and Village Roadshow Limited.
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The facility was arranged by the Company and placed by J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, with Moelis & Company acting as financial adviser to the Company.
Village Roadshow Pictures Group (VRPG), is the company behind hits such American Sniper, Mad Max, the Matrix trilogy, The Great Gatsby and the Ocean’s series.
Today, VRP has also launched a renewal of its $750 million film production facility. The facility finances VRP’s library of titles co-produced with Warner Bros. Pictures, Sony Pictures, and other major distributors.
“With this new phase, we are thrilled to be moving towards our third decade of filmmaking in partnership with Warner Bros. and the start of our journey with Sony, ” said the entertainment group’s CEO Greg Basser in a statement. “This capital will strengthen VREG’s financial resources and our capacity to make more films.”
After almost twenty years, VRP stands as one of the leading independent film production companies with a library of 85 films generating over $15 billion in global box office receipts under key partnerships with Warner Bros. Pictures and Sony Pictures.
Village Roadshow’s upcoming 2015 titles include “Goosebumps” (Oct. 16) starring Jack Black, “In the Heart of the Sea” (Dec. 11) starring Chris Hemsworth and directed by Ron Howard, and “Concussion” (Dec. 25) starring Will Smith. Next year its slate includes “Ghostbusters” with Melissa McCarthy and Kristin Wiig; “King Arthur” with Charlie Hunnam from director Guy Ritchie; “The Magnificent Seven” starring Chris Pratt, Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke and directed by Antoine Fuqua; and “Passengers” with Jennifer Lawrence and Pratt. Looking ahead to 2017, the company already has an “Equalizer” sequel planned with Denzel Washington and Steven Spielberg’s “Ready Player One.”
The facility will also support upcoming product out of the Village Roadshow Pictures Asia (VRPA) label including the release of “Mountain Cry, ” which will close the Busan Film Festival next month. VRPA, headed by Asia President and Chief Executive Officer, Ellen Eliasoph, celebrates its fifth anniversary in 2016.
Founded in 1997, Village Roadshow Pictures has a library of 85 films including “Mad Max: Fury Road, ”
