June 29, 2011
Tinopolis Group, one of the UK's largest independent media producers and distributors, acquires Los Angeles-based producer of unscripted television.
On June 28, it was announced that Willkie client Tinopolis Group, one of the UK's largest independent media producers and distributors, has acquired Los Angeles-based A. Smith & Co. Productions, which has developed and produced some of the most notable unscripted television programming seen around the world over the past decade. A. Smith & Co. will continue to operate as a stand-alone entity based in Los Angeles joining and working with Tinopolis Group’s other companies, which include television production entity Mentorn and sports television producer Sunset + Vine. Tinopolis, backed by private equity firm Vitruvian Partners, expects the deal to forward its diversification and growth strategy and increase its access to the U.S. sports and Entertainment markets. A. Smith & Co. is behind such titles as Paradise Hotel, The Swan, Trading Spaces, and Gordon Ramsay vehicles Hell’s Kitchen and Kitchen Nightmares.
The deal was handled by partners Robert Langdon, William Hiller and Christopher Peters; special counsel Cindy Chernuchin, Michael Jones and Kim Walker; and associates Manuel Miranda, Adeline Park, Elizabeth Rich, Christopher Giorgione, Ketan Pastakia, Jordan Messinger, DJ Stauber and Mia Hayes.
