Major media and entertainment investors to back globally recognized localization company.
The agreement with Shamrock Capital Advisors, LLC (“Shamrock”) comes hot on the heels of the sale of BTI Studios to Altor Fund IV (“Altor”) in July 2017. Shamrock has a rich history of investment in the media and entertainment sector, having been founded in 1978 by the late Roy E. Disney. Shamrock has its roots in LA and holds an impressive portfolio of current investments.
BTI Studios is one of the leading localization players globally, providing dubbing, subtitling and access services in over 80 languages. Clients are Video-on-Demand (“VoD”) platforms such as Netflix, Amazon and Hulu, major film studios such as NBC Universal, Warner, Disney and Fox, and broadcasters such as Discovery, Turner and Viacom. Klas Johansson, partner at Altor commented, “When we acquired BTI Studios this summer we already had a clear vision of finding a strong partner for this investment to work alongside Altor in supporting BTI Studios to grow its business, especially in the US entertainment segment. Shamrock was at the top of our wish list and I am very happy to see this partnership happen just a few months into our ownership.
Björn Lifvergren, CEO at BTI Studios, commented, “We are thrilled that Shamrock is coming on board, adding a wealth of experience and knowledge in the global media industry. Together with Altor, they will further strengthen BTI Studios’ position as a leading global localization company. Shamrock’s experience in growing world-class companies in the media and entertainment space will be invaluable for BTI and our existing client base.” For Shamrock, BTI Studios is an exciting investment in an attractive and global industry niche led by an impressive management team. The localization market is expected to continue to grow at double-digit rates p.a., driven by increased broadband and smartphone penetration, VoD players’ rapid internationalization, and increased investments in original content to compete for viewers. In addition, new global players are entering the original-content space to strengthen their user ecosystems. Mike LaSalle, Partner at Shamrock commented, “Shamrock is excited to partner with Altor to support Björn and his team at BTI Studios in accelerating their next phase of growth. With a leading global platform, top-tier management team, and track record of delivering high quality solutions and services, BTI Studios is well positioned to capitalize on the globalization and increased demand for premium content.”