Deluxe Entertainment Services Group Inc. has entered into an agreement with Ascent Media Corporation to acquire Ascent’s Creative Services and Media Services businesses which include such mainstay shops as Company 3, Beast, Method, Rushes, Encore Hollywood and Level 3 Post.
Deluxe thus diversifies itself even further in the post, visual effects and editorial arenas, adding a talent base active in commercials, TV and features. The acquisition will also enhance Deluxe’s services for clients that include life-cycle library management and digital asset management. Digital services include file based mastering, archiving, digital distribution, DVD and Blu-ray authoring.
Deluxe is a leading processor of film for the motion picture industry and a prime provider of Blu-ray authoring services. Over the last few years Deluxe has significantly increased its service offerings in digital services and content delivery. The company’s pipeline includes 2D and 3D post production services from film or digital capture to digital intermediates with the proprietary EFILM® workflow, theatrical release (35mm and digital cinema), and home entertainment services for every digital media platform.
“Deluxe is well positioned to take our company into the future as technologies continue to transform how customers create and distribute content for films and television programs,” said Cyril Drabinsky, president and CEO of Deluxe. “We look forward to this talented group of people joining the Deluxe team.”
The transaction–at a purchase price of approximately $68 million (after the assumption of certain indebtedness)–is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close by the end of the year.
Ascent Media’s CEO William Fitzgerald said, “AMG’s [Ascent Media Group’s] Creative Services group has provided pioneering postproduction solutions for some of the most well-known brands, directors and studios. In Media Services, AMG has been an innovator in developing solutions to help customers manage and distribute content. Deluxe is a leader in both of these segments, and we believe that the transaction should accelerate growth and better serve the combined company’s cutomers worldwide.”
Ascent Media will continue to own AMG’s content distribution and systems integration businesses. However, the company is pursuing strategic alternatives for both business units. Additionally, the company is committed to pursuing investments in or the acquisition of businesses that provide enhanced shareholder return opportunities.
AD&Co. Launches Studio A; Davida Hall To Head New Venture As Sr. Director of Creative Content
Female-founded and led creative marketing agency AD&Co. has opened Studio A. The new venture will serve as AD&Co.’s in-house social brand content division, focused on developing and producing digital programming for advertising, social media, and influencer marketing campaigns designed to reach today’s audiences on the most popular and pivotal platforms. Davida Hall has been named to head Studio A as sr. director of creative content. She shifts over from AD&Co. where she held the same title since December 2023. Hall’s affiliations prior to AD&Co. include PopSugar and Studio71.
Amy Demas, founder and chief creative officer of AD&Co., said, “We understand content is king-—or queen—and that our clients need to engage their customer communities where they live. That inspired the logical expansion of AD&Co with Studio A, which is committed to producing only the most engaging and authentic brand stories.”
Studio A will harness both AD&Co’s and Hall’s deep expertise in the lifestyle sector, as content creators and avid consumers. Specializing in reaching audiences where they spend their time, the studio is immersed in social media, pop culture, and current trends, expertly crafting visuals, language, and storytelling to reinforce client brand identities and cut through the noise.
Studio A debuts with the “This Is Me” campaign for Love + Craft + Beauty, a brand dedicated to embracing and promoting diversity within the beauty space. “This Is Me” highlights Gen Z’s affinity for radical self-expression that allows individuals to tell their own stories, free from labels, using beauty and fashion as tools of authenticity. The campaign showcases models celebrating their unique qualities to present... Read More