Anton to expand TV & film spend after striking $108m deal with BlackRock

His Dark Materials

Sébastien Raybaud’s European financing and production firm Anton is to increase its TV and film spending after securing over €100m ($108m) in a deal with US investment firm BlackRock.

Anton, which was involved in Newen Connect’s recent deal with Jude Law’s Riff Raff Entertainment, said it would use the funds to expand its feature film and television series development and production slate as it embarks on what it termed as “a significant phase of growth”.

Details of TV projects has not been revealed but the company said it would look to support ten feature films annually, with a focus on commercial European English-language projects in the action, thriller, elevated horror and sci-fi genres.

Sébastien Raybaud

Anton was established in 2011 by Raybaud with an $180m slate funding deal with StudioCanal and the company now has almost 500 film and TV titles in its library, with projects ranging from global kids hit Paddington and Shaun the Sheep to series such as His Dark Materials, Greenland and McMafia. Greenland 2, starring Gerard Butler and Morena Baccarin, is currently in production.

Raybaud, Anton’s CEO, said the investment from BlackRock “allows us to greenlight more ambitious projects and expand these partnerships with exceptional film and TV producers.”

He added: “We have built a fantastic, well capitalised company with a bold vision. We are ready to execute our future growth strategy.”

“Our investment approach seeks out unique, compelling opportunities outside of core private markets, and we see significant potential in television and film,” said Paul Braude, chief investment officer & head of BlackRock’s direct private opportunities group. “We have been impressed by Anton’s success to date and are pleased to contribute to its ongoing growth.”

Magnetar, which has been an investor in and funder of Anton since 2015, remains one of the largest shareholders in the company, which remains controlled by its management.

Anton has struck myriad deals on the TV side over the past six years, including launching a high-end drama fund and a short-form initiative with BBC Studios, a scripted partnership with Newen and a more recent push into factual projects with the French firm.

It also backed Beiboot, the packaging firm launched by former BBCS co-production exec Tobi de Graaff, and took a stake in Benedict Cumberbatch’s SunnyMarch prodco in 2021.