The Mill
SEE ALL  INVESTMENTS SEE ALL INVESTMENTS

The Mill

The Mill works with advertising agencies, brands and production companies to create premium moving image content for all channels and platforms and has helped create some of the most iconic advertising in the world for brands such as Nike, Coca Cola and Guinness.


Established in 1990, The Mill has been consistently recognised by peers and clients around the globe as the premier provider of moving image content across all media.

VALUE CREATION

The Mill has demonstrated year-on-year revenue growth, with turnover increasing from £86m in 2011 to £110m in 2014. Equistone has worked closely with the management team to support this growth by:

  • Strengthening the leadership team and talent pool, growing the business from 625 employees to over 800.
  • Continued investment in market leading facilities, including an expanded studio in LA, a new studio in Chicago, a 4K colour suite in New York and a relocated flagship studio in London.
  • Supporting strategic initiatives to focus on high-growth market opportunities, including Mill+, Automotive and Beauty.

With studios in London, New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, The Mill is well positioned to continue its growth within multi-platform content and digital media, and in 2015 The Mill was awarded five Lions at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

THE EXIT

Equistone sold The Mill to Technicolor in a deal valued at £190m and resulting in a money multiple in excess of 2.0x on its Fund III investment.

HOLDING PERIOD

Apr 2011 - Sep 2015

Country

UK

Sector

Technology, Media, and Telecom

Revenue Progression

£74m / £116m

Employees at ACQ.

625

Investment Type

Secondary MBO

Their support has enabled us to continue to expand our global reach and offering to help our clients create the most engaging and creative visual content across the rapidly changing technology landscape.