International law firm Osborne Clarke has advised the selling shareholders of Arrow International Media, a leading factual content producer, on their majority stake sale to multinational content creator and producer Asacha Media Group.
Arrow is a UK-headquartered premium factual content production company, founded in 2011 by Tom Brisley, John Smithson, and Iain Pelling. It has since grown into the UK's largest independent supplier of true crime programming, with clients including BBC, Channel 4, Disney+, National Geographic Channel, CNN and more.
The transaction will allow Arrow to pursue further growth in the UK and US, as well as expand into new markets and explore international co-production opportunities. For Asacha, the acquisition represents a notable expansion in the factual space, an increase in English language output and a new US presence for the Group.
Tom Brisley and Iain Pelling will continue to lead Arrow as Co-Managing Directors, with John Smithson choosing this moment to step back.
"Selling a majority stake in the business which you have nurtured from inception is a huge decision. So we wanted to make sure we had the best possible support. Osborne Clarke has been with us every step of the way. Their advice has been second to none and they have played an integral role in achieving the best possible outcome for Arrow. We would highly recommend them."
The Osborne Clarke team advising on this deal consisted of Partner Mathias Loertscher, Senior Associate Rav Sagar and Associate Mary Hughes in corporate; Partner Mathew Oliver and Associate Director Karmeni Ilg in tax; Partner Michael Carter and Senior Associate Rhiannon Jones in incentives; Associate Ed Grey in employment; and Partner Catherine Olive, Senior Associate Julie Dahan and Associate Anthony Chung from Osborne Clarke France.
Osborne Clarke's corporate team is considered a go-to practice for many in the tech, media and comms sector, working with leading global businesses, fast-growth start-ups and market challengers. The team advises on all stages of company development across all corporate issues, from equity and debt fundraisings to M&A, IPOs and JVs.