FFW, SJ Berwin get teeth into Hammer comeback

Field Fisher Waterhouse (FFW) and SJ Berwin have clinched a new media client after raising Hammer Film Productions from the dead in a $50m (£325.24m) leveraged buy-in.

FFW corporate partner Neil Foster advised the management on the fundraising for the buy-in, along with tax partner Graeme Nuttall.

SJ Berwin partners Tim Johnson and Mark Sanders advised Dutch investment fund Cyrte Investments on the deal.

Foster said: "We won the work following a recommendation to the new management team by a mutual contact at one of the world's leading private equity funds."

Foster said the contact was at a top five private equity fund and that FFW was recommended because of its focus on the media industry.

"A lot of people who work in buyouts do so just generally, but we've got a sector focus in media," he said.

Hammer is likely to be an active client in the future. The new management team intends to build on Hammer's brand name for horror films, returning to film and television production for the first time in 30 years.

Hammer CEO Simon Oakes said: "Hammer is a great British brand. We intend to take Hammer back into production and develop its global potential."