Thunderbird Entertainment Appoints ACF Investment Bank to Evaluate and Assist With Strategic Alternatives

Rhea-AI Summary

Thunderbird Entertainment Group has engaged ACF Investment Bank to assess opportunities for maximizing shareholder value. ACF is a global investment bank in the media and entertainment sector, known for structuring innovative deals. Thunderbird aims to become the next major global studio and will evaluate all options for growth and expressions of interest. ACF has completed over 100 deals in the media and entertainment industry with a total value of more than $6 billion.

Positive

• Thunderbird Entertainment Group engages ACF Investment Bank to maximize shareholder value
• ACF is a global investment bank with expertise in media and entertainment
• Thunderbird aims to become the next major global studio
• ACF has completed over 100 deals in the media and entertainment industry with a total value of more than $6 billion

Negative

• None.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Thunderbird Entertainment Group Inc. (TSXV: TBRD, OTCQX: THBRF) (“Thunderbird” or the “Company”), a global award-winning, full-service multiplatform production, distribution and rights management company, today announced that it has engaged ACF Investment Bank (“ACF”) as part of the Company’s strategic review process of assessing all opportunities to maximize shareholder value.

“Thunderbird has fantastic growth ahead of us and we want to continue building on this tremendous momentum,” said Jennifer Twiner McCarron, CEO and Chair of Thunderbird’s board of directors (the “Board”). “Our mission at Thunderbird is to become the next major global studio and working with ACF allows us to strategically review all options for growth and evaluate any inbound expressions of interest received by the Company.”

ACF is a global investment bank in the media and entertainment sector, having structured and led some of the most innovative deals in the industry, such as, the securitization of Syco Entertainment’s GOT Talent Franchise, the sale of The Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit Intellectual Property to Embracer Group, Shamrock Capital’s investment into Boardwalk Pictures, the sale of Critical Content to SK Global, the sale of Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones company, Broke & Bones to Netflix, the sale of Bear Grylls Ventures to Banijay, and Plimsoll Productions investment from Private Equity firm, Lloyds Development Capital. ACF is a leading, global mergers and acquisitions advisor in the Media and Entertainment industry and has completed more than 100 deals in this sector with a total deal value of more than $6 billion. ACF specializes in selling, buying, fundraising, securitization, and pre/post deal services for brands and businesses in media and entertainment.

“Canada’s benevolent environment, creative content and production values are strategically attractive for expanding TV Production groups and there has been an increased focus on Canadian content following the success of numerous new shows that have won multiple awards in recent years. Thunderbird is one of the leading players in this market and is an award-winning producer with an exceptional portfolio of productions, team and talent. The Company’s growth has put it in an incredibly strong market position, and we look forward to working with Jennifer and the team to assist with the next phase of the Company’s growth,” says Richard Gray, Managing Director, ACF Investment Bank.

Pursuant to the Cooperation Agreement between Thunderbird and Voss Capital, LLC, which is detailed in the Company’s January 19, 2023 news release, Thunderbird committed to forming an advisory committee of the Board to assess the Company’s capital allocation strategy and evaluate all opportunities to maximize value creation. Working with ACF maintains alignment with the Cooperation Agreement, while providing the Company with an important next step in support of its growth trajectory.

ABOUT THUNDERBIRD ENTERTAINMENT GROUP

Thunderbird Entertainment Group is a global award-winning, full-service multiplatform production, distribution and rights management company, headquartered in Vancouver, with additional offices in Los Angeles, Toronto, and Ottawa. Thunderbird creates award-winning scripted, unscripted, and animated programming for the world’s leading digital platforms, as well as Canadian and international broadcasters. Thunderbird’s vision is to produce high quality, socially responsible content that makes the world a better place. The Company develops, produces, and distributes animated, factual, and scripted content through its various content arms, including Thunderbird Kids and Family (Atomic Cartoons), Thunderbird Unscripted (Great Pacific Media), formerly known as Thunderbird Factual, and Thunderbird Scripted. Productions under the Thunderbird umbrella include The Last Kids on Earth, Molly of Denali, Highway Thru Hell and Kim’s Convenience, among others. The Company also has a team dedicated to global distribution and consumer products. Thunderbird is on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @tbirdent. For more information, visit: www.thunderbird.tv.

Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release, which has been prepared by management.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Thunderbird’s public communications may include written or oral “forward-looking statements” and “forward-looking information” as defined under applicable Canadian securities legislation. All such statements may not be based on historical facts that relate to the Company’s current expectations and views of future events and are made pursuant to the “safe harbour” provisions of applicable securities laws.

Forward-looking statements or information may be identified by words such as “anticipate”, “continue”, “estimate”, “expect”, “forecast”, “may”, “will”, “plan”, “project”, “should”, “believe”, “intend”, or similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements in this document include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the term of ACF’s engagement; the Company’s belief that it has fantastic growth ahead of it; the intention to continue building on Thunderbird’s tremendous momentum with respect to growth; Thunderbird’s mission to become the next major global studio; increasing shareholder value by working with ACF; the expectation that recommendations from the advisory committee of the Board and ACF will be presented to the Board at the end of the ACF’s engagement term; and Thunderbird’s vision to produce high quality, socially responsible content that makes the world a better place. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic and social uncertainties; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; product capability and acceptance; international risk and currency exchange rates; and technology changes. An assessment of these risks that could cause actual results to materially differ from current expectations is contained in the “Risks and Uncertainty” section of December 31, 2022 MD&A. The foregoing is not an exhaustive list. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to Thunderbird or that management believes to be less significant may also adversely affect the Company.

The forward-looking statements or information contained in this document represent our views as of the date hereof and as such information should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this document. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230515005753/en/

Investor Relations:

Glen Akselrod, Bristol Capital

Phone: + 1 905 326 1888 ext 1

Email: glen@bristolir.com

Media Relations:

Lana Castleman, Director, Marketing & Communications

Phone: 416-219-3769

Email: lcastleman@thunderbird.tv

Corporate Communications

Julia Smith, Finch Media

Email: Julia@finchmedia.net

ACF Investment Bank Media:

Paula Murrell, Director, Marketing & PR

Phone: 424 332 0450

Email: paula.murrell@acfib.com

Source: Thunderbird Entertainment Group Inc.

FAQ

Who is Thunderbird Entertainment Group?

Thunderbird Entertainment Group is a global, award-winning production, distribution, and rights management company.

What is ACF Investment Bank's expertise?

ACF Investment Bank specializes in mergers and acquisitions in the media and entertainment industry.

What is Thunderbird's goal?

Thunderbird aims to become the next major global studio.

How many deals has ACF completed in the media and entertainment industry?

ACF has completed over 100 deals in the media and entertainment industry with a total value of more than $6 billion.