Lavoz Finance Insurance

Archive for August, 2009

A quiet trend has been emerging as billionaires and other high net worth Angel Investors and Family Offices from Wall Street To Silicon Valley To the Middle East have been parking their money into Hollywood.

Larry Ellison Of Oracle, Paul Allen Of Microsoft, Steven Rales, Fred Smith of Federal Express, Norman Waitt, the Co-Founder of Gateway Computers, Jeff Skoll Of Ebay, Marc Turtletaub of The Money Store, Roger Marino Of EMC Corp, Sidney Kimmel Of Jones Apparel Group, Minnesota Twins owner Bill Pohlad; Real Estate Developers Tom Rosenberg and Bob Yari, and, financiers Sheikh Waleed Al Ibrahim and Philip Anschutz are all behind the finance of a lot of films that range from box office hits to Academy Award winners.

And the question remains “why?”

While the glamour of the movie business may be appealing to most, at the end of the day, it is still an unknown business that many try to gamble on, and only a handful come out as winners. The real key is to minimize risk, maximize profits, and offer a steadier stream of revenues than what other alternative investments may offer such as real estate, oil & gas, commodities, as well as risky hedge funds.

Well one Chicago/L.A. based media finance Company is taking a different approach in presenting its entertainment opportunities to the super rich as well as private equity groups. Instead of dazzling investors with smoke and mirror Monte Carlo simulation models that offer various IRR’s and scenarios based on unpredictable film revenues streams, it is offering an absolute return on investment using public tax incentives that in certain instances can guarantee 100% or more of invested capital prior to revenues.

Noci Pictures Entertainment is putting together a slate of films using an innovative hybrid public-private finance strategy aimed at investors who want to take a 100% Federal deduction against their ordinary income, get an additional 20-40% in state tax credits or cash rebates, have a hedge of revenues from 20-30 films, a possible exit IPO on the London AIM., as well as stimulating local economic development, and creating jobs, including for women and minorities. Oh, and the company’s team includes the former Vice Chairman Of A Major Film Studio.

Sound too good to be true?

“I don’t know of any other alternative investment that can offer tax incentives, multiple exit strategies, as well as giving back to the local economy, while being involved with the moviemaking process”, states Yuri Rutman, the head of Noci Pictures. “That would also add to the long line of recent film funds that have been structured with numerous hedge funds, private equity investors, corporate tax credit buyers, and institutions. Heck I don’t even know of any business that someone can start where they know they will receive an exact ROI before they see any profits”.

”I am also surprised how many investors, hedge funds, VC, tax planners, CPA’s, tax attorneys, public and private companies have no clue about these benefits”, Rutman adds. “Federal Preservation, New Markets Tax Credits, etc was the usual route for tax credit planning or alternative investments , but film production incentives offer a more liquid premium, equity, as well as little Hollywood adventure and schmoozing with movie stars.”

Rutman adds “Plus, I am reinventing ‘conscious’ film finance. A lot of competitor deals won’t be around in a few years because they didn’t do their homework. I want to be making movies when I am 90”.