Arundel Partners Investment Analysis

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Arundel Partners Investment Analysis

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Background

The proposed business venture, Arundel Partners, is an investment group which would purchase the sequels rights associated with all films produced by 1 or more selected U.S. movie production studios for a specified period of time, or a specified number of films. As your investment analysts, our goal is to assess the value of the sequel rights to allow a determination of the value of the overall investment as well as a reasonable price-per-film for the sequel rights.

Arundel Partners plans to pay to obtain a guarantee to the ownership of sequel rights for a set of films prior to production. It is assumed that only a small percentage of the films produced by a studio will be sequel candidates, based on the profitability of the initial film release. It is also recognized that the profitability of a sequel is typically lower than the initial release. This estimated profit will determine the proposed contract offer by Arundel Partners to the selected studio.

Sequence of Events

**Note: The diagram in Figure 1.1 outlines the timeline as it applies to the Arundel investment described.

Prior to proposal, Arundel will need to determine which studio they feel offers the best potential success, and propose the contract prior to knowledge of films to be produced during the contract period. Arundel will then own the sequels rights as defined in the contract. History suggests that a studio would entertain an offer around $2 million per film for the rights to the sequels of each move it produces that year.

FIGURE 1: SUM...

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... 3) performance rights; 4) public display rights; and, 5) the right to prepare derivative works. It is important that Arundel understand how this may impact long term profitability of their investment, and any criteria required as part of the transaction should be incorporated into the proposal contract.

Major studios might place restrictions on transfer of copyright ownership on highly profitable movies. Arundel partners should insist on a contract where by purchasing the sequel rights transfers the copyright as well. Such a clause included in the contract would protect the rights of Arundel from being diminished or impaired and avoid litigation over the literary property.

By optioning to acquire the sequel rights, Arundel Partners should be free to transfer the rights to third party to make a profitable deal and such clause should be included in the contract.

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