Shout! Studios Acquires Gravitas Ventures

Shout! Studios, the multi-platform media company backed by Oaktree Capital Management, has acquired Gravitas Ventures from Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc.

The deal was finalized over the weekend, we hear, with employees at Shout! being notified this morrning. It came following rumblings of mass layoffs at boutique distributor Gravitas. The ambition on Shout!’s part is to grow its content portfolio with the acquisition of entertainment companies and their content libraries, while continuing to partner with independent rights owners to monetize content and launch new streaming channels.

Going forward, Shout! Studios and Gravitas Ventures will operate as two distinct brands. Each will continue to actively distribute content from its respective catalogue, leveraging a scaled combined distribution organization to better monetize content across traditional and digital channels. The deal gives Shout! access to more than 3,300 scripted, non-scripted, and sports-related feature, documentary, and television titles.

Said Shout! Studios CEO Garson Foos, “Gravitas represents the next step in our continued expansion of the catalogue at Shout. We are excited to join forces with the Gravitas team and see several opportunities to expand distribution of the combined library.”

Commented Jared Frandle, Managing Director for Oaktree’s Special Situations Strategy, “We’re thrilled to welcome Gravitas to the Shout! family and believe it represents another successful example of Shout’s ability to identify and execute upon attractive library acquisitions in the space. We are excited to continue to support the entire Shout team as we pursue other organic growth and M&A opportunities going forward.”

Salem Partners acted as the exclusive financial and investment banking advisor to Anthem and Gravitas. Sheppard Mullin acted as exclusive legal advisors to Anthem, with Greenberg Traurig acting as exclusive legal advisors to Shout! Studios.