Investment will fuel organic and M&A growth as entertainment industry needs continue to grow
Intrepid announced today that it served as the exclusive financial advisor to Visual Data Media Services (Visual Data), a leading entertainment services company serving studios and distributors globally, on its investment from Endeavour Capital, a middle-market investment firm, to support Visual Data’s next phase of growth. John Trautman, Founder and CEO, and Symon Roue, Managing Director of the company’s European division, will remain shareholders and lead the company with the current management team.
Since its founding in 1995 in Burbank, Calif., Visual Data has grown organically and through acquisitions. The company offers media supply chain and localization services globally, with operations in the U.S., U.K., and India. In recent years, as content production needs and direct-to-consumer digital entertainment offerings such as Netflix, Disney+, and Apple+, continue to grow, Visual Data has been recognized as an industry leader for its outstanding customer service and innovative technology. For the second year in a row, the company won the prestigious Netflix “Preferred Fulfillment Partner of the Year–Americas (high volume),” improving their on-time rate by +4%.
With Endeavour Capital’s support, Visual Data’s management will build on its industry leadership, capitalize on entertainment industry digital trends, and continue its current momentum with further investments in its service offerings, expansion of its global footprint, and strategic acquisitions. “I’m excited about this next chapter; we have built a great foundation and are ready to build on that to create something game-changing for our industry,” said John Trautman, Founder and CEO of Visual Data. “We are very glad to have had Intrepid by our side during this process. The Intrepid team went above and beyond to ensure we found the right partner and the right structure that will enable us to achieve our long-term goals and better serve our client’s ever-growing needs.”
“John and team have done an incredible job establishing Visual Data as a household name in the industry that has earned the trust of a long list of blue-chip customers. This new partnership with Endeavour Capital will enable the company to continue its evolution from a high-end niche service provider to a true end-to-end solution for clients,” said Jim Freedman, Managing Director and Chairman at Intrepid. “Visual Data has undergone significant expansion in recent years by deepening client relationships, launching organic service line extensions, and executing selective strategic acquisitions. This is a truly exciting next step in the company’s continued growth, and we are confident Endeavour is the right partner to help John and Symon execute their strategy,” commented Brandon Quartararo, Managing Director and Head of Digital Media at Intrepid.
“We chose Endeavour Capital as a highly aligned partner to invest in Visual Data, due to their fantastic reputation and long-term approach to investing,” said Symon Roue, Managing Director of Visual Data’s European division. “The team is looking forward to scaling our presence in new territories, entering new markets, and investing in our new technology platform.” Leland Jones Managing Director at Endeavour Capital said: “Endeavour is very excited to be investing in the Visual Data team. The company has a great foundation and reputation for service quality, and we want to help them build on that through innovation and investments in new capabilities.”
To accelerate Visual Data’s next stage of growth, Henry Shapiro will join the company’s board of directors as Lead Director. He is also the Chairman of MarketCast, a global entertainment research and analytics company.
Deal Team Contacts
Jim Freedman, Managing Director
Jonathan Zucker, Managing Director
Media Contact
Stephanie Raven, Marketing Specialist
About Intrepid’s Digital Media Practice
Intrepid’s Digital Media team provides M&A advisory and capital raising services to sector leaders throughout the value chain, from emerging growth concepts to more established models to mature public companies. Target sectors include entertainment & content, agency & marketing services, digital advertising, eCommerce & marketplaces, events & b2b marketing, marketing technology, and traditional & online publishing. Our bankers provide clients with robust industry insight and experience as well as a strong network of prospective buyers, decision-makers, and access to key investors.