Sector

Plimsoll Productions is the biggest independent producer of natural history programmes in the world.

Investment type
  • Development capital
Deal value

£80m

Exit type
  • Trade sale
Exit date

June 2022

Exit value

£131m

Quote mark

I had a lot of preconceptions about private equity before this process started. I imagined ruthless moneymen coming out of the City, without much empathy or understanding of how to run a creative business. Instead, from day one, LDC have added value and have been very respectful of our culture and the way I run my business.”

Grant Mansfield, CEO and Founder
Plimsoll Productions

Plimsoll attracted its highest audiences to date during our three-year partnership – with standout productions including Apple TV+ documentary series Tiny World and Channel 4’s Handmade: Britain’s Best Woodworker and used innovative strategies to extend the global reach of its content.

In 2021, the company also embarked on its first co-production series with ITV – the upcoming Stephen Fry-narrated documentary A Year on Planet Earth – which involved forming commercial partnerships with international broadcasters, including Tencent in China and Fox Nation in the USA.

It now produces more than 70 series for broadcasters including Netflix, Disney, Apple and Natural Geographic and is the biggest independent producer of natural history programmes in the world.

A partnership with ITV

In June 2022, LDC exited its investment in Plimsoll Productions to ITV plc in a transaction that values the independent television production company at £131m.

Plimsoll remains an independent brand and the existing management team will continue to run the business and play a key role in programme development to maintain Plimsoll’s creative pipeline.

“We wanted to build a TV production business of scale – that’s why LDC are such an important part of the Plimsoll story.” Hear from Grant and Jonathan at Plimsoll on their journey.

Quote mark

We have really valued our partnership with LDC. The team has supported and empowered us to achieve our ambitions on our own terms, with creativity, inclusivity and the pursuit of excellence at the core of everything we do.”

Grant Mansfield, CEO and Founder
Plimsoll Productions

Awards

Deal of the Year

South West Insider Dealmakers 2020

Company of the Year

South West Insider Dealmakers 2020

Profit Track 100 (Ranked 3rd)

The Sunday Times, 2020