International technology, media and telecoms law firm Olswang has advised long-standing client ITV plc on its acquisition of The Garden Productions Limited ("The Garden"), the independent TV production company and one of the foremost producers of factual entertainment programming, whose biggest hit is "24 Hours in A&E". "24 Hours in A&E" has already been sold in 100 territories globally, with series four having commenced transmission recently and series five already in the later stages of production.

ITV will pay up to £18m upfront for The Garden with a further amount payable over the next five years dependent on the future performance of The Garden. Launched in June 2010 by Nick Curwin and Magnus Temple, The Garden signed a joint development agreement with ITV Studios in 2011. ITV Global Entertainment, the distribution arm of ITV Studios, already distributes the majority of The Garden's programming, including Channel 4's "Seven Dwarves", and BBC2's "The Midwives" and "Keeping Britain Alive".

The acquisition fits with ITV's strategy to develop hit programmes which can then be exported globally.

The deal follows Olswang's role advising ITV on its acquisition of So Television Limited in 2012 and is the latest in a long line of transactions that Olswang have worked on in the television production space.

The Olswang team worked closely with the in house legal team at ITV to complete the transaction. The transaction was led by Corporate Partner Stephen Hermer and Senior Associate Edd Heaton with specialist legal and sector knowledge provided by Partner Victoria Gaskell, Associate Rachael Hammond and Production Liaison Assistant Christopher Patey (Commercial), Partners Natasha Kaye and Michael Deeks, and Associates Annie Popplewell and Jacob Gilkes (Tax and Share Schemes), Senior Associate Ed Arnold (Employment) and Senior Associate Steven Baker (Property).

http://www.olswang.com/news/2013/05/olswang-advises-key-client-itv-on-t…