Gerald Edelman advises on the management buyout of 1920

Gerald Edelman is delighted to announce that its Corporate Finance team (incorporating Deal Advisory, Debt Advisory and M&A Tax support) has advised on the debt-funded management buyout (“MBO”) of Nineteen-Twenty Limited (“1920”), an award-winning independent visual effects (“VFX”) studio, with funding provided by Beechbrook Capital.

Founded in 2013 by Scott Griffin and Ludo Fealy, 1920 provides premium post-production and VFX services to brands, agencies and production companies across advertising, TV and film. Known for complex, craft-led photoreal work, the studio has grown to a team of more than 70 across London, Bristol and Bangalore and was named VFX Company of the Year at the 2025 Ciclope Awards.

The MBO is led by CEO, Tim Phillips, alongside Creative Directors Bill McNamara and Chris King. The transaction provides a clear succession route for the founders, while supporting management to drive 1920’s next phase of growth, including scaling its film and episodic offering and continuing its international expansion.

The transaction was supported by Beechbrook Capital, a specialist lender to small and medium-sized businesses across the UK and Northern Europe. Beechbrook’s collaborative approach and understanding of 1920’s ambitions make it a strong partner to support the management team through the MBO and to contribute towards future growth.

Scott Griffin, Co-Founder of 1920, commented:

“When Ludo and I started 1920, we wanted to build a studio known for the quality of its work and I’m incredibly proud of what the team has achieved so far. Tim, Bill and Chris are the right people to take the business forward and this deal gives them the opportunity to lead 1920 into its next chapter, while Ludo and I continue to be involved and provide guidance. The Gerald Edelman team provided exceptional support and advice throughout the transaction. We were able to call on and work with many teams within the business, including specialist tax support and assistance from the Debt Advisory team in identifying a great partner for us in Beechbrook. I’d like to thank them for all of their help, which has  been critical in delivering a great outcome for everyone involved.”

Jack Bettell, Director in the Gerald Edelman Corporate Finance team, added:

“1920 has built an outstanding reputation in the VFX market and we are delighted to have secured a deal that empowers the ambitious management team to continue to grow the business. It has been a pleasure working with Scott, Ludo, Tim and the rest of the 1920 team; we wish them every success for the future.

This is another example of how our ever-growing Corporate Finance offering can support on mid-market M&A transactions; by leveraging our Debt Advisory and M&A Tax offerings, our Deal Advisory team was able to deliver another successful transaction. The deal is a further  example of the strong levels of activity we are seeing in the mid-market.”