CMS advises SISTER Group on majority stake acquisition in After Party Studios

CMS has advised SISTER Group, the independent global studio founded by Elisabeth Murdoch and Jane Featherstone, on its acquisition of a majority stake in digital-first creative production company After Party Studios.

After Party Studios, founded in 2016, operates at the intersection of digital and mainstream content and has built an impressive portfolio of original intellectual property, branded entertainment and digital-first slate. Its series and formats include Sky Sports docuseries SCENES, Channel 4.0 hit Don’t Get Catfished and the sell-out annual Sidemen Charity Match at Wembley Stadium.

SISTER Group's investment will fuel After Party Studios' ambitions to expand its award-winning slate and sees it joining the portfolio of founder-led partner companies within SISTER Group spanning TV and film (SISTER Pictures, Dorothy St Pictures, Yes Yes Media, Locksmith Animation, South of the River, Unanimous Media), podcasting (Campside Media), publishing (Zando, AWA) and music and live experiences (KOKO).

Commenting on the transaction, Paul Guite, Co-Head of the Media Sector Group and Corporate Partner at CMS, said: "We are delighted to have advised longstanding client SISTER Group on this exciting acquisition. After Party Studios is a truly innovative business operating at the forefront of digital content, and this transaction is a fantastic strategic fit with SISTER Group's portfolio of founder-led creative companies. We wish both teams every success as they embark on this next chapter together."

The CMS team was led by Paul Guite, and included Nana Donkor and Alexandra Stuart (Corporate); Victoria Gaskell (Media); Anna Cope (Employment); Rebecca Stewart and Adelina Frunza (Tax); and Andrew Quayle and Mala Patel (Share Incentives)