About Us

The Indian Film Company Limited (“IFC”) is a newly incorporated, Guernsey registered company established as a registered closed ended investment fund to make investments in both Indian films and films primarily targeted at the Indian audience. The Company operates as an externally managed India-focused motion picture company with outsourced production and distribution functions. The Directors and the Investment Manager believe that IFC will be the first publicly traded film company specifically created to invest in a portfolio of Indian films and films primarily targeted at the Indian audience of varying genre, language and budget. The Company will benefit from a special relationship with Studio 18, a division of Network 18. Studio 18 was launched in June 2006 as a full production, co-production, marketing and global distribution platform. It has been agreed that the Company will have first right of refusal on any Film Project originated by Studio 18 but the Company will also retain the flexibility to explore and invest in Film Projects generated by other production companies. Network 18 is the holding company of Television 18 and Global Broadcast News, all of which are listed on the National Stock Exchange and the Bombay Stock Exchange.

Market opportunity and background
There has recently been significant international interest in the Indian entertainment industry and the combination of creativity and commercial opportunity it provides. The Indian entertainment industry continues to grow at a faster pace than the Indian economy and the film entertainment sub-sector, which generated revenues of approximately £1.02 billion in 2006, is growing faster still. The Directors and the Investment Manager believe the key growth drivers are the increasing per capita income of the Indian population; an expansion in audience, driven primarily by increased internationalism of Indian films and a greater number of multiplexes which are attracting more people to the cinema; and the exploitation of an increased number of revenue streams through which films and film products can be reached.

Investment objective
The Group’s investment objective is to achieve total return for Shareholders through investment in a diverse portfolio of Indian films and films primarily targeted at the Indian audience. The Group intends to build a library of intellectual property rights in various formats, such as satellite, home video and mobile technology. The Directors and the Investment Manager believe that the Group is well placed to take advantage of film investment opportunities and to capitalise on the growth that the Indian film industry is currently experiencing.

Operational strategy
The Investment Manager, on behalf of the Group, will seek to capture opportunities in the entire value chain of film creation by (i) sourcing and evaluating prospective Film Projects through a research-led investment process and (ii) managing and structuring the production and distribution of such Film Projects.