New York Private Bank & Trust And Aperture Media Partners Form Film & Television Specialty Finance Company

LOS ANGELES and NEW YORK, Oct. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- New York Private Bank & Trust (NYPB&T) and Aperture Media Partners, LLC have formed a specialty finance company providing comprehensive financing solutions to the filmed entertainment industry. The new company will operate under the name Aperture Media Partners and is structured to create a one-stop shop for producers and distributors seeking financing for film and television projects. 

Aperture offers a full spectrum of standard and customized senior and mezzanine credit products including: bridge loans, finishing funds, gap loans, library advances, print and advertising (P&A) loans, production loans, sales agent advances, tax credit monetization, and ultimates financing. The company structures, lends, and syndicates loans through a network of banks, hedge funds, private equity and family offices.

Aperture is managed by Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, Jared Underwood, and Chief Operating Officer and Co-founder, Andrew Robinson, two leading bankers in film and television finance. The two have over 30 years of combined lending experience and have financed over $10 billion in transactions to nearly every leading independent film company and producer in the industry.

John Hart, Vice Chairman of New York Private Bank & Trust and Head of its Private Banking division, welcomed the Aperture team, stating: "Aperture fits well within NYPB&T given its combination of thorough underwriting and high level of product customization."

"Jared Underwood and Andrew Robinson already have an industry leading reputation for creative and client-centric thinking," Mr. Hart continued. "NYPB&T will provide them with exciting new tools to fulfill their vision and further grow their thriving business." 

"We are delighted to have New York Private Bank & Trust's support and look forward to becoming an industry leader through our affiliation with the bank," Mr. Underwood said. "With the backing of NYPB&T, Aperture Media Partners becomes a one-stop shop, efficiently providing senior and mezzanine capital to the film and television industry. We will be well positioned to leverage our talents and industry insights to capitalize on a number of existing and future opportunities."

About the Aperture Media Partners Team

Prior to Aperture Media Partners, Mr. Underwood was Group Manager at Comerica Entertainment Group where he worked for 18 years. During his tenure at Comerica, the division lent nearly $10 billion to the entertainment industry and grew to become the global leader in independent film finance, providing financing for nearly 1,000 films.  Most recently, Underwood co-founded Surefire Entertainment Capital, which facilitated nearly $100 million in financing for eight major independent film transactions in the last year, including John Wick and Best of Me, which opened at #2 and #4 at the US box office the past two weekends, respectively. 

Mr. Robinson was Vice President at Comerica Entertainment Group prior to Aperture Media Partners.  During his five years at Comerica, Robinson managed some of the Entertainment Group's largest relationships, and closed in excess of $1.1 billion in direct commitments and over $2.2 billion in overall commitments inclusive of syndicated transactions.  Most recently, Robinson co-founded Surefire Entertainment Capital with Underwood, which facilitated nearly $100 million in financing for eight major independent film transactions in the last year, including John Wick and Best of Me, which opened at #2 and #4 at the US box office the past two weekends, respectively. 

About New York Private Bank & Trust (NYPB&T)

New York Private Bank & Trust (NYPB&T) is the largest privately held, family-owned and operated bank in United States. Wholly owned by the Milstein family in New York and led by businessman, civic leader and philanthropist Howard P. Milstein, NYPB&T was formed to serve the needs of wealthy individuals and family offices, offering fully integrated advisory, trust, lending and co-investment opportunities with the Milstein family.  NYPB&T's subsidiaries include Emigrant Bank, New York's oldest bank, dating to 1850.

SOURCE New York Private Bank & Trust