Enterprise Investment Schemes
and making the British Film Industry great

As International film production accountants, Graham Associates acts for film production companies, technicians, film studios and international talent. We have developed a unique combination of film making and investment through EIS.

Whilst there have been collective investment schemes that intend to invest in film, they often end up being invested in different projects than proposed as the original proposal has fallen by the way side.

Unlike those investment opportunities, we make sure that does not happen by starting with an actual project with attached talent with Graham Associates in control.

HOW DOES IT WORK

Before any investment is received we look for a project we believe in and one which we think is commercially viable and potentially successful.

This must be composed of a well written exciting script usually supervised by an award winning script writer. We ensure there is already interested or attached named talent who also believe in that project.

We ensure from existing contacts that the production team is made up of some of the British film and television industry`s finest professionals.

We then create a specific production film company for that individual film or television drama

SAFEGUARDS FOR INVESTORS

Before any investment is accepted, we apply for provisional approval for the company as an Enterprise Investment Scheme.

A film specific client account is opened to hold all investments for that project.

Interest accrued is repaid to the investors proportionate to their investment.

Investors will therefore already know exactly what feature or dramas they are investing in. The funds are never used for any other project than that for which the investment is made.

If a project does not proceed for any reason whatsoever the investment, retained in the clients account, is repaid in full.. Investors can decide whether to invest then in another project or back out altogether with no cost or charge.

When the project is ready to go, the investment is transferred to the film company and shares issued to the investors.

For control, in bringing investment to the film company Graham Associates insists on acting as the film production accountants and for the film production company itself.

This ensures that the investment is financially managed and using film production software we can compare the budgeted costs to actual.

Being in control ot the investment for the film, we ensure it remains within budget yet without affecting creative control.

We report regularly, usually monthly, to investors on the film`s progress. Investors can ask us any time for an update. We can arrange for set visits and, for large investors, an executive producer`s credit. We can also permit investors to appear in the film itself as an extra should they wish. Investors will be invited to special events or premiers.

WHAT IS AN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SCHEME?

We have a detailed factsheet on Enterprise Investment Schemes for you to refer to. We are members of the Enterprise Investment Scheme Association which is recognised by HM Treasury.

In essence, the EIS allows an investor to receive 30% reliefe in a tax credit. This means a L1 shares costs 70p.

If retained for at least 3 years all gains are tax free.

As an example, an investment of £25000 would give an actual tax reduction of £5000. Graham Associates show investors how to claim the relief or they will assist investors own advisers if required without any fee.

The additional beauty of these investments is that there are no investment fees or charges to the investor as Graham Associates is paid as production accountants calculated as part of the films budget which is available to investors beforehand.

British Film production is recognised by the UK Government and world wide as vital to the economy.

DO FILMS GET SPECIAL TAX TREATMENT AS WELL?

Yes films are unique in that respect.

In the UK there is the film tax credit which we can claim for that film company. A film qualified by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport can claim 20% of the production costs as a cash sum, an enhanced expense used as a reduction in corporation tax or carried forward . This in turn can enhance the return for investors.

In some US states British Films can receive 42% cash rebate on productions filmed there.

IS THIS AN INVITATION TO INVEST AS DEFINED BY THE FINANCIAL SERVICES ACT?

No, we are providing access to opportunites in which investors make their own decision to invest . We are not providing any financial advice. Whilst we take careful control of projects, film investment is considered a high risk venture and any investment should only be made after you have taken independent financial or legal advice. We will provide full information to and work with any such advisers

HAS THIS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY DONE?

Graham Associates has a track record of helping to produce British films in this unique way and have the latest multi million pound film CITY RATS now in post production starring Danny Dyer, Tamer Hussan, Susan Lynch and Ray Panthaki.

In this case we were presented with a script with attached talent. With interested investors in place we negotiated equity holdings for investors and created the agreements with the producers. The film is now a reality with world wide interest.

Graham Associates (International) Ltd has provided financial contractual advice to such companies as BBC, Walt Disney International, NBC/Universal and William Morris Agency. We have a client bank of film production talent throughout the UK and US including household names. We have instructions to act on many high profile and exciting projects some of which already have expressions of interest from worldwide distributors even at a script level.

Having a passion for the cinema and television we bring together the best of British film makers with investors and the Enterprise Investment Scheme to make a project happen, make it successful and carefully control the risk.

We have developed a refreshing new way to make Great British Films for film makers and an exciting less risky way for investors to be involved in the film and television industry closer than in any other way

Current projects range from £100,000 to £5million across a wide range of genres, film companies and studios.