Los Angeles, California witnessed a significant development in the entertainment industry with Zello, a prominent private investment platform, announcing its acquisition of Cinelease. This strategic move is set to redefine the landscape of global film production and TV production, establishing a robust foundation for the future of content creation. The transaction underscores Zello’s commitment to bolstering the essential production infrastructure that underpins major cinematic and television projects worldwide.
For over four and a half decades, Cinelease has cultivated an unparalleled reputation as a market leader in lighting and grip rentals. Renowned for its steadfast reliability, extensive entertainment industry relationships, and an unwavering service-first ethos, Cinelease has been instrumental in supporting thousands of film, television, and commercial productions annually across its vast network.
Zello’s acquisition is not merely a financial transaction but a calculated strategic alignment aimed at enhancing the infrastructure behind content creation. This mergers and acquisitions event highlights Zello’s vision to support and scale exceptional businesses within the broader entertainment sector, directly impacting how future film production and TV production endeavors are facilitated.
Under Zello’s new ownership, Cinelease will retain its leadership structure, with industry veterans Mark Lamberton, Chris Rogers, and Gannon Murphy continuing at the helm. This continuity ensures that Cinelease’s core values of responsiveness, dependability, and drive remain intact, preserving the legacy of trust and excellence it has built with filmmakers and crews.
Operating as a standalone, privately held company, Cinelease will benefit from Zello’s extensive operational expertise in studio management, equipment logistics, and overall production infrastructure. This partnership is poised to deepen Cinelease’s market presence and ensure its offerings continue to align precisely with the evolving needs of the global creative community, fostering disciplined expansion.
Mark Lamberton, President of Cinelease, expressed enthusiasm for this new chapter, stating, “We’re a company built on service, relationships, and delivering when it counts—led by people with a deep understanding of what it takes to make it happen. Zello brings deep respect for our foundation and the operational scale to help us go even further for the entertainment industry community. Together, we’ll keep raising the bar for production support across North America.”
The complex mergers and acquisitions deal involved several key financial and legal advisors. Zello received counsel from Proskauer Rose LLP for legal matters, EY for accounting advisement, and American Discovery Capital as financial advisor. Financing for the transaction was adeptly provided by MidCap Financial, a leading middle-market lender managed by Apollo Global Management.
Conversely, Herc Rentals was advised by Sidley Austin LLP on legal aspects and Goldman Sachs on financial matters, underscoring the high-level expertise involved in the transaction. MidCap Financial, crucial to the financing, was guided by Paul Hastings LLP on legal considerations, completing the robust advisory framework for this significant private investment.
Founded in 1977, Cinelease supplies a comprehensive inventory of lighting and grip equipment, along with expendables and sound stages. With operations seamlessly spanning every major production infrastructure hub in the U.S. and Canada, it consistently supports thousands of film production, television, and commercial projects each year, solidifying its position as an indispensable partner in the global entertainment ecosystem.
