Zio Studio Services Acquired by Hudson Pacific Properties
Los Angeles, CA – Zio Studio Services (“Zio” or the “Company”), the leading provider of one-stop-shop production equipment rental services, has been acquired by Hudson Pacific Properties (“Hudson”) alongside an acquisition of Star Waggons. Zio’s founder, Louis Dargenzio, and the rest of the management team will continue to lead and operate the Company. FocalPoint Partners (“FocalPoint”) served as exclusive financial advisor to Zio.
Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Sylmar, California, Zio is the leading provider of film, TV, and commercial production equipment rental services, having pioneered and consolidated an integrated “one call” equipment solution offering trailers, trucks, generators, bathrooms, and specialized camera and film trucks. Zio’s innovative business model has allowed the Company to gain market share from many legacy “one-trick pony” equipment rental providers and to rapidly grow both organically and through acquisitions. Today, Zio serves the largest film, TV, and commercial content producers in the world, with locations in Los Angeles and Atlanta, and plans to continue to grow as part of the Hudson Pacific family of brands.
Louis Dargenzio, President of Zio, said, “Hudson Pacific’s vision to bring Star Waggons and Zio together alongside its Sunset Studios platform will be a major win for the entertainment industry at large, our team members, and our clients. With Hudson Pacific’s resources, production expertise, and ambitious plans to expand Sunset Studios, we have exceptionally exciting opportunities for growth ahead of us. Additionally, I would like to thank the FocalPoint team for their outstanding guidance throughout the process. I was highly impressed by their professionalism, determination, and creativity in helping us identify the best partner. I couldn’t be happier with FocalPoint’s performance throughout this transaction.”
Rajesh Sood, Managing Partner at FocalPoint, said, “Louis Dargenzio, Jeff Stotland, head of global studios for Hudson Pacific, and the entirety of the Zio and Hudson Pacific teams were a pleasure to work with. We are excited to watch the team continue to revolutionize the production equipment rental industry within the broader organization. FocalPoint and Zio together evaluated a number of potential acquisition and recapitalization alternatives before ultimately concluding that the transaction with Hudson Pacific achieved the best possible value for the Company’s unique business model, market position, and future growth opportunities.”
About Zio Studio Services
Zio Studio Services is an innovative platform which for nearly 15 years has offered one-stop transportation solutions and vehicle rental services to content producers. It services more than 70 percent of all major studio productions in Southern California, simplifying the production rental process and delivering significant time savings for its customers. Its fleet, which operates in Los Angeles and Atlanta, includes approximately 750 transportation and equipment assets including cast, makeup, and wardrobe trailers, specialized transportation vehicles, portable power generators, and tow plants, as well as sanitation systems and other equipment that are instrumental to keeping production sites safe and hygienic. For additional information, please visit https://ziostudioservices.com.
About FocalPoint Partners
FocalPoint is an independent investment bank specializing in mergers and acquisitions, private placements, financial restructurings, and special situation transactions. With offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and Shanghai, the firm provides global advisory services to middle market clients and has dedicated M&A, Capital Raising, and Special Situations practices. Since its inception in 2002, FocalPoint has completed more than $15 billion in total transactions. For more information, please visit https://focalpointllc.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Please contact Rajesh Sood, Managing Partner, at 310-405-7050 or Will Bower, Director, at 310-405-7026 with any questions about this transaction.