Jerome Booth’s investment firm buys UK’s Icon Film Distribution
SERIAL investor Jerome Booth turned his focus to the silver screen yesterday, as his investment company bought UK film distributor Icon.
New Sparta, the vehicle Booth founded to invest in film and media firms, bought Icon Film Distribution from its parent company Icon UK Group for an undisclosed sum.
Icon has a library of more than 200 films including Tom Ford’s directorial debut A Single Man, horror flick Paranormal Activity and getaway thriller Drive, starring Ryan Gosling.
The deal will relaunch Icon in the UK with executive Ian Dawson, who has been with the firm since 2006, taking the helm as chief executive.
Earlier this year Booth took control of telecoms company New Call, after retiring as head of research at emerging markets fund Ashmore Group in May.
Booth was part of the group of ANZ Investment Bank managers that started Ashmore in 1999.