London/New York, June 2nd 2020 – Newly formed London and New York based business International Literary Properties today announced a major acquisition deal of twelve literary estates from one of the longest established literary and talent agencies in the UK, Peters, Fraser + Dunlop, which will continue to provide literary representation for the portfolio.
The eight figure multi-estates deal sees ILP acquire the rights formerly held by the agency for the literary estates of writers: Georges Simenon, Eric Ambler, Margery Allingham, Edmund Crispin, Dennis Wheatley, Robert Bolt, Richard Hull, George Bellairs, Nicolas Freeling, John Creasey, Michael Innes and Evelyn Waugh.
ILP was set up to acquire the rights in literary estates from those who have inherited them, or from living authors seeking financial certainty from an experienced and engaged buyer. This deal is the first major slate of acquisitions announced by ILP, which will pro-actively manage the estates it buys or buys into, working with agents to support their exploitation across all media platforms.
Helmed in the UK by CEO Hilary Strong (formerly CEO of the Agatha Christie estate), and Anthology Group founder, Bob Benton, with the New York-headquartered business led by literary veteran Scott Hoffman as Group CEO and Executive Chairman Ted Green (media entrepreneur), the executive team brings many decades of experience in literary, TV, Film, theatre and music rights management and exploitation. Peters, Fraser + Dunlop will continue to act as literary agent for the twelve estates.
Strong and Benton have principal responsibility for the UK and Europe, focusing on properties with television, theatre and film potential alongside CFO Andrew Minkow and Polly Benton, who will head up Business Development.
Hilary Strong, CEO for ILP UK, says, “The acquisition of Peters, Fraser + Dunlop’s interests in these estates is a very important step for us in building the business. International Literary Properties was formed late last year, bringing together an incredible team with many decades of experience in literary, TV, film, music and theatre management and exploitation. This major acquisition plays to the team’s experience and strengths and I am truly excited by the opportunity to nurture these twelve wonderful estates and to find new and exciting ways of telling the great stories that lie within them.”
Scott Hoffman, Group CEO ILP, says, “When we launched ILP, it was our vision to build a portfolio of some of the world’s most important and iconic literary works with an eye toward preserving their creators’ legacies and ensuring they would bring enjoyment to readers for decades to come. This acquisition is a major step toward that goal. We’re grateful to Peters, Fraser + Dunlop for the work done during their tenure as guardian of these storied estates; to the publishers, producers and broadcasters who are our partners in bringing them to readers and viewers; and most of all to the authors themselves for creating these timeless characters and stories.”
The deal was brokered by Hilary Strong at ILP.
