Ivan Fecan, the former head of CTVglobemedia, has returned to the entertainment business as chairman of a Canadian production house backed by some big names in finance.
Mr. Fecan was just named chairman of Thunderbird Entertainment, which is backed by mining magnate Frank Giustra, Vancouver developer and Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini, and Toronto trader Michael Wekerle.
The connection came through Difference Capital Funding Inc., a Toronto-based merchant bank co-founded by Mr. Wekerle and Paul Sparkes, one of Mr. Fecan's former colleagues at CTVglobemedia. (CTVglobemedia was at one point the parent company of The Globe and Mail.)
Difference has put together a portfolio of investments in media, technology and entertainment in the year since its launch, and there is already talk that at least one holding might be ready for an initial public offering. That would be Virgin Gaming, which has a deadline to go public or give investors liquidity another way by September or there will be a penalty paid to investors. (A hat tip here to the Wellington Financial blog which pointed out the likely IPO a few weeks ago. )
Thunderbird and Lion's Gate Films, another studio backed by Mr. Giustra, have a deal to run a studio together. Thunderbird also owns a half share in the Blade Runner film properties – with a new Blade Runner story in development.