Munich-based fund specialist LHI Leasing is set to move into financing international TV series with the placement of LHI Filmproduktionsfonds KALEDO later this month.

With a projected volume of over Euros 100m, the leasing-type TV production fund intends to back future episodes of the US series Law & Order, Law & Order Criminal Intent and Law & Order Special Victims Unit.

A license agreement with Amsterdam-based Universal International BV would see fixed payments being made to the fund over 12 years and three months for the exploitation of the rights to the episodes.

The placement of the fund for investors to invest a minimum of Euros 15,000 each will be closed on December 5, 2003 and - in accordance with August's amendments to the Media Ruling (ScreenDaily.com, August 2003) - a decision will then be made on the establishment of an advisory committee at a first shareholder assembly on December 11.
According to LHI, "following this, essential elements of the [fund's] concept will be agreed with the investors or their representatives".

The KALEDO fund is LHI Leasing's first outing into financing television production after launching publicly offered funds and private placements over the past four years to finance such features as Blade 2, All About The Benjamins, Wonder Boys, Snow Day, About A Boy, Ali G In Da House and The Grinch.