Germany's Hannover Leasing(HL) is to partner again with Universal Studios on its second Montranus mediafund, which is to be launched this September to raise at least Euros 230m forinvesting in several feature films by the US studio.

The first Montranus mediafund was, says HL, fully placed "within only a few weeks."

To date, HL has initiatedand placed eleven media funds in the market with an overall investment volumeof over Euros 1bn, with participation in such films as Rush Hour II, I AmSam and the second and third instalments of The Lord Of The Ringstrilogy.

Montranus II will befollowing the same model introduced by HL last year to meet the requirements ofthe revised Media Ruling: the fund will be the sole limited partner of sixsingle-purpose production companies set up to develop and produce feature filmprojects shortlisted by the fund. A meeting will then be convened for theinvestors to decide which of these films are to be backed by the fund. Theywill be supported in the pre-selection and development of the projects byexperts from the film industry.