Jewish Billionaire Howard Marks’ Oaktree Takes Control Of Huge Hollywood Supplier MBS Group Serving More Than 600 Film And TV Stages

MBS provides lighting equipment and other production services to studios working with major entertainment companies including Netflix and Warner Bros. Its network includes New York’s Silvercup Studios, where The Sopranos was filmed, and Los Angeles’ Television City.

The company ran into financial trouble as Hollywood cut spending on movies and television. Spending on scripted television has fallen about 20% from its 2022 peak, while MBS was also struggling under a heavy debt load.

After MBS failed to meet its debt obligations, Oaktree, BlackRock’s HPS Investment Partners and other lenders took control. Hundreds of millions of dollars that MBS owed the lenders will now be converted into ownership of the company. Previous owners Hackman Capital Partners and Affinius Capital are exiting the business.

The new owners also plan to put another $40 million into MBS to stabilize the company and help it grow again, giving the creditor group control of a major supplier behind hundreds of film and television productions around the world.