Boutique financier Equicap Financial Corporation (efc) has made its anticipated move into the u.s. market to supplement its existing Canadian-based film financing operation. efc’s established strengths include interim financing for international coproductions and gap financing where the estimated value of the open distribution territories is financed for budget gaps of up to 20%.

Company vp Annette Grot says one recent efc project was Amberwood Entertainment’s animated series Katie and Orbie (now in production on 26 half-hours), a program in which actor Leslie Nielsen has invested and that he also narrates.

Grot says efc cofinanced the production with hsbc’s Toronto lending office. ‘In a case like that, our commercial banking partner would be able to finance the distribution contracts from creditworthy counterparties [essentially broadcasters and distributors], while efc finances the estimated value of the open territories.’ efc and hsbc cofinanced Katie and Orbie in conjunction with another unnamed series for a total budget of just over Cdn$7 million (us$4.5 million).

But as an expert in Canadian and foreign tax incentives, efc also offers ‘advantages for foreign, non-u.s. coproducers because we understand the Canadian market,’ says Grot, adding that efc currently administers a portfolio of about 22 projects, including Canadian and treaty coproductions. ‘We have the ability to fund the Canadian and other government incentives.’