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TORONTO – Canadian camera rental house SIM Digital is expanding into grip and lighting rentals with the acquisition of PS Production Services.
Terms of the deal were not revealed.
But SIM Digital, which specializes in digital production equipment and workflow services through offices in Canada, the U.S. and China, has picked up PS’ production rental facilities in Vancouver, Toronto and Halifax, with around 130 employees.
STORY: Canada’s Hollywood Production Boom Attracts New Equipment Investment
The acquisition steps up the head-to-head competition in Canada to serve the major studios and other Los Angeles producers shooting here between a combined SIM Digital-PS entity and rival William F. White International.
Financing for the PS deal was provided by Granite Partners, a Toronto private equity firm.
SIM’s Canadian offices will now offer digital cameras, including ARRI, Sony and RED, lighting, grip and package trucks, and Bling Post services, including dailies, final color grading and other workflow solutions.
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PS has long been rumored to be on the auction block since founder Doug Dales died in 2010.
“Our cultures are very similar so when this opportunity presented itself, I couldn’t think of two companies that better complemented one another,” Rob Sim, president and CEO of SIM Digital, said in a statement Monday.
PS provided equipment rentals to recent U.S. TV shoots like Alphas, Suits and Canadian TV series like L.A. Complex and Mr. D.
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