The Foundry, a London-based visual effects software developer, has been sold in a management buy-out led by CEO Dr Bill Collis and the original founders and backed by Advent Venture Partners. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. 

The Foundry, a London-based visual effects software developer, has been sold in a management buy-out led by CEO Dr Bill Collis and the original founders and backed by Advent Venture Partners. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The Foundry develops software for the film industry, and specialises in visual effects compositing, which is the layering and manipulating of many image sequences to create a final shot. The company has more than doubled revenues in the last eighteen months to some $10 million (£6 million).

Bill Collis, CEO of The Foundry said: “The Foundry is renowned for responding to user needs and developing useful tools that boost productivity. With the backing of our previous investors, we enjoyed substantial growth and are now in a strong position to take the business forward with our new partners Advent Venture Partners.”

The Foundry’s products have facilitated ambitious effects sequences on numerous major Hollywood blockbusters including ‘The Dark Knight’ and ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’. Mike Chalfen, general partner at Advent Venture Partners, commented: “The Foundry’s products are ubiquitous in its field, its 3D stereoscopic technology is poised to dominate its market, and the company is a true European digital technology success story.”