Liège-Ougrée, Belgium—Dec 16, 2004
EVS Spin-out XDC raises 9 millions Euros to deploy the first European digital cinema network
XDC S.A., the 60% spin-out of EVS Broadcast Equipment, has increased yesterday
its capital by € 9,000,000 with 10 new partners from Belgium, France and
Luxembourg who will have a 40% holding in the company when the operation is
completed: BGL Investment Partners S.A., Audiolux S.A., Beaufagne S.A.,
Compagnie du Bois Sauvage S.A., G.Consulting S.A., Meusinvest S.A., Partners @
Venture N.V., Vivium Life S.A., Pierre Rion and Laurent Minguet. XDC has been
advised by Delwaide Lawyers for the legal work.
XDC aims to digitise 500 cinema screens over the next two years to create the
first European digital cinema network. Europe has more than 30,000 screens and
XDC is positioning itself as a third party investor between distributors and
exhibitors, controlling the digital technology which has made EVS successful. At
the same time, XDC is continuing its developments in Asia and America through
its subsidiary XDC Inc., based in New York and Hollywood.
Today, XDC includes the whole of the EVS Digital Cinema division which covers
research & development, production and sales of the "CineStore" servers. This
division was set up 5 years ago and has a team of 30 people who develop
technological solutions for replacing projectors and 35 mm films with digital
systems. Amongst other benefits, these systems offer better picture and sound
quality, lower distribution costs and simplified logistics as films will be
eventually distributed via satellite. The digital technology also makes it
easier to prevent films piracy. Most of the content providers, among which some
of the Hollywood Majors and many independent are interested in digital
distribution and projection. Up to date, there have already been more than
60,000 digital cinema screenings on the hundred + CineStore servers which XDC
has already sold throughout the world. XDC represents today a market share of
around 30%.
XDC is also working in partnership with several European companies on this
project. These include: Studio l’Equipe, Cast4all, UCL… (Belgium), Astra, BCE
(Luxembourg), Denmark (VLL), Mikrom, FTT… (Germany), Filmteknik, Display It,
Public Entertainment (Sweden), MarinaStudios, Elsacom (Italy), CST, AFNOR,
Digimage (France), Bell Theater Services and British Telecom (UK). XDC has also
developed some preferred business relationships in the US and in Asia.
Laurent Minguet, CEO of XDC: "The new financial resources we have now will
enable XDC to become a leader for services in the digital cinema industry. XDC's
aim is to become a trusted partner for distributors and exhibitors.
