Launch of New Division

2 Aug 2007 07:02

Entertainment One Ltd02 August 2007 2 August 2007 ENTERTAINMENT ONE LTD. LAUNCHES FILMED ENTERTAINMENT DIVISION PATRICE THEROUX APPOINTED PRESIDENT Entertainment One Ltd. announces today the appointment of Patrice Theroux tohead the newly formed Filmed Entertainment division. As President of FilmedEntertainment, Mr. Theroux will oversee the acquisition and worldwidedistribution of filmed content in all media including theatrical, homeentertainment/ DVD, broadcast and digital/new technology. He will also beresponsible for international expansion, identifying Filmed Entertainmentcorporate acquisitions and other growth initiatives. Under Mr. Theroux's leadership the new Filmed Entertainment division willcapitalise on Entertainment One's established businesses and expand thecompany's distribution activities into an all rights, multi-territory andinternational film distribution business. In the US, the focus will remain onDVD and broadcast rights exploitation. As part of its stated strategy, on July 5th Entertainment One completed theacquisition of the Contender Entertainment Group. The leading independent UKdistributor of filmed entertainment on DVD, Contender controls a feature libraryof over 170 titles and has acquired a number of films for theatricaldistribution in the coming months. Mr. Theroux aims to expand this theatricalslate aggressively with a combination of high profile arthouse, mainstream andcrossover product for release, starting in 2008. Entertainment One is looking to expand its global theatrical distribution basewith Canada as a priority, where the company already enjoys a strong presencewith home entertainment/DVD sales. "Entertainment One offers me a terrific opportunity to build a leadinginternational entertainment content ownership and distribution business andcreate an attractive partner for producers and sales agencies. All this with thesignificant financial backing of a well established organization" explainsTheroux. "It will allow us to negotiate multi territory deals and provide thecollateral to complete the financing of individual films. In turn, ourinvestment return will not be reliant on any one territory and everyone willbenefit from the sharing of distribution costs. As a rights owner, we willalways be looking to enhance our filmed entertainment library." Darren Throop, CEO of Entertainment One, added that "As a prominent andlong-standing figure in the international motion picture business, Patrice willbe the driving force behind our international growth and expansion. Theacquisition of Contender has given us an established platform in Europe thatcompliments our North American business. From this base Patrice will pursuefurther acquisition opportunities in Europe and other key English-speakingterritories. His significant experience and reputation will be a great benefitto Entertainment One as we push forward the plans to grow our FilmedEntertainment business." Mr. Theroux has over twenty years of experience in the motion picturedistribution industry and recently was President and CEO of Motion PictureDistribution LP (TSX: FLM), 51% owned by Alliance Atlantis (TSX: AAC), where hemanaged one of the world's leading independent distribution operations,including MPD in Canada, Momentum Pictures in the United Kingdom and AurumProducciones in Spain. In Canada, he oversaw distribution of a diverse slatefrom leading independent studios, including New Line Cinema, The WeinsteinCompany, Focus Features, Dimension Films and Miramax Films for theatricalrelease, in video/DVD format and to television broadcasters. He also built andexploited a DVD/TV catalogue of more than 5,000 titles. Entertainment One Ltd. (LSE: ETO) Admitted to trading on AIM on 29 March 2007,Entertainment One Ltd.'s strategy is to build a leading internationalindependent entertainment content ownership and distribution business.Entertainment One is the largest distributor of home entertainment products inthe Canadian market and following the acquisition of Contender also owns theleading independent UK distributor of filmed entertainment on DVD. The companyalso owns Koch Entertainment, the largest independent record label in NorthAmerica and a leading independent distributor of music and video in the UnitedStates. CONTACTS:Trade Press: Financial Press:DDA PR FinsburyDennis Davidson/Jill Jones Don Hunter Tel: +1 (310) 205-4868 Tel: +44 (0)20 7251 3801 Email: dennis.davidson@ddapr.com; Email: don.hunter@finsbury.com jill.jones@ddapr.com Entertainment One:Darren Throop (CEO) Giles Willits (CFO)Tel: +1 (905) 282 7878 Tel: +442070042755Email: Email: gwillits@entertainmentone.cadthroop@entertainmentone.ca Collins Stewart Europe Limited Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander Capital Markets(NOMAD): Limited+44 (0)20 7523 8350 +44 (0)20 3205 7500Seema Paterson/Ellen Francis Marc Young This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange