– JT Bioscopen (“JT”) is the second largest cinema chain in the Netherlands, operating 21 cinemas and 111 screens across the country
– JT is a leader in technical innovation in the global movie exhibitor sector being the first exhibitor in the world to launch the cutting-edge Dolby Cinema format and one of the first exhibitors to introduce laser projection and Dolby Atmos sound technology
– Vue International (“Vue”) is one of the top five cinema groups in the world by box office revenue, operating 209 cinemas and 1,859 screens across 10 countries
– From its inception in May 2003, Vue has grown organically and through strategic acquisitions. Vue has acquired five cinema exhibitors since 2012
– Vue is privately owned by investors OMERS Private Equity and Alberta Investment Management Corporation since 2013
– The transaction enables Vue to enter the growing Netherlands cinema exhibition market with a leading portfolio of assets and continue their successful international expansion strategy
– The acquisition of JT reinforces Vue’s strategy to be at the forefront of technological innovation in big screen entertainment
– Under new strategic ownership, JT will now be able to leverage Vue’s infrastructure to continue to grow its cinema estate and innovate
– Arma supported JT and the selling shareholder throughout the exit process, including financial analysis, strategic positioning, valuation, marketing materials preparation and interactions with both strategic buyers and private equity funds
– Overall, Arma assisted JT and the selling shareholder in realising their strategic objectives, drawing on Arma’s extensive experience in the Digital Media sector