German media company Senator Entertainment and French rights dealer Wild Bunch have agreed to merge, creating a leading European movie production and sales company.
The united company would have a joint library with around 2,200 movies and reach a combined turnover of more than €185 million (based on figures from 2013). It would act as a global distribution company serving all platforms from cinemas to digital media.
The company has further expansion plans based on Wild Bunch’s existing pan-European presence with sales activities in France, Spain and Italy as well as its worldwide distribution arm.
Both companies have already worked together in the past, spanning from their joint venture Central Film Verleih and joint movie acquisitions, for example The King’s Speech, to collaborations in video and TV rights sales.
The existing management teams of Wild Bunch and Senator Entertainment will take over operative control over the merged company.
The merger is subject to Senator Entertainment’s shareholders approving the move and an associated capital increase at an extraordinary general assembly on September 12, 2014.
