18/12/2007

Leading German company Senator Entertainment and French company Wild Bunch yesterday announced their intention to form a comprehensive partnership encompassing distribution, co-production and co-financing.

In Germany, this collaboration takes the form of a joint venture in the distribution field. Wild Bunch is acquiring from Senator 50% of its shares in Central Film Verleih GmbH, who will distribute Wild Bunch’s films in theatres (Senator will manage television and video distribution).

Helge Sasse and Marco Weber, director generals at Senator Entertainment, specified that this agreement is in line with their internationalisation strategy. They consider Wild Bunch "a first-rate European partner" and that the Central Film joint venture "perfectly expresses this promising partnership".

Wild Bunch Director General Vincent Grimond shares their sentiments: "Following operations in France, Italy and Benelux this marks another important stage in the creation of a European distribution network for Wild Bunch.” he said. “Germany is key to this strategy and it was essential that we approach this market with the right partner within the framework of as broad a partnership as possible".

(Translated from French)