Digital cinema pioneer Barco has announced the strategic acquisition of the CineStore activities from cinema solutions provider XDC. This acquisition is a significant step in Barco’s broader strategy to evolve from a digital projection supplier to a comprehensive provider of total cinema visualization solutions.
Enhancing Digital Cinema Capabilities
The acquisition of CineStore, based in Liege, Belgium, brings to Barco a wealth of software expertise and extensive market knowledge in the digital cinema industry. XDC’s CineStore team boasts over a decade of experience in graphical user interface design and theater management systems, which will complement Barco’s existing capabilities.
This move follows Barco’s acquisition of digital signage specialist dZine last year, enabling Barco to offer an integrated theater management system that spans both theater and lobby areas. The inclusion of CineStore will also enhance Barco’s ability to deliver comprehensive solutions for content play out, further solidifying its market position.
Strategic Benefits
Wim Buyens, VP of Barco Digital Cinema, stated, “CineStore’s activities are a strong, value-added complement to our existing digital cinema offering. Adding CineStore’s skills and experience to our business will allow us to further strengthen our market position while maintaining our key strong points of interoperability and highest image quality. We stand by our strategy not to be a VPF integrator but to remain focused on supplying visualization technologies and products for the professional digital cinema community.”
XDC’s Focus Shift
XDC Group CEO, Serge Plasch, commented on the sale: “Barco and XDC share a long history of collaboration in digital cinema. Our decision to sell the CineStore activities aligns with our strategy to focus on service to exhibitors and become the leading European cinema integrator. XDC will increase its activities in integrated cinema software solutions, network, and content delivery services. Within this strategic framework, CineStore capabilities are no longer considered core business.”
Finalization Timeline
The acquisition is expected to be completed by the end of Q1 2011, marking a new chapter for both Barco and XDC.
About XDC
XDC Group, including FTT affiliates, is the leading digital cinema company in Europe, with over 4,200 committed digital screens, of which 2,000 have been deployed. Headquartered in Liege, Belgium, XDC provides end-to-end digital cinema solutions, including equipment supply, financing, training, installation, maintenance, and 24/7 NOC support. XDC holds VPF digital cinema deployment agreements with all six major US studios and is actively involved in content processing, delivery services, and alternative content offerings.
About Barco
Barco is a global technology company that designs and develops visualization products for professional markets. With operations in Europe, North America, and Asia Pacific, Barco employs around 3,500 people worldwide and is active in over 90 countries. In 2010, Barco reported sales of 897 million Euro. Barco continues to lead in the digital cinema industry with innovative visualization solutions.
