Vista Entertainment Solutions, the global leader in cinema exhibition software, is expanding into the wider film industry sector with an agreement to acquire a stake in MACCS International, the global leader in film distribution software.
Vista will buy an initial 25% stake, with an option to increase to 50%, in a deal that Chief Executive Murray Holdaway described as the New Zealandâ€Âbased company’s first serious move to become a major global provider of all software solutions to the film industry.
“We’ve been quite aggressive in our strategy for growth and acquisition and have made no secret of our intent to build our 35% global market share of the modern cinema market to 50%,” says Holdaway. “We’re now expanding vertically, through acquisition and organic growth, to provide our innovative package of software solutions to distributors and movieâ€Âmakers. The MACCS purchase will be our first serious step on that path,” he says.
MACCS, which stands for Movie ACCounting System, is a Dutch company founded by Bert Huls and Mathieu Van As; it is a major supplier of distribution software outside of the US.
The MACCS business includes:
MACCS – a fully integrated ERP system developed specifically for film distributors.
MaccsBox – an electronic data exchange that fully automates the process of reporting and invoicing box office returns between exhibitor and distributor.
DCinemaHub – a universal platform that fully automates the ordering and delivery of digital content from distributors to exhibitors.
VPF Hub – an independent clearing system for VPF settlements.
MACCS founder and chief executive, Bert Huls said: “I have long admired Vista’s significant global growth and the quality of their executive team and we’re tremendously excited to have them coming on board as we grow our market share, particularly in America.”
Holdaway says Vista will share some of the company’s Los Angelesâ€Âbased infrastructure with MACCS and will provide important introductions to key US players.
“They are a profitable and successful business; Vista already has integration with MACCS because our customers have to speak to their customers, in terms of computer systems – so this will be a seamless integration of the two world's Âleaders in the provision of end-Âto-Âend film industry software.
"They’re already a market leader in Europe and now we are going to help them to grow to become a major supplier in other world markets where Vista is already a significant supplier. Initially we see great opportunities in the USA”.