AID Partners Capital values Prime Focus World at USD 50 million

01/01/2013

AID Partners Capital values Prime Focus World at USD 250 million

Mumbai, March [20], 2013 AID Partners Capital Limited, a private equity firm focused on buyout opportunities and expansion capital primarily in media and entertainment sector has valued Prime Focus World NV (PFW), a 100% subsidiary of Prime Focus Limited (Prime Focus, BSE code: 532748) at US$ 250 million. The Hong Kong based private equity firm has invested US$ 10 million in optionally convertible preference shares of PFW, which are convertible into 4% equity..

The investment further validates strong investor interest in Prime Focus and the huge potential that exists in unlocking value in its subsidiaries. Earlier in November 2012, Standard Chartered PE invested US$ 70 million in Prime Focus Limited - US$35 million equity for a 19.71% stake and US$35 million through NCDs. In December 2012, Prime Focus successfully redeemed FCCBs worth US$ 79 million.

"Breaking into Hollywood, building direct relationships with the studios, delivering superior quality work consistently using global digital pipeline & a CAGR of over 68% all in less than 5 years is no mean achievement. Prime Focuss unique model of striking the right balance between technology, creative & financial imperatives, continues to make it a valuable investment. Today it is heartening to see a discerning investor like AID Partners find such value in this company", said Namit Malhotra, Chairman &CEO, Prime Focus World N.V.

"From the initial investment that we made in PFW of US$ 43 million in 2008, currently the business is valued more than 5 times. This is indeed great news for our shareholders as we fuel our next wave of growth", added Namit.

Prime Focus World is the world's largest provider of value-added creative and technical services for 2D to 3D content conversion, visual effects ("VFX") and animation services. Prime Focus World has worked on popular 3D motion films including The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader (by Fox), Star Wars: Episode One - The Phantom Menace (by Lucasfilm), Shrek (by DreamWorks Animation), Transformers 3 (by Paramount), Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (by Warner Brothers), Wrath of the Titans (by Warner Brothers), The Smurfs (by Columbia) and Men in Black 3 (by Sony).

AID Partners is the only independent investor to have acquired this minority stake in Prime Focus World N.V. Coupled with its recent acquisition of a 100% stake in HMV Asia and its investment in Legendary Pictures, this partnership further underscores AID Partners in-depth knowledge of and commitment to the growth of the entertainment industry in Asia.

In a related development, Prime Focus has announced a joint venture with AID Capital Partners Group and local partner Zhejiang Jingqi Wenhua Chuanbo Company Limited () to offer visual effects and 3D conversion services to the movie industry in the Greater China area.

According to the Chinese State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, Chinas 2012 box office receipts increased 30%; in majority part due to imported films; ranking China as the worlds second-largest box office next to the US (surpassing Japan). PCR is also the largest 3D market outside of the United States, encouraging the government to relax import restrictions that now allow an additional 14 foreign films to be distributed in China provided they are in 3D or large format.

3D and VFX are now key elements of big budget films. With the increasing budgets of tentpole movies, there is a tremendous demand for world-class 3D and VFX services. We look forward to working with the leadership of Prime Focus to offer top notch creative services to the film and entertainment industry globally and in the Greater China region in particular said Kelvin Wu, Principal Partner of AID Partners.

In addition to the highly successful 3D conversion business, Prime Focus also provides world-class VFX services to major studios. Recent works include Transformers 3 (by Paramount), Avatar (by Fox), The Twilight Saga: Eclipse and The Twilight Saga: New Moon (by Summit Entertainment), Sucker Punch (by Legendary and Warner Brothers), TRON: Legacy (by Disney), Final Destination 5 (by Warner Brothers), Immortals (by Relativity Media), Men in Black 3 (by Sony) and Dredd (by Lionsgate).

Media Relations:

Jose Kunnappally

Head, Marketing and Communications

Prime Focus Limited

+91 887 964 5359

jose [dot] kunnappally

primefocusworld [dot] com

Or

Annu Dwivedi

Genesis Burson-Marsteller for Prime Focus Limited

+ 91 982 002 4293

annu [dot] dwivedi

bm [dot] com

LINK:	http://www.primefocusgroup.com/news/2013/03/aid-partners-capital-value...
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