LOVEFiLM to Acquire Amazon's UK and German DVD Rental Business; Amazon to Become Largest Shareholder of LOVEFiLM
LOVEFiLM to Acquire Amazon's UK and German DVD Rental Business; Amazon to Become Largest Shareholder of LOVEFiLM
LUXEMBOURG, February 4/PRNewswire/ -- Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) and LOVEFiLM International (
http://www.lovefilm.com), today announced that LOVEFiLM will acquire Amazon
Europe's DVD rental business in the United Kingdom and Germany. As part of
this transaction, Amazon Europe will also make a cash investment and become
the largest shareholder in LOVEFiLM International Ltd., and finally, the two
companies will enter into a multi-year marketing agreement in which Amazon
Europe will promote LOVEFiLM's services on its sites for UK and German
customers.
Completion of the deal is subject to regulatory approval in the UK and
Germany. Following completion of this deal, the new LOVEFiLM subscriber base
will total over 900,000 customers predominantly in the UK and Germany, but
also in the Nordics (Sweden, Norway, and Denmark).
"As one of Europe's largest online DVD rental businesses, LOVEFiLM is
well established to serve customers' increasing demand for entertainment,"
said Greg Greeley, Amazon's vice president of European retail. "Our
investment will enable LOVEFiLM to grow the business further and we are
excited to be part of their future."
Simon Calver, CEO of LOVEFiLM International said, "Customers are faced
with an astonishing array of choices in the entertainment world these days.
LOVEFiLM International will ensure that Amazon Europe's customers get the
best possible DVD rental service. We will be delighted to welcome all Amazon
Europe customers to the LOVEFiLM service. This new, bigger customer base will
give us an even better position from which to build LOVEFiLM as the best
place for customers to find film."
Amazon Europe will continue to operate the DVD rental business on behalf
of LOVEFiLM for a period of time following the close of the transaction to
ensure an efficient transition and smooth customer experience. No staff
reductions are planned at Amazon's German or UK operations as a result of the
business transfer.
About LOVEFiLM
LOVEFiLM provides a DVD rental subscription service in the UK, Sweden,
Norway, Denmark and Germany. It offers a range of online DVD rental options
in each country. These packages include unlimited and capped DVD rentals each
month, free postage and no late fees.
LOVEFiLM UK offers over 65,000 unique titles (including games), cinema
listings and ticket sales, as well as a fast-growing film download service.
LOVEFiLM's customers have access to movie news, reviews, trailers,
editorial content and other community features, and have generated over 56
million film ratings and over 600,000 reviews.
LOVEFiLM has won the prestigious British Video Association's award for
the UK's Best Rental Service in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
LOVEFiLM launched the first UK mass market movie download service to its
UK subscriber base in December 2005. Customers can download-to-rent or
download-to-own from a choice of over 2,500 titles. Short films and
full-length feature films are available from major Hollywood studios
including Universal, Fox, Warner Bros., Sony, Momentum and Icon.
LOVEFiLM launched its fast growing German service under a pilot with
Deutsche Post and has most recently announced a white label partnership with
one of Germany's leading cinema chains, UCI.
LOVEFiLM International Ltd. was formed in 2006 from the 50:50 merger
between LOVEFiLM, an Arts Alliance Media founded company, and Video Island
Ltd. a business backed by three leading European VCs: Index Ventures,
Balderton Capital and DFJ Esprit.
About Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc., (NASDAQ: AMZN), a Fortune 500 company based in Seattle,
opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest
Selection. Amazon.com, Inc. seeks to be Earth's most customer-centric
company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to
buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices.
Amazon.com and other sellers offer millions of unique new, refurbished and
used items in categories such as books, movies, music & games, digital
downloads, electronics & computers, home & garden, toys, kids & baby,
grocery, apparel, shoes & jewelry, health & beauty, sports & outdoors, tools,
auto & industrial.
Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de and Amazon.fr are trading names for Amazon EU
S.a.r.l. and Amazon Services Europe S.a.r.l. Both are wholly owned
subsidiaries of Amazon.com, Inc.
Amazon and its affiliates operate websites, including
http://www.amazon.com, http://www.amazon.co.uk, http://www.amazon.de,
http://www.amazon.co.jp, http://www.amazon.fr, http://www.amazon.ca, and the
Joyo Amazon websites at http://www.joyo.cn and http://www.amazon.cn.
As used herein, "Amazon.com," "we," "our" and similar terms include
Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates
otherwise.
Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning
of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may differ significantly from
management's expectations. These forward-looking statements involve risks and
uncertainties that include, among others, risks related to competition,
management of growth, new products, services and technologies, potential
fluctuations in operating results, international expansion, outcomes of legal
proceedings and claims, fulfillment center optimization, seasonality,
commercial agreements, acquisitions and strategic transactions, foreign
exchange rates, system interruption, significant amount of indebtedness,
inventory, government regulation and taxation, payments and fraud. More
information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's
financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2006, and subsequent filings.
Media contacts:
LOVEFiLM
UK Financial and Business: M Communications
Nick Miles (+44-(0)20-7153-1530) (miles@mcomgroup.com)
Ben Simons (+44-(0)20-7153-1530)
(simons@mcomgroup.com)
UK Trade and Consumer: Mischief
Jenny Lomas (+44-(0)20-7841-6671)
(jenny.lomas@mischiefpr.com)
Mitch Kaye (+44-(0)20-7841-6670)
(mitchell.kaye@mischiefpr.com)
Germany: Kafka Kommunikation
Susanne Sothman (+49-89-7675-9434)
(ssothmann@kafka-kommunikation.de)
North America: SPR Europe, a Spark PR company
Rachel Bremer (+44-(0)779-551-8335)
(rachel@sparkpr.com)
Sarah Kornfeld (+1-415-321-1895)
(skornfeld@sparkpr.com)
AMAZON Damian Peachey
+44-(0)796-611-6752
dpeachey@amazon.co.uk
Christine Hoeger
+49(0)89-358-03-530)
presse@amazon.de
Source: LOVEFiLM International & Amazon.com
Media contacts: LOVEFiLM, UK Financial and Business: M Communications, Nick Miles (+44-(0)20-7153-1530) (miles@mcomgroup.com), Ben Simons (+44-(0)20-7153-1530), (simons@mcomgroup.com). UK Trade and Consumer: Mischief, Jenny Lomas (+44-(0)20-7841-6671), (jenny.lomas@mischiefpr.com), Mitch Kaye (+44-(0)20-7841-6670), (mitchell.kaye@mischiefpr.com). Germany: Kafka Kommunikation, Susanne Sothman (+49-89-7675-9434), (ssothmann@kafka-kommunikation.de). North America: SPR Europe, a Spark PR company, Rachel Bremer (+44-(0)779-551-8335), (rachel@sparkpr.com), Sarah Kornfeld (+1-415-321-1895), (skornfeld@sparkpr.com). AMAZON Damian Peachey, +44-(0)796-611-6752, dpeachey@amazon.co.uk, Christine Hoeger, +49(0)89-358-03-530), presse@amazon.de
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