Vista Group
NZX: VGL, ASX: VGL | |
Industry | Software Design and Development |
Founded | 2014 |
Headquarters | Auckland, New Zealand |
Key people | Executive team: Murray Holdaway (Chief Executive, Vista Group) Brian Cadzow (Director - Commercial and Legal, Vista Group) Rodney Hyde (Chief Financial Officer, Vista Group) Kimbal Riley (Chief Executive, VES) William Palmer (Chief Executive, Movio) Bert Huls (Chief Executive, MACCS International) Simon Burton (Chief Executive, Numero) Claudiu Tanasescu (Chief Executive, Share Dimension) Ste Thompson (Chief Executive, Powster) Paul Scantlebury (Chief Executive, Flicks) |
Products | Film Industry Software |
Number of employees | Over 400...[1] |
Website | www.vistagroup.co.nz |
Vista Group International (Vista Group) provides and offers film industry software solutions for studios, distributors, exhibitors, and moviegoers globally.
Vista Group is made up of ten businesses with over 400 staff[2] across offices in New Zealand, USA, the UK, the Netherlands, Romania, Australia, and China. Its Vista Cinema software is installed in cinemas in more than 70 countries and processes in excess of one billion cinema tickets annually.[3] Vista Group is listed on both the New Zealand Exchange (NZX) and Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).
Corporate History
Vista Entertainment Solutions (VES), the original and cornerstone company of Vista Group, was formed in New Zealand in 1996.[4] In 1997, VES made its first overseas sales in Argentina and Fiji, at which point its software was adapted to handle multiple languages and accommodate the complex tax laws and film regulations of other countries. This flexibility allowed VES to expand rapidly into the diverse cinema markets of Central and North America, Europe, and Asia.[5][6]
VES was initially formed via a joint venture development agreement between Village Force Cinemas Ltd (now Event Cinemas) and Madison Systems Ltd (now Fujitsu Ltd).[7] Madison Systems was part owned and staffed by people who are still key shareholders and staff in VES today.[6] VES management took a direct 50% ownership in 2003 and total control of the company in March 2010.[6]
Between 2009–2014, VES acquired total or partial control in a number of software companies specializing in film distribution, exhibition, ticketing, and marketing data analysis.[8][9]
In 2014, the management company that owned VES and the companies it had acquired, formed Vista Group International and undertook a share market listing on the NZX and ASX via an Initial Public Offering of $92.6m, of which $40.0m was new capital.[10] Vista Group commenced trading on the NZX Main Board on 11 August 2014, with a market capitalization of $191.6m NZD.[11]
Since Vista Group's share market listing, it has continued to acquire stakes in a number of companies operating within the film industry.[12][13]
In August 2016, Vista Group completed a transaction with movie ticket booking platform Beijing Weiying Technology (WePiao), establishing Vista China (previously a 100% subsidiary of Vista Group) as a joint venture company between the organisations.[14] This investment from WePiao, and the extension of distribution rights from Vista Group to cover all of its existing software (Vista Cinema, Veezi, Movio, MACCS and Numero), positions Vista China favourably to increase its footprint in the rapidly expanding China film market.
Businesses
Vista Entertainment Solutions (VES)
VES designs and develops cinema management software for the Large Circuit Market (cinema exhibitors operating more than 20 screens). Vista Cinema, the company's core product, supports Point of Sale (POS), box office, and back of house operations. Other VES products facilitate head office administration, online ticketing, loyalty clubs, box office analysis, and mobile apps for both cinema staff and patrons. VES provides software to over 4000 cinemas in more than 70 countries[15] and their global market share in the large cinema market is calculated at 38%.[16]
- Veezi
VES launched Veezi in March 2012 as a cloud-based cinema management software option for smaller, independent cinemas. Veezi is based on the Software as a Service (Saas) model in which users pay a subscription fee to access the product. Veezi also supports integration with internet ticket aggregators including Fandango, USA's largest online ticketing website.[17]
- MovieTeam
VES launched MovieTeam in April 2016 as a cloud-based staff scheduling application for cinemas. MovieTeam was developed and trialed in conjunction with Harkins Theatres, one of the largest independently owned cinema chains in the United States.
Movio
Movio provides SaaS marketing data analysis and campaign management software for cinemas and film distributors. Movio gathers real-time data on the loyalty activity and transactions of cinema-goers, which is used to create targeted marketing campaigns and measure their effectiveness. Movio maintains data from 32 million active cinema-goers, covering 25% of cinema screens worldwide.[18]
MACCS International
MACCS International provides software for film distributors and exhibitors. MACCS software facilitates film rights and royalties management, as well as advertisement and distribution via theatrical and non-theatrical sales channels (home entertainment etc.). MACCS software operates in over 45 countries and manages theatrical distribution for over 100 film distributors - the largest provider of this type of software outside of the USA.[19] In July 2015, MACCS secured its first customer in the USA, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.[20]
Numero
Numero provides box office reporting software for film distributors and cinemas. Numero is used to extract data from cinema point of sale software, which can then be used by distributors for insight into box office revenue and admissions trends.
Cinema Intelligence
Cinema Intelligence specializes in cloud-based business intelligence and predictive analytics software for cinema exhibitors. Cinema Intelligence solutions use an algorithm to predict attendance and optimize film schedules to maximize admissions. Cinema Scheduler, the company's flagship product, automates the creation of daily film schedules based on the exhibitor's historical box office.
Powster
Powster provides film marketing products, music videos, and creative content globally. Their platform is a global solution for movie distributors to direct audiences to purchase tickets at cinemas.
BookMyShow
BookMyShow is a cinema ticketing website operated in New Zealand. It primarily acts as a service to small circuit cinemas. BookMyShow is a joint venture between Vista Entertainment Solutions and Bigtree Entertainment Pvt. Ltd, a VES partner company.
Flicks
Flicks.co.nz Limited (Flicks) is a New Zealand-operated online movie publication, featuring film news and reviews, booking referral links, and a comprehensive cinema registry.
Awards and Recognition
- Winner: 'Exporter of the Year to the USA $500,001 - $5m' - AmCham-DHL Express Success & Innovation Awards 2012[21]
- Winner: 'Supreme Award - AmCham-DHL Express Success & Innovation Awards 2012[21]
- Winner: 'International Business Award for companies between $10-$50 million in turnover' - New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Business Awards 2012[22]
- Winner: 'Equity Issue of the Year' - INFINZ Awards 2015[23]
- Winner: 'PWC Hi-Tech Company of the Year' - New Zealand Hi-Tech Awards 2016[24]
Philanthropy
In February 2015, Vista Group International launched the Vista Foundation, to support the continued success and growth of the New Zealand film industry.[25] Film producer and director Roger Donaldson is the Patron of the foundation.
References
- ^ "VGL - Acquisition of stake in Powster Limited". www.nzx.com. NZX Limited. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
- ^ "VGL - Acquisition of stake in Powster Limited". www.nzx.com. NZX Limited. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
- ^ "Vista Group Launches Initial Public Offering". www.scoop.co.nz. Scoop Media. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
- ^ Metherell, Suze. "Vista Group to raise $40m, freeze dividends in push for growth". www.nbr.co.nz. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
- ^ "Vista Entertainment Solutions - Movie Stars". www.morgo.co.nz. Morgo. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
- ^ a b c Nikiel, Christine. "Movie Stars". www.sustainable60.co.nz. Unlimited Magazine. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
- ^ "Vista Group Launches Vista Foundation". www.nzx.com. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
- ^ "Vista Agrees to Acquire Stake in MACCS International as Part of a Global Diversification Strategy". www.prweb.com. PRWeb. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
- ^ Ryan, Holly. "Cinema tech firm's focus on growth". www.nzherald.co.nz. New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
- ^ Metherell, Suze. "Vista shares debut at a premium on NZX". www.nbr.co.nz. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
- ^ Metherell, Suze. "Vista shares debut at $2.40 on NZX". www.3news.co.nz. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
- ^ Boot, Sophie. "Vista buys NZ movie website Flicks for undisclosed sum". www.nbr.co.nz. The National Business Review. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
- ^ "Vista takes half stake in UK's Powster". www.nzherald.co.nz. New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
- ^ "Vista Group Completes New Joint Venture Agreement With Chinese Online Ticketing Leader WePiao". www.marketwired.com. Market Wired. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
- ^ "Vista Entertainment Solutions, a Vista Group International Company, Launches the World's First Cloud-Based Cinema Staff Scheduling Application". pro.boxoffice.com. Box Office Pro. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ^ "Vista out performs prospectus forecasts". www.headliner.co.nz. The Headliner. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
- ^ "Fandango Offers Online Ticketing To Thousands Of Independent U.S. Screens Through Exclusive Partnership With Veezi, Engineered By Vista". pro.boxoffice.com. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
- ^ "Vue Entertainment, a Vue International Company, and Movio Partner to Create a Single Customer View". www.reuters.com. Reuters. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ^ "Vista Agrees to Acquire Stake in MACCS International as Part of a Global Diversification Strategy". www.prweb.com. PRWeb. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
- ^ Kay, Jeremy. "Warner Bros, MACCS International strike software distribution pact". www.screendaily.com. Screen Daily. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
- ^ a b Hearn, Mike. "Vista Entertainment Solutions wins Supreme award at 2012 American Chamber of Commerce DHL Express Success & Innovation Awards". www.amcham.co.nz. American Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand Inc. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
- ^ "Winner 2012: Best Business Operating Internationally - $10-$50m". www.nzte.govt.nz. New Zealand Trade & Enterprise. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
- ^ Adams, Christopher. "INFINZ Awards: PwC Equity Issue of the Year". www.nzherald.co.nz. New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
- ^ "Movie software company Vista is Hi-Tech company of the year". www.nbr.co.nz. National Business Review. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
- ^ "Vista Entertainment Group Launches Vista Foundation". www.nzfilm.co.nz. New Zealand Film Commission. Retrieved 20 May 2015.