Qube Draws International Investment - Infusion to Power Digital Cinema Growth Story

Source: SAWA

August 2008

 

Real Image Media Technologies Pvt. Ltd., India’s leading media technology company and one of the global pioneers of digital cinema has concluded a Private Equity investment led by Nomura, one of Asia’s top investment banks. This is part of aUSD 25 million round in which Intel Capital, an existing investor in the Company, is also participating. N M Rothschild& Sons (India) Private Limited is the exclusive financial advisor to Real Image for this funding which would enable the Company and its N. Hollywood based subsidiary, Qube Cinema,Inc. to expand operations significantly both in India as well asacross North America, Europe, Australia and Asia.

 

Established in 1986, Real Image has developed end-to-enddigital cinema technology solutions that address not just the needs of cinema houses for digital cinema equipment andcontent, but also encompass the needs of the media and in-cinema advertising industry in India. As the only Indian com-pany that has developed a digital cinema product that followsthe requirements of Digital Cinema Initiatives (DCI) – a con-sortium formed by major motion picture Studios to establish astandard architecture for digital cinema – Real Image is a pio-neer driving the evolution of the film industry from tradition-al processes to digital cinema. The company’s solid marketing,sales and support skills, as well as its partnerships worldwide, further strengthens its position in the media technology space.

 

“Real Image has an experienced management team and a solidtrack record in digital media solutions. We see great potential in this growing sector and look forward to being part of RealImage’s exciting journey to win and maintain a leading posi-tion in the industry,” said Yoshiki Hashimoto, Head of Asia Merchant Banking at Nomura. “Our investment in Real Image demonstrates our commitment to India and to building up ourmerchant banking business across Asia. We believe that by providing financial and management support to companies with strong prospects for growth, we will be able to con-tribute to growth in India and the rest of Asia.”

 

“Intel Capital continues to support technology innovation inIndia and stays committed to our portfolio companies. Since inception of its venture capital program in India in 1998, IntelCapital has invested in approximately fifty companies acrosseight cities.  We invested for the first time in Real Image backin 2006 and are pleased with the progress the company has made to date. Digital cinema is exploding in India as well as overseas markets and we are confident our investment enables Real Image to expand further in India and SE Asia”, saidSudheer Kuppam, MD for Intel Capital in India, Japan, Southeast Asia and Australasia.

 

“We are proud to be associated with a firm as highly respected as Nomura, especially as this is their first private equity investment in the Indian market, and look forward to being able to leverage their global strengths. We are also pleased with the confidence shown by Intel Capital in participating in this follow-on round,” said Senthil Kumar, co-founder of RealImage. “This funding will help us accelerate the growth we are seeking in India and other markets across the globe."