6 million entries in France for 31 million

EuropaCorp, the Luc Besson film mini-major records first loss in its history. In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010, the accounts of the studio created ten years ago by the Director-producer with Pierre-Ange Le Pogam were transferred to the Red to the tune of EUR 9.8 million, against a net profit share group almost the same order as a year earlier (EUR 9.4 million). And this despite a turnover increased by 41 percent to 181 million.

On a record number of films released by the major - namely eighteen, against ten a year earlier, four or five have not met the success expected in theaters. "Arthur and the revenge of Maltazard" - with a budget of 63 million euros attracted a little-a less than 3.9 million viewers in the hexagonal rooms while he was near performance of the first (6.5 million). Entries in room French of "From Paris with love", with John Travolta, were also disappointing. This added a very careful policy of amortization of the films. While the major had brought its investments to 140 million, against less than 100 above, it is translated by a quasi-doublement of their amount to 115 million: "under the IFRS standards, we amortize 60 on average of the cost of the film the first year of operation while the life of a film is instead of seven to ten years".said Jean-Julien Baronnet, the Director-General. It is against this term evaluates the profitability of the film. For "The immortal", released March 24, EuropaCorp bore the costs of output during the past year. But accounts were arrested just after the launch, in room revenue by comedy (1.1 million entries) did not argue the results of the year.

For the Director General of EuropaCorp, "the loss last year will not impact on the strategy". The economic model of the major of Luc Besson, which is based on mainstream films calibrated to international "is not questioned. In 2009, sales of videos and sales abroad have experienced very strong growth, rising from, respectively, 72 and 95. The goal is still to turn half of the films in the English language by two years, against 30 currently.

Another positive point, the value of the catalogue of EuropaCorp has also increased over a year. At end of March, it was estimated by an independent firm to EUR 128 million per year, compared to 100 million a year earlier. "Society is healthy, he insists. It exudes a positive cash flow of some 90 million. "However, over the next three years, EuropaCorp should stabilize its investments between 95 and 120 million euros.

A new opus of "Arthur".

This year, the number of outputs will be more reasonable, more close to ten films. The exercise started with a new disappointment with "Adèle Blanc-Sec" which was 1.6 million entries in France for $ 31 million. But international sales, all rights (rooms, DVD, TV), would be very good. On 13 October, the third part of 'Arthur' "Arthur and the war of the worlds" disembark on the large screens. The studio also builds on such films as "The small handkerchiefs" of Guillaume Canet with Marion Cotillard or "The man who wanted to live his life" (from the bestseller of Douglas Kennedy).

To smooth its results, EuropaCorp table also on diversification in the production of fiction television after the buyout of Cipango, which produced including the "xiii" series and will be integrated in the accounts for the first time next year.