Ymagis Group Appoints Maxime Rigaud Head of Exhibitor
Services for France, Switzerland and Africa
Paris (France), Liège (Belgium), June 9, 2015 / Ymagis (ISIN: FR0011471291, MNEMONIC:
MAGIS), the European specialist in digital technologies for the motion picture industry, today announced
the appointment of Maxime Rigaud as General Manager of Exhibitor Services for France, Switzerland and
Africa. The announcement follows the Group’s purchase statement on March 25 of the French company
R2D1, which is specialized in the installation and maintenance of digital cinema equipment.
"We are thrilled to announce this acquisition as part of our strategy to grow our products and
services offer," explained Ymagis CEO and co-Founder Jean Mizrahi. "Our company is primarily
known in France for our contribution to the financing of the transition to digital cinema through the
VPF(1) model. However, our service activities now represent a significant portion of our annual
revenues and profits, and they are expected to increase very quickly in the future.”
"This coming together of our two organizations will allow us to not only expand our services offer
but also better meet our movie exhibitor clients’ needs," said Maxime Rigaud, General Manager of
R2D1. "We share the same work ethic and values with Ymagis Group, making this merger a natural
fit. I am very pleased and proud to be heading up this new structure."
Till Cussmann, VP Exhibitor Services, added, "Our goal is to become the industry leader in France
by 2017. To do so, we aim to make available to our clients the most up-to-date technological
expertise we’ve developed worldwide in recent years with the implementation and management of
new technologies (4K, 3D, immersive sound, laser projection systems, High Dynamic Range(2)) and
the integration of intelligent solutions such as our Melody Theater Management System (TMS(3)),
all-in-one library software, Orchestra, and the complete automation of projection booths."
Founded in 2009 by Maxime Rigaud, Dominique Rigaud and Jacques Damitio, R2D1 is known for its
high-quality technical installations in French multiplexes as such Pathé (whose 80 cinemas were
equipped with projection and sound systems) as well as in prestigious locations, which include the
Centre Georges Pompidou, Quai Branly Museum, Grand Palais and the Seydoux and Louis Vuitton
Foundations in Paris. R2D1 is the exclusive seller of SONY 4K projection systems in France,
Switzerland and Africa (120 screens equipped to date). R2D1 is also a leader in the installation of
sound equipment, with over 200 theaters now equipped with 7.1(4) and Dolby Atmos(5).
Based in the Paris suburb of Montrouge, Maxime Rigaud reports to Till Cussmann. Rigaud’s team
includes Olivier Douet, who joined the group in early 2015 as Head of Sales for France,
Switzerland, and North Africa, as well Sales Managers Vincent Bruère and Virgile Fridemann. R2D1
has a staff of nine employees, all of whom also join Ymagis Group.
Ymagis Group also announced today the successful completion of its acquisition of R2D1.
Ymagis
Group now has 80% ownership of the company, with the remainder controlled by Maxime Rigaud.
In the coming weeks, the business activities of Ymagis Engineering Services (YES) – a whollyowned
subsidiary of Ymagis Group specialized in the installation and maintenance of digital cinema
equipment - will be merged with R2D1. Following this operation, Ymagis Group and Maxime
Rigaud will ultimately control 90% and 10% of R2D1, respectively.