Vista Group update on impact of COVID-19
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Vista Group International Ltd, L3, 60 Khyber Pass Road, Newton, PO Box 8279, Symonds St, Auckland 1150, NZ
MARKET ANNOUNCEMENT
24 March 20 20, Vista Group International Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand
Update on Impact of COVID-19
The impact of COVID-19 on the film industry globally has been substantial with cinemas in
many countries temporarily closing – either on their own initiative or as a result of government
direction.
Vista Group companies serving the studio segment of the film industry – MACCS, Powster,
and Numero – have so far not seen significant impact to their business.
Vista Group is focused on the long term sustainable success of the business, with three key
priorities:
1. Supporting our staff in all countries, and ensuring they are safe and well and are able to
ensure their loved ones are safe and well.
2. Supporting our customers. We are working closely with our customers who have a wide
variety of circumstances. In Europe, we have seen a small number of customers reach
out to accelerate initiatives whilst their cinemas are closed. In China, several customers
are re-opening their cinemas with new content. While in the USA and Asia, a number of
customers have asked for us to help them by varying their payment terms.
3. Implementing initiatives to sustain our strong balance sheet position with a particular
emphasis on cash (see below).
All staff in all countries are working from home, an arrangement which was tested across the
Group two weeks ago, and which is proving to be highly effective – and obviously necessary.
In terms of initiatives which support sustaining our balance sheet:
• The Directors have reduced their directors’ fees by 30%.
• The Chief Executive Officer has voluntarily reduced his salary by 30%.
• The senior leadership team have voluntarily reduced their salaries by 25%.
• A hiring freeze has been implemented across the Group.
• Contractor resources have ceased with immediate effect, except where the resources
are required for essential work.
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Vista Group International Ltd, L3, 60 Khyber Pass Road, Newton, PO Box 8279, Symonds St, Auckland 1150, NZ
• Staff across Vista Group have been offered the opportunity to work reduced hours (for
reduced pay) and the uptake has been significant with well over 50% of staff
volunteering to reduce hours by at least 20%.
• Marketing spend has been reviewed and reduced – with the majority of industry trade
shows cancelled or deferred.
• On Friday last, Vista Group drew down $20 million of its available banking facilities in
addition to a regular draw down for work on the Vista Cinema SaaS project.
Vista Group Chief Executive Kimbal Riley, noted: “The health and wellbeing of our people
globally remains at the forefront of our priorities – in almost all cases they are living in cities
which are under some form of lock-down, and it is a testament to the capacity and resilience
of our people that they continue to perform under these unprecedented circumstances.”
“We believe that we are taking the appropriate actions to continue to support our customers
across the globe. We review our cost base daily and will take further measures should that
become required. As cinemas re-open across the world we believe there will continue to be
significant demand for the software and services Vista Group offers.”
For further information please contact:
Kimbal Riley
Chief Executive Officer
Vista Group International Ltd
Contact: kimbal.riley@vista.co
Matt Cawte
Chief Financial Officer
Vista Group International
Contact: matt.cawte@vista.co
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