Studiocanal, ACE pact $200 mil deal

PARIS -- Pan-European film group Studiocanal has inked a pioneering three-year slate financing cope with London-based film financing fund Anton Capital Ing. ACE will require a 30% stake within the British-language movies and flicks with worldwide potential theatrically launched by Studiocanal within the next 3 years. Deal -- that has already started in and includes Studiocanal-funded hit "Mess Tailor Soldier Spy" -- may be worth Euros150 million ($202.5 million) within the next 3 years in ACE co-investment. That will permit Studiocanal a film financing capacity -- both in productions, co-funded photos and films acquired for distribution -- with a minimum of Euros500 million ($675 million) through 2014. Studiocanal is going to be free to select films within the slate. Deal increases Studiocanal's investment capacity, offset risk and steer clear of Studiocanal's dealing with debt and looking out for investment partners on the film-by-film basis, Studiocanal chairman-Boss Olivier Courson stated in Paris Thursday. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com