Dine-In Cinema Chain Sold to Sony Pictures Entertainment Following Six Years of Partnership
Palo Alto, CA – Altamont Capital Partners (Altamont) today announced the sale of Alamo Drafthouse Cinema (Alamo Drafthouse), a leading dine-in theater chain, to global entertainment company Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE).
Altamont began its partnership with Alamo Drafthouse in 2018, supporting the company’s goal of growing its brand as a leading out-of-home entertainment concept. Through a hands-on partnership with Alamo Drafthouse’s management team—including Founder Tim League, CEO Michael Kustermann, and former CEO Shelli Taylor—Altamont helped strengthen the brand’s team, technology, and customer experience despite facing challenging economic conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Alamo Drafthouse’s ability to endure the pandemic, a difficult period for the industry, is a testament not only to the Alamo Drafthouse brand but also to the business strategy it executed in close collaboration with Altamont.
“We are grateful for the partnership with Tim, Michael, Shelli, and the entire Alamo Drafthouse management team that resulted in tremendous recognition and brand awareness for Alamo Drafthouse,” said Altamont Co-Founder and Managing Director Randall Eason. “We look forward to seeing Alamo Drafthouse continue to succeed in this next chapter with SPE, which we believe will provide the brand and employee base ample opportunity for further growth and development.”
“Our partnership with Altamont has allowed us to build on a solid foundation and business model to create sustainable growth solutions that have supported the company in its goal to grow its footprint in the entertainment industry,” said Michael Kustermann, CEO of Alamo Drafthouse. “We look forward to continuing our growth trajectory with SPE and thank the Altamont team for their support of the best cinematic experience in the world.”
“Alamo Drafthouse’s enduring business model and dedicated employee and consumer base see the company positioned for continued excellence in service,” said Altamont Managing Director Kevin Mason. “Altamont is proud of our partnership with the entire team at Alamo Drafthouse, and we trust in a strong future alongside SPE.”
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, an advisor to Alamo Drafthouse with deep industry expertise and relationships, supported the company’s efforts to find the best-suited partner for Alamo Drafthouse to continue building its brand.