Allegro buys distributor VDI

Acquisition makes Canadian subsidiary one of country's largest

By Jennifer Netherby -- Video Business, 10/8/2008

OCT. 8 | U.S. and Canadian CD and DVD distributor Allegro Media Group has acquired Canadian disc distributor VDI Entertainment, the companies announced today.

Portland, Ore.-based Allegro distributes its own self-produced product on DVD in the U.S. and Canada to retailers and wholesalers such as VPD and Ingram.

The acquisition of VDI will make Allegro's Canadian subsidiary a $15 million annual business in Canada, making it one of the country’s leading disc distributors, Allegro chair and CEO Joe Micallef said.

VDI will be rolled into Allegro’s Canadian operations, and VDI general manager Bill Ott will stay on to run the combined company. No other staffing changes are planned, the company said.

"The combination of VDI Canada's distribution operations coupled with Allegro Entertainment Canada’s distribution footprint and DVD catalog, will significantly expand our capabilities in the Canadian market and give us the capital to significantly grow this division,” Ott said in a statement announcing the deal.

In Canada, VDI distributes music and DVD for independent labels such as anime company Viz Media.

VDI distributes everything from fitness titles to documentaries, music and concert DVDs, Imax movies and other special interest product, Ott said.