Arts Alliance Media Ltd., Europe’s leading digital cinema company, has secured funding from Sankaty Advisors, LLC, the credit affiliate of Bain Capital, LLC, to support the deployment of digital cinema across Europe. The deal is expected to close in 30 days.

Sankaty Advisors, which currently manages approximately $20 billion in committed capital, will provide €50m in senior and mezzanine debt for the rollout. There are about 4,500 digital cinema screens in Europe (75% of which are 3-D), and that figure is expected to rise rapidly to almost 13,000 by the end of 2012. Arts Alliance Media currently has digital cinema deals in place in seven territories within Europe, and commitments for over 1,500 screens.

“The financial crisis of the past year slowed the process of digital cinema conversion, but the recent announcement by DCIP [Digital Cinema Implementation Partners] in the United States, and now this announcement for Europe, illustrates that the rollout is now ready to move full speed ahead,” said Howard Kiedaisch, CEO of Arts Alliance Media. “Sankaty Advisors are very forward thinking and have created an extremely flexible model that we are looking forward to offering to our exhibition partners. The many exhibitors we’re already working with are delighted with the results digital brings—better presentations, 3-D and alternative content are great for audiences and cinemas alike."

Arts Alliance Media’s goal is to build Europe’s largest digital cinema network. All screens installed by Arts Alliance Media are DCI (Digital Cinema Initiatives) compliant, and the company’s strategic partnership with Arqiva Satellite & Media allows exhibitors to benefit from satellite delivery of alternative content events and features, as well.