Succession plan agreed: DCM acquires Ascot Elite Entertainment

Independent market leader Ascot Elite Entertainment and DCM set the course for a joint future.

In preparation for a smooth handover of the family-run company Ascot Elite Entertainment, its previous owners Karin G. Dietrich, Ralph S. Dietrich and Stephan Giger approached DCM. These three have long enjoyed cordial relations with DCM’s four founding partners Dario Suter, Christoph Daniel, Marc Schmidheiny and Joel Brandeis as well as with Managing Director Stephanie Candinas, despite the two companies operating as competitors. They are now transferring 100% ownership of their 23-employee company to DCM with ePect from 19 March 2026.

This ensures that the company’s established market leadership, strong national and international network, and history dating back to 1928 will continue into a successful future. The takeover marks the next step in DCM’s growth strategy and expands its market position in film production and distribution in the German-speaking world.

The previous owners will remain involved in the company as independent producers and members of the Board of Directors. This ensures continuity while enabling the company to realign for the future.

The sellers are delighted with the merger: “We are very pleased to open this new chapter with DCM and entrust our life’s work to a strong player. Ever since we first met Dario, Christoph, Marc and Joel at the start of the last decade, we have enjoyed exceptionally good relations based on high esteem and mutual trust. The new constellation guarantees the continuity we value so highly and sets the course for the future.”

Joel Brandeis, speaking on behalf of DCM, commented: “We have worked very successfully with the Ascot Elite team on numerous occasions for more than twelve years. Over that period, immense mutual trust has been established. I, my partners and Stephanie Candinas, our Managing Director at DCM in Switzerland, look forward to joining the existing Ascot Elite team in adding a new chapter to this long-running success story.”

Stephanie Candinas will assume full responsibility for the executive management of the company as the Board of Directors’ delegate. Stephan Giger will remain in place as co-Managing Director for a transitional period. Both companies and their respective teams will be merged over the course of this year, after which the new entity will operate under the DCM brand.

Stephanie Candinas added: “I am really delighted to see both teams come together and pool our expertise as a strong, single entity that will take our buying and film marketing operations to the next level going forward.”

For enquiries:

Stephanie Candinas, Managing Director DCM
stephanie.candinas@dcmteam.com
T +41 44 287 30 33

Stephan Giger, CEO Ascot Elite
stephan@ascot-elite.ch  
T +41 44 298 81 81