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Virgin Cinemas

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Virgin Cinemas
Company typePrivate
IndustryMovie theater
PredecessorMGM Cinemas
Founded1995; 29 years ago (1995)
United Kingdom
FounderRichard Branson
Defunct2002; 22 years ago (2002)
FateSold to UGC
Successor
ParentVirgin Group

Virgin Cinemas was founded in 1995 when Richard Branson's Virgin Group acquired MGM Cinemas,[1] the largest movie theatre operator in the United Kingdom.[2] Virgin Group bought the cinemas for £195m, and subsequently sold 90 of the chain's smallest cinemas to Cinven and ABC for £70m to concentrate on multiplexes.[2]

In late 1999 Virgin announced that it would sell its cinema interests in the UK and Ireland to UGC, in which French entertainment and utilities giant Vivendi has a 38% controlling share.[3] Virgin sold the chain for £215m, making them a profit of £90m, and all the cinemas were to be rebranded to UGC. The company did strike a long-term deal, however, for UGC to continue to sell Virgin Cola.[2]

The group continued to operate a Virgin Cinemas Japan unit, and announced, also in late 1999, that it would spend up to US$200 million to develop 20 multiplexes in Japan by the early 21st century; a number of Virgin multiplexes in the United States were also under consideration.[2] Despite this, the company closed down in late 2002 as it was sold to Toho, forming Toho Cinemas.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Virgin". Tiscali.co.uk. Archived from the original on 8 October 2009. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d "Virgin Group - Company History". Fundinguniverse.com. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  3. ^ [1][dead link]

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