AMC buys European Theater Group

AMC Theatres announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the largest theatre exhibitor in seven countries in the affluent northern region of Europe, Stockholm-based Nordic Cinema Group Holding AB. Nordic operates 68 theatres and has a substantial minority interest (approximately a 50% ownership) in another 50 associated theatres to which Nordic provides a variety of shared services. Nordic’s theatres are number one in market share in Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Nordic currently is number two in market share in Norway, and with a new theatre currently under construction in Norway and scheduled to open next year, is expected to increase market share in Norway to number one as well. Nordic also has theatres in Denmark.

AMC is purchasing Nordic from European private equity firm Bridgepoint and Swedish media group Bonnier Holding in an all-cash transaction valued at SEK 8,250 million ($929 million USD).

The transaction is conditional upon antitrust clearance by the European Commission, which is expected to be received in the first half of 2017.

Nordic has 68 theatres, 463 screens, and approximately 68,000 seats in nearly 50 large and medium-sized cities in the Nordic and Baltic nations, and a substantial minority investment in another 50 associated theatres with 201 screens, to which Nordic provides a variety of shared services.

Including the associated theatres, the combination with Nordic will result in AMC’s hitting the never before reached milestones of 1,000 theatres and 11,000 screens in 15 countries. This will further strengthen AMC’s current position of being the largest cinema operator in the United States, the largest cinema operator in Europe and the largest cinema operator in the world.