Vue Cinemas Picks Bankers For Blockbuster Float

One of the world's biggest cinema chains has hired bankers to prepare a blockbuster stock market listing in London, Sky News can reveal.

Vue International, which operates roughly 90 multiplexes in Britain, appointed Rothschild this week to advise the company's shareholders on a flotation, according to cinema industry sources.

The listing would take place next year and could value Vue – which has grown aggressively through a string of acquisitions – at more than £1.5bn.

Vue's controlling shareholders are two Canadian pension funds, Omers and Aimco, which invest on behalf of retirees in Alberta and Ontario.

The company has a major presence in a string of countries across Europe, including Denmark, the Netherlands and Poland.

Its founder, Tim Richards, continues to run the business, although it is unclear whether he would remain in an executive role if it presses the button on a public listing.

Like other chains, Vue has benefited from a rich slate of blockbusters, including Spectre, the latest instalment in the James Bond franchise, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and the recent Batman vs Superman film.

Announcing financial results in March for 2015, Mr Richards said: "We capitalised on a strong year for film, which included popular blockbusters and strong local content and continue to offer over 80 million customers across Europe a differentiated and enhanced cinematic experience.

"We are committed to ongoing growth of the bottom line, not chasing the top-line.

"Outlook remains extremely positive over the coming years including the next instalments of the Star Wars and Avatar franchises where we are well placed to capitalise on a strong slate across the group."

The appointment of Rothschild underlines companies' preparations for capital markets activity such as share sales despite the lingering uncertainty ahead of next month's referendum on EU membership.

The owner of Vue's rival, Odeon, is also exploring a change of ownership, with bidders including companies from Belgium, China, Mexico and South Korea all having expressed varying degrees of interest.

Vue and Omers declined to comment on Friday.