Kinepolis expands in US with Emagine cinema takeover
Belgian cinema group Kinepolis is expanding its presence in the United States with the acquisition of Emagine Entertainment, a movie theatre chain based in the American Midwest. The deal, worth up to 120 million dollars (around 104 million euros), was announced on Tuesday.
Emagine operates 14 cinemas with 177 screens and 18,000 seats across Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. It also provides support services to a cinema chain in Minnesota and Colorado, as well as two independently run theatres under the Emagine brand in Michigan.
Kinepolis will pay 105 million dollars upfront, with an additional 15 million dollars possible depending on US box office results in 2025. The acquisition marks the company’s first major purchase since the Covid-19 pandemic.
CEO Eddy Duquenne described the move as “an important milestone” and “a valuable addition to the Kinepolis portfolio”. Emagine attracts around 6 million visitors annually and generates about 129 million dollars in revenue. Based on 2024 figures, the chain is expected to contribute nearly 20 million dollars to Kinepolis’s operating profit.
The transaction is due to be completed by the end of the year. The Emagine brand name will remain in use.
Kinepolis already operates in seven European countries, Canada and the US, where it currently owns 10 cinemas.
© BELGA PHOTO JAMES ARTHUR GEKIERE
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