Business

AMC buyout of rival Carmike clears last hurdle

By Mark Davis

mdavis@kcstar.com

AMC Entertainment will become the world’s largest theater operator through its purchase of Carmike in the United States and Odeon & UCI in Europe.
AMC Entertainment will become the world’s largest theater operator through its purchase of Carmike in the United States and Odeon & UCI in Europe. File photo by Mark Davis mdavis@kcstar.com

Federal anti-trust officials have cleared the way for AMC Entertainment’s $1.2 billion buyout of smaller rival Carmike Cinemas.

Leawood-based AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc. said Tuesday approval from the U.S. Department of Justice “was the final regulatory hurdle” needed to complete its purchase of Carmike, which AMC said it would do “expeditiously.”

Combining No. 2 AMC with No. 4 Carmike will make AMC the largest screen operator in the nation, beyond the total of Regal Entertainment Group.

AMC also is acquiring Europe’s largest theater chain, called Odeon & UCI. That deal will make AMC the world’s largest theater operator, with more than 10,400 screens.

Mark Davis: 816-234-4372, @mdkcstar

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