"James Bond" film studios to be sold off
The legendary British Pinewood Studios may be up for sale. Nearly all of the «James Bond» films were shot at the studios, located in West London.
The Rothschild bank has been commissioned with a "strategic review", which "could include a sale of the company", the Pinewood Group announced on Wednesday.
Pinewood Studios opened in 1936 and now has television and film studios all over the world. They were the location for the filming of "Harry Potter" and individual "Star Wars" episodes. The studios in the UK are to be expanded over the next 15 years at a cost of around 280 million Swiss francs. According to information on the company's website, the site will be expanded by 100,000 square meters and twelve large film sets will be added. The first expansion phase is due to be completed in June. In order to finance further development, Pinewood is aiming for a broader shareholder structure.
The company is currently controlled by a small number of major shareholders. The Board of Directors is looking for the right shareholder structure to enable the company to achieve its goals in the interests of its shareholders, explained studio boss Ivan Dunleavy. Following the announcement, the Group's share price soared by more than 18 percent on the London Stock Exchange. (SDA)
