Cinema operator Cineworld Group's full-year pre-tax earnings more than doubled, boosted by its purchase of the theatre business of Poland's Cinema City International in 2014.
Cineworld expects 2015 to be a strong year with big releases including the Bond film "Spectre", the fourth and final Hunger Games movie "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2" and the latest Star Wars film "Star Wars: Episode VII", lined up.
Shares in the company, Britain's largest cinema operator, rose as much as eight per cent on Thursday on the London Stock Exchange, making it one of the top gainers on FTSE-250 Midcap Index.
Cineworld, which plans to open 20 new cinemas this year, said box office revenue rose 43 per cent in 2014.
"The UK consumer still wants to get out of the house and spend some leisure time. Cinema going remains and I think will continue to remain a real option for people who want to spend some leisure time," chief financial officer Philip Bowcock said.
Cineworld's acquisition of Cinema City International's movie theatre business doubled the number of its cinemas to create the second largest chain in Europe.
The company's pre-tax profit jumped to £67.3 million for the 53-weeks ended January 1 from £30.9 million a year earlier. Revenue rose 52.5 per cent to £619.4 million.
"Outlook comments are positive and suggest strong underlying momentum going into a big film year," analysts at Investec Securities wrote in a note.
Cineworld's retail revenue, which comes from sales of items such as popcorn and soft drinks, rose about 51 per cent in 2014.
The company raised its final dividend to 9.7 pence per share from 6.4 pence a year earlier.
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