Whatever you think of the Greidinger brothers, you can’t accuse them of lacking ambition. In the four years since they engineered what was effectively a reverse takeover of Cineworld by their Cinema City International, Mooky and Israel Greidinger, respectively chief executive and deputy chief executive of Cineworld, have forked out almost £100 million for five Empire cinemas while continuing to grow organically.
Yesterday’s confirmation that they are in advanced discussions to acquire Regal Entertainment Group, America’s second biggest cinema chain, for about $3.6 billion — or the thick end of $6 billion, when you factor in debt of $2.3 billion — would take things to a new level. Although a deal has yet to be agreed (and there is some vague talk of a counterbid),