Kinepolis may again open new cinemas in Belgium

The Belgian cinema group Kinepolis has received the green light from the competition watchdog to build new complexes in Belgium, reports De Tijd. The construction of additional cinemas has been forbidden since 1997 to prevent the group from becoming too dominant in Belgium.

Last month, the listed cinema group submitted a request for the Belgian Competition Authorities (BMA) to lift the restrictions imposed 20 years ago. BMA imposed the restrictions when the group was formed following a merger of two family cinema groups.

BMA has decided to lift the ban because the competition is now stronger, writes the newspaper. "Kinepolis's current competitors are no longer the smaller, local players (often family companies) from 1997, but stronger, more anchored cinemas... often part of international groups with similar or even higher financial standing than Kinepolis,” according to BMA.

Takeovers by Kinepolis are still not allowed, as the group alreadys holds a 44% market share in Belgium.