FINANCIAL NOTES
GAUMONT-ODEON LINK-UP
THE announcement that Odeon Theatres is to make an offer for the Ordinary shares of Gaumont-British Picture Corpora- tion, including the voting control of that group, has caused an immediate rise in the shares and debenture stocks of both companies. This new attempt at rationalisation of cinema control in this country is naturally still a long way from fulfil- ment, but it is held that it would effect substantial economies. Negotiations have been opened in principle, and it appears that both the Ostrer family, who hold the voting control, and the Fox Film interests, who have the largest financial interest in Gaumont-British, would be prepared to sell at a price, but all details, including the price of transfer, have still to be agreed. It is believed that the deal could be arranged on the basis of a share exchange, except, perhaps, for the all-important shares which carry the voting control of Gaumont-British. These are the " A " shares of Metropolis and Bradford Trust and the Ostrer family holds the majority of them.
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