The 330-strong UCI cinema business has been put on the block by owners Vivendi Universal and Viacom.
There are thought to be half a dozen interested parties.
These are thought to include venture capital firms and financiers, such as HgCapital and Terra Firma, existing cinema owners, including Vue Entertainment, as well as ad hoc consortiums such as that rumoured to be led by Michael Green, the ousted chairman of Carlton.
UCI is thought to be worth about £300m.
References: The Times 25/02/04 (Compact) page 26 (Need to Know)
