Cineworld to Tap JPMorgan, Barclays for IPO or Potential Merger

Cineworld Group is set to appoint the investment banking units of JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Barclays Plc to advise on a potential initial public offering and consider merger opportunities in the US, according to people familiar with the matter.

The cinema operator is mulling an IPO of its business, which includes the Regal chain of theaters in the US and Cinema City in eastern Europe and Israel, the people said. Deliberations are at an early stage and the listing may exclude its business in the UK if that asset can be sold separately, said the people, who asked not to be named discussing information that isn’t public.