Posted: Thurs., Sep. 11, 1997

Bonton enters Poland

PRAGUE --- Czech entertainment conglomerate Bonton stretched its international reach into Poland, setting up daughter company Bonton Poland.

The new company is a joint venture with Intercam, a holding company privately owned by a Polish-American family, whose previous investments include real estate and clothing.

The Bonton venture marks Intercam's first move into the entertainment business.

While minor details (such as costs) have yet to be ironed out, initial plans call for building two music megastores and up to five multiplexes in Poland. Plans to extend Bonton's radio activities into Poland are not yet firm, but Bonton co-president Mick Hawk said, "We're interested in radio as well."

The new deal further underscores Bonton's position as a leading Central European entertainment company.

The music megastores, targeted for Warsaw and Lodz, could cost between $2 million and $4 million each. Bonton opened the first music megastore in Central Europe in Prague just one year ago, following it with launches in Bratislava and Budapest. Bonton was also behind the first multiplex in Central Europe, Prague's Multikino Galaxie, which opened 18 months ago.

Last week, Bonton sold its stake in the Galaxie to majority owner Kino 2005, general manager Peter Kot told Daily Variety. Kot's company is now sole owner of the Galaxie, which regularly draws a third of Czech cinema audiences.


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