Nova Scotia-based exhibitor Empire Theatres has acquired 27 movie houses from Cineplex Galaxy for $83 million, expanding its reach in Canada to 59 cinemas and more than 400 screens. Empire’s new theater locations consist of 13 in Ontario, five in British Columbia, seven in Alberta, and one each for Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Empire’s locations in Ontario include London, Kitchener, Burlington, Hamilton, Kingston and Ottawa.

The acquisition represents Empire’s first move westward in its 27-year history. It already owns 28 theaters in the Atlantic provinces.

Empire has had a lock on the East Coast since it bought Famous Players’ locations there in 2004. Director of marketing Dean Leland says, with the ink barely dry on the deal, the exhibitor’s execs are about to take a serious look at their acquisition and figure out what the theaters need to be competitive in their respective locales.

‘We’re just going through that process now,’ says Leland. ‘We will be looking at each market and then each particular theater within that market and deciding how we’ll be going forward with respect to rebranding or any upgrades or renovations that are needed.’

Leland adds that there are no immediate plans for further expansion, as Empire is focused completely on its acquisition.

Cineplex Galaxy will serve as sales agent for its newly sold properties, taking care of Empire’s on-screen and in-theater advertising initiatives. It agreed to sell 34 of its theaters following its $400-million acquisition of Famous Players from Viacom in July, as part of the stipulations handed down by the Competition Bureau.

Cineplex and partner Princeton Developments have also recently drawn up plans to erect a 12-screen CG facility in Saskatoon, home to Empire’s lone Saskatchewan theater. Construction will begin this month, with the new theater scheduled to open in June 2006.