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In China, Warner Brothers International Theatres has sold two cinemas to its local joint-venture partner Shanghai Film Group. Warner previously held a 49 per cent stake in the Shanghai Paradise Warner Cinema City in Shanghai and 51 per cent of the Nanjing SFC Warner Cinema City, with Shanghai Film Group accounting for the remainder in each venture. Previously in 2007, Warner, in tandem with its local partner SZITIC Commercial Property Company sold other cinemas to China Film Group. The cinemas in question were in Chongquing, Changscha and Nanchang. The divestments arise from concern that it would not be able to retain a majority share holding in those ventures amid regulatory changes.

In India, Adlabs Films, the vertically-integrated Indian film group has acquired fellow multiplex operator Rave Entertainment with a total of 23 screens in five sites. The deal includes one Rave Cinemas multiplex in Kanpur as well as five more scheduled to open in the next four months across India. Adlabs already operates 62 screens as one of the top multiplex operators in India. The latest acquisition will increase its presence in the Uttar Paradesh region, which reportedly accounts for around 25 per cent of box office revenue in the country.

In Australia, Amalgamated Holdings, the entertainment and hospitality group has sold its 34.2 per cent stake in VRC, the major shareholder of Village Roadshow for $22m, in order to refocus investment in core business areas. Amalgamated Holdings also owns the Greater Union Cinema chain, has a 100 per cent interest in exhibitor Birch, Carrol and Coyle (BCC), as well as the Cinestar brand with international operations in Germany and the Middle East. The deal will reportedly not impact on the company's relationship with Village, in which it has extensive joint venture interests. In 2003, Warner Brothers divested its stake in the same cinema joint venture, to its then local partners Village and Greater Union. Both Village Roadshow, Greater Union and BCC are among the top five multiplex operators in Australia with 226, 234 and 257 screens respectively at end 2006. However, Hoyts Cinemas had the leading 347 screens at end 2006.