Landmark Cinemas of Canada has acquired 20 theatres from Empire Theatres Ltd. The purchase price for the transaction is approximately $55 million.

With the acquisition of these theatres, which includes 179 screens in Western Canada and Ontario, Landmark’s footprint grows to 51 theatres and 304 screens, including three IMAX theatres throughout Western Canada, Ontario and the Yukon.

“These additional theatres not only increase our strong presence in Western Canada, they help extend our unique theatre brand into key communities in the eastern part of the country,” says Landmark’s COO, Neil Campbell.

In 2012, Landmark built new theatres in New Westminster, Penticton and Kelowna, B.C., where it launched the ‘Xtreme’ theatre, with extra large screens. The company also introduced additional features such as complimentary reserved seating, online ticket purchasing and high frame rate technology to key markets.

The Ontario-based Empire Theatres included in the acquisition are: Bolton; Square One (Mississauga); Jackson Square (Hamilton); Kingston; Kitchener; Waterloo; London; and Orleans and Pen Centre (St. Catharines). The Alberta theatres are: Country Hills (Calgary); Shawnessy (Calgary); City Centre (Edmonton); Spruce Grove and Clareview. Esplanade, Guildford (Surrey) and University Heights (Victoria) are the British Columbia acquisitions. Brandon, Winkler and Grant Park (Winnipeg) are the Manitoba theatres.