LONDON, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Pinewood Group, owner ofthe British studio where James Bond is filmed, said the firmcould be sold as it looks to boost shareholder value and helpthe company grow.
Pinewood, which has a market capitalisation of more than 250million pounds ($362.23 million), said on Wednesday it hadappointed Rothschild to carry out a review.
"We believe there is a requirement for a funding strategy tobe in place to fully realise the company's future potential,"Pinewood said in a statement, adding that a sale of the companywas one option on the table.
Located 20 miles west of London, Pinewood has been makingfilms since the 1930s, with Bond's 007 stage and its surroundingstudios accommodating the sets for Pirates of the Caribbean,Harry Potter, Star Wars and many others.
Expansion over the last decade means Pinewood now also hasstudios in the United States, Malaysia, Canada and the DominicanRepublic.
Raising its guidance for its financial performance in theyear ended March 31 after strong growth across its film,television, international businesses, Pinewood said with theappropriate capital structure it had the potential to growstrongly in future.
It said its current tightly held ownership base was stiflingliquidity in its shares, hindering a plan to move to the mainmarket of the London Stock Exchange.
As a result of a failed takeover attempt in 2011, Pinewood'sbiggest shareholder Peel Group owns about 40 percent and WarrenJames Holdings has a 26 percent stake, Reuters data showed.
Shares in the junior market listed-company were up 14percent to 527 pence at 0837 GMT on the news. Since early 2014,the stock has traded at between 400 and 500 pence.
Analysts at N+1 Singer said that they believed any takeoverattempt could value Pinewood at between 550 pence and 600 pence.
"Given the high structural growth, freehold backing andtrophy asset characteristics of the group, we envisage strongthird-party interest to either take an equity stake or fullyacquire the business," they said.
($1 = 0.6902 pounds) (Reporting by Sarah Young; editing by Susanna Twidale)
