Rank Group Plc - About Us

Recent History
Date	Event
2007	September - Gambling Act 2005 implemented
2007	March - Disposal of Hard Rock Cafe to the Seminole Tribe of Florida for $965m
2006	January - Disposal of Deluxe Film Services to DXIII Holdings Corporation for cash consideration of $750m
2004	Disposal of Rank Leisure Machine Services for cash consideration of Ł30m
2003	January - Acquisition of Blue Square Limited for Ł65m in unsecured convertible loan stock
2001	November - Launch of Rank.com to exploit opportunities in on-line gaming
2000	October – Disposal of Holidays Division for cash consideration of up to Ł700m
	September – Disposal of Tom Cobleigh pub restaurants business for Ł90m
	July – Disposal of 50% investment in Universal Studios Escape ( Florida ) for Ł182m
	February – Disposal of Pinewood Studios for Ł62m
	February – Disposal of Odeon Cinemas for Ł280m
1999	November – Disposal of Nightscene nightclubs business for Ł150m
	Disposal of Haven Catered Parks for Ł8m
	Disposal of Butlins Hotels for Ł7m
1997	Disposal of part of remaining interest in Rank Xerox. Aggregate proceeds from Rank Xerox disposal (1995 and 1997) total approximately Ł1.5bn
1995	The Rank Group Plc established as a public limited company
1990	Acquisition of Mecca Leisure Limited for Ł895m

Company's Origins
Date	Event

1969	Rank Xerox is established as a joint-venture company
1957	J Arthur Rank becomes Lord Rank
1956	The Rank Organisation joins forces with the Haloid Corporation of America (later re-named the Xerox Corporation) to manufacture copying equipment
1955	Odeon Theatre Group changes its name to The Rank Organisation
1941	J Arthur Rank acquires control of Odeon Theatre Group and Gaumont British Picture Corporation
1937	Odeon Theatres established as a public company
1935	Pinewood Studios is established by J Arthur Rank, Charles Boot and the British & Dominions Film Corporation
1934	J Arthur Rank (Lord Rank), scion of the flour milling family, enters the motion picture industry

About Us