THE group behind two of the world's most famous film studios is planning a stock market flotation.

Pinewood Shepperton, owner of the Pinewood and Shepperton studios, near London, said it was intending to seek a listing on the main market of the London Stock Exchange.

The group was formed after a management team led by former Channel 4 executive Michael Grade bought Pinewood Studios from the Rank Group in 2000 and then bought Shepperton Studios in February 2001.

Pinewood Studios started film production in 1936 and has been the setting for more than 650 feature films including Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, 31 Carry On films, The Battle Of Britain, Fiddler On The Roof, Superman and Batman.

It has also hosted 17 Bond movies, including the latest, Die Another Day, and the two Tomb Raider films.

Shepperton Studios started in 1932 and has seen more than 700 films produced, including The African Queen, The Guns of Navarone, Gandhi, Four Weddings And A Funeral, Harry Potter and Love Actually.

The group's turnover for the year to December 31 was £37.9m with an operating profit of £10.9m.

Pinewood Shepperton said the main aim of the flotation was to refinance all current group debt and to give it an appropriate capital structure to pursue its growth strategy.