The planned acquisition of Carmike Cinemas by rival theater chain AMC Theatres, which was announced in March 2016, has been completed. The news was announced by AMC Theatres via press release earlier today.

According to the announcement, the deal makes AMC the largest exhibitor in the United States, as well as world-wide, with 900 locations, including 661 in the United States.

“AMC now has a larger audience and a bigger stage to introduce our industry-leading innovations including plush power-recliner seats, enhanced food and beverage choices and premium large format screens,” said AMC CEO and President Adam Aron. “We also have expanded AMC’s footprint across greater geography and more diverse demographics, serving most of the largest cities in the U.S. and Europe, along with hundreds of home towns, where guests can have an amazing AMC experience. In the United States, AMC now will enjoy increased benefit from movies that play better on Main Street and movies that play better in major metros, and, of course, from movies that play well in both.”

Owned by Chinese company Wanda Group, AMC will continue to be based in Leawood, Kansas. Carmike will become a wholly-owned entity within AMC.

According to the transition information on AMC's web site, Carmike customers may continue to use Carmike gift cards, loyalty reward points, and Popcorn Buckets. The company plans to change the Carmike web site and introduce AMC amenities over time.

Because AMC and Carmike operated in some similar markets, the Department of Justice got involved to make sure that the deal did not create monopolies in those markets. As a result, AMC will need to divest some theaters in fifteen markets across the United States. That means that the company will choose which theater it wants to keep in each market, and which will be closed or sold. The affected markets and theaters involved are listed below:

Montgomery, Alabama

• AMC Festival Plaza 16
• Carmike Chantilly 13

Destin and Miramar Beach, Florida

• AMC Destin Commons 14 + IMAX
• Carmike Cinemas Boulevard 10

Orange Park and Fleming Island, Florida

• AMC Orange Park 24
• Carmike Fleming Island 12

Cumming, Georgia

• AMC Avenue Forsyth 12 -- Cumming, Georgia
• Carmike Movies 400 -- Cumming, Georgia

Conyers and Lithonia, Georgia

• Carmike Conyers Crossroads 16
• AMC Stonecrest 16

Crestwood and Lansing, Illinois

• AMC Loews Crestwood 18 -- Crestwood, Illinois
• Carmike Digiplex Lansing 8 -- Lansing, Illinois

Bloomington and Normal, Illinois

• Carmike Ovation Cinema Grill 10
• AMC Starplex Normal 14

Pekin, Peoria, and Washington, Illinois

• AMC Showplace Pekin 14
• Carmike Grand Prairie 18 & IMAX
• Carmike Sunnyland 10

Inver Grove Heights and Oakdale, Minnesota

• AMC Showplace Inver Grove 16
• Carmike Oakdale 20

Coon Rapids, Maple Grove, and Mounds View, Minnesota

• AMC Showplace Coon Rapids 16
• AMC Arbor Lakes 16
• Carmike Wynnsong 15 - Mounds View

Rockaway and Sparta Township, New Jersey

• AMC Rockaway 16
• Carmike Sparta 3

Mountainside, Westfield, and Cranford, New Jersey

• AMC Loews Mountainside 10
• Carmike Rialto 6
• Carmike Cranford 5

Lawton, Oklahoma

• AMC Lawton 12
• Carmike Patriot 13

Allentown and Center Valley, Pennsylvania

• AMC Tilghman Square 8
• Carmike 16 - Allentown
• Carmike Promenade 16 + IMAX

Madison, Wisconsin

• AMC Star Fitchburg 18 & IMAX
• Sundance Cinemas 608 Madison

Source: AMC Theatres Press Release