Editing HMV (section)

===Acquisitions===
[[File:HMV, Leeds 001.jpg|thumb|A large HMV branch in [[Leeds]] incorporating an [[Orange (UK)|Orange]] shop]]
In 2006, the HMV Group purchased the [[Ottakar's]] book chain and merged it into Waterstones. The merger tied into HMV's strategy for growth, as many of the Ottakar's branches were in smaller towns. The [[Competition Commission]] provisionally cleared HMV Group, through Waterstones, for takeover of the Ottakar's group on 30 March 2006, stating that the takeover would "not result in a substantial lessening of competition".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Muspratt |first=Caroline |date=12 May 2006 |title=HMV merger with Ottakers cleared |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2938612/HMV-merger-with-Ottakars-cleared.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2938612/HMV-merger-with-Ottakars-cleared.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=16 August 2009}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Waterstones then announced that it had successfully negotiated a takeover of Ottakar's on 31 May 2006.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Walsh |first=Fiona |date=1 June 2006 |title=Ottaker's accepts HMV takeover though price is slashed |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2006/jun/01/media |access-date=16 August 2009}}</ref> All 130 Ottakar's shops were rebranded as Waterstones prior to Christmas 2006. In March 2007, new group CEO Simon Fox announced a 10% reduction over three years in the enlarged Waterstones total shop space, comprising mostly dual location shops created by the acquisition of Ottakar's.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Feltham |first=Cliff |date=29 June 2007 |title=HMV to stay on High Street despite falling sales of CDs |work=The Independent |location=London |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/hmv-to-stay-on-high-street-despite-falling-sales-of-cds-455201.html |access-date=16 August 2009}}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

On 29 June 2007, the entertainment retailer [[Fopp (retailer)|Fopp]] went into administration, with the closure of 81 shops and 800 staff made redundant.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Allen |first=Katie |date=29 June 2007 |title=Fopp closes it stores and appoints administrators |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2007/jun/29/musicnews.retail |access-date=23 March 2015}}</ref> On 31 July HMV bought the brand and six shops that it said had traded profitably, saving around 70 jobs.<ref>{{Cite news |date=31 July 2007 |title=HMV snaps up Fopp name and shops |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6923511.stm |access-date=31 July 2007}}</ref>

On 1 September 2008, HMV launched "Get Closer", a social networking site allowing users to import their own music library, rivalling other providers including [[Digital music store|online music shops]] [[Napster (pay service)|Napster]] and the [[iTunes Store]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hall |first=James |date=26 April 2008 |title=HMV tries to Get Closer with social networking test |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/markets/2789004/HMV-tries-to-Get-Closer-with-social-networking-test.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/markets/2789004/HMV-tries-to-Get-Closer-with-social-networking-test.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |access-date=15 January 2009 |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The site was closed in September 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Duncan Geere |date=7 September 2009 |title=HMV shutters GetCloser.com social network |url=http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/26942/hmv-shutters-getcloser-social-network |access-date=2 November 2012 |publisher=Pocket-lint}}</ref>

On 24 December 2008, HMV's rival [[Zavvi (retailer)|Zavvi]], successor to entertainment retailer Virgin Megastores, entered administration. On 14 January 2009 a placing announcement by HMV revealed that it intended to acquire 14 of Zavvi's shops.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 January 2009 |title=Placing announcement |url=http://www.hmvgroup.com/media/view.jsp?agreed=true&selectedDisclaimerCountry=UK&id=1271 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090604051127/http://www.hmvgroup.com/media/view.jsp?agreed=true&selectedDisclaimerCountry=UK&id=1271 |archive-date=4 June 2009 |access-date=14 January 2009 |publisher=HMV}}</ref> On 18 February 2009 five additional Zavvi shops were purchased by HMV Group, to be rebranded as HMV outlets. An additional former Zavvi shop in Exeter's [[Princesshay]] development was also added.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 February 2009 |title=End of the road for Zavvi |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/business/s/1097409_end_of_the_road_for_zavvi |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120907061239/http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/business/s/1097409_end_of_the_road_for_zavvi |archive-date=7 September 2012 |access-date=18 February 2009 |website=Manchester Evening News}}</ref> The acquisitions were investigated and cleared by the [[Office of Fair Trading]] in April 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 April 2009 |title=HMV/Zavvi |url=http://www.oft.gov.uk/advice_and_resources/resource_base/Mergers_home/Mergers_Cases/2009/hmv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903225501/http://www.oft.gov.uk/advice_and_resources/resource_base/Mergers_home/Mergers_Cases/2009/hmv |archive-date=3 September 2009 |access-date=24 December 2009 |publisher=Office of Fair Trading}}</ref>

In the 2008 MCV Industry Excellence Awards, HMV was given the title Entertainment Retailer of the Year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MCV Awards '08 |website=MCV |date=11 April 2008 |url=http://www.mcvuk.com/news/30160/MCV-Awards-08-The-winners-in-full |access-date=14 April 2008 }}</ref>

In January 2009, HMV bought a 50% stake in MAMA Group, forming a joint venture with the group called the Mean Fiddler Group.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wood |first=Zoe |date=14 January 2009 |title=HMV to enter live music market |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2009/jan/14/hmv-enters-live-music-market |access-date=22 March 2015}}</ref> The deal introduced the HMV brand to live music venues, including the [[Hammersmith Apollo]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Leroux |first=Marcus |date=15 January 2009 |title=HMV Group plugs into live music market |work=The Times |location=London |url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/leisure/article5519903.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612095924/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/leisure/article5519903.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 June 2011 |access-date=30 March 2010}}</ref> On 23 December 2009, it bought the whole of the MAMA Group in a live music takeover deal worth £46&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 December 2009 |title=HMV buys MAMA Group in live music takeover deal |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8428713.stm |access-date=22 March 2015}}</ref>

In September 2009, HMV bought 50% of [[7digital]] for £7.7&nbsp;million, as part of a strategy to increase its digital content offering. 7digital provided HMV's music download service, and the company planned to introduce an [[e-book]]s service for Waterstone's.<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 September 2009 |title=HMV takes 50% stake in 7digital |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8235193.stm |access-date=23 March 2015}}</ref>

In October 2009, HMV established a joint venture with [[Curzon Cinemas]] as part of chief executive Simon Fox's plan to bring cinemas to HMV and Waterstone's shops across England. The first trial cinema opened above the existing HMV shop in [[Wimbledon, London|Wimbledon]], in a former storage room converted into three separate screens and a bar. It has its own entrance, allowing access outside shop hours, and one within the shop. The trial was deemed a success, and it had been planned to open additional cinemas in HMV's Cheltenham shop, and Waterstone's in [[Piccadilly]], London.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wood |first=Zoe |date=25 October 2009 |title=HMV cinemas: coming to a high street near you |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2009/oct/25/hmv-curzon-artificial-eye-cinemas |access-date=15 January 2009 |work=The Guardian |location=London}}</ref>{{needs update|date=May 2023}}

On 5 January 2011, HMV announced that profits would be at the lower end of analysts' forecasts due to falling sales, resulting in the share price falling by 20%<ref>[http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b105f708-189f-11e0-b7ee-00144feab49a.html?ftcamp=rss HMV warns on store closures]. ''Financial Times''.</ref> and an announcement of the group's intention to close 40 HMV shops, as well as 20 Waterstone's bookshops, mainly in towns and cities where the company operated at multiple locations. The first of the shop closures began at the end of January 2011.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Wearden |first1=Graeme |last2=Bowers |first2=Simon |last3=Wood |first3=Zoe |date=5 January 2011 |title=HMV issues profit warning after grim Christmas |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2011/jan/05/hmv-profits-warning-grim-christmas}}</ref>

The sale of Waterstone's to A&NN Capital Fund Management for £53&nbsp;million was completed on 29 June 2011, and was approved by the vast majority of shareholders at an [[Extraordinary general meeting|emergency general meeting]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sweney |first=Mark |date=29 June 2011 |title=HMV Group completes sale of Waterstone's |work=Retail Gazette |url=http://www.retailgazette.co.uk/articles/43342-hmv-group-completes-sale-of-waterstones |url-status=dead |access-date=29 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110925042137/http://www.retailgazette.co.uk/articles/43342-hmv-group-completes-sale-of-waterstones |archive-date=25 September 2011}}</ref>

HMV sold the [[Hammersmith Apollo]] to [[AEG Live]] and [[Eventim UK|Eventim]] in May 2012 for £32&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite news |date=31 May 2012 |title=Hammersmith Apollo in London sold by HMV to Stage C |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-18284304 |access-date=8 October 2012}}</ref> It sold the remainder of MAMA Group to [[Lloyds Development Capital]] in December 2012 for £7.3&nbsp;million, which also included the company's 50% stake in Mean Fiddler Group.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Anne-Sylvaine Chassany |date=3 December 2012 |title=HMV sells Mama Group music arm to LDC |work=Financial Times |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/8bd9b3a8-3d6d-11e2-9f35-00144feabdc0.html |access-date=22 January 2013}}</ref>