UK gaming and entertainment corporation Rank is expected to announce intentions to demerge the company's film division, known as Deluxe, in order to focus its energies on bingo-related pursuits. Industry sources predict that Rank will announce these plans upon reporting results this Friday.

Once separating from the Deluxe division, which distributes videos and DVDs, Rank will investigate potential means for integrating the remaining two divisions, Mecca Bingo and Hard Rock Café. Allegedly, Rank has been looking at the possibility of separating from Deluxe since September.

Rank already tried to sell its Deluxe arm four years ago, upon selling off its leisure investments, which included the Cobleigh pub estate and Butlins holiday parks.Before it can go ahead with plans to sell Deluxe, Rank must first complete negotiations with each film studio that it works with in order to resolve potential contractual conflicts. It is suspected that Rank has already achieved release from its film contracts.