&    Our current share price: 113.0p +More +Overview History +Our strategic plan +Our brands +Progress & growth +Management +Fast facts +FAQs +Site map +Disclaimer ©HMV Group plc 2009 +Site by ry.com HMV Group brings together one of the world’s leading retailers of music and video and the leading retailer of books in the UK. The Company listed on the London Stock Exchange on 15 May 2002, successfully establishing a more appropriate capital structure for the future growth of the Company. Prior to the Initial Public Offering, the Company operated as a leveraged buy-out. The HMV brand, as used in the retailing business, dates back to 1921 when the first HMV store was opened at 363 Oxford Street, London. In 1986, EMI transferred to HMV two small chains in Canada, which were rebranded as HMV. In the same year, HMV also launched operations in Ireland. Stores were first opened in Australia in 1989, Japan and the USA in 1990, Hong Kong in 1994, Germany in 1996 and Singapore in 1997. Operations in Australia, Japan, the USA and Germany have subsequently been either closed or sold. Waterstone’s was founded in 1982 as a specialist book retailer targeted at discerning book-buyers. Between September 1989 and May 1993, WH Smith Group acquired all of the shares of the companies comprising the Waterstone’s business, and then grew rapidly to become the leading specialist book retailer in the UK and Ireland. Upon formation of the HMV Group, Waterstone’s was merged with Dillon’s, at that time the UK’s second largest specialist book retailer. In 1999 Waterstone’s rebranded its entire portfolio of Dillon’s branded stores to Waterstone’s. Related links Find out more about HMV +More Find out more about Waterstone's +More