United Artists said it will keep MGM separate.

“It is our firm conviction that each of the creative divisions will be free to devote their attention to a single task: that of making United Artists Corp. the most important supplier of quality motion picture and television product in the world,” said UA Chairman Lee Rich. He said the MGM film unit will be headed by Alan Ladd Jr., the UA movie division by Anthony Thomopoulos and the MGM/UA Television Group by David Gerber. MGM and UA are primarily owned by Las Vegas financier Kirk Kerkorian.