Apr 28, 2015 05:39 UTC New owner in Nordic Cinema Group Bridgepoint acquires Ratos’ majority shares in and becomes new owner together with Bonnier Holding. Bridgepoint announced today it has signed a contract to acquire Ratos’ majority shares in Nordic Cinema Group. Bonnier continues as long-term owner with 30 percent of the shares. NCG, of which SF Bio is a part, is the Nordic region’s leading cinema company with operations in Sweden, Finland, Norway and the Baltic states. During spring 2013, the Nordic Cinema Group (NCG) was formed through a deal in which Bonnier-owned SF Bio merged with Ratos-owned Finnkino. Since the merger, the company has developed its position as Northern Europe’s leading player in cinemas through improving the movie theater experience, including the digitalization of all of its cinemas as well as through new ventures, most recently with its first establishment in the Oslo market. While Ratos has decided to sell its majority share to Bridgepoint, Bonnier Holding will continue as owner with a 30 percent share of NCG. Prior to the deal, Bonnier's share was 40 percent. “Bonnier has maintained, already from the 2013 deal, its ambition to keep a long-term perspective as owner of NCG, and therefore we’re happy to continue to develop the business together with Bridgepoint and the company’s executive management and employees," says Erik Haegerstrand, CEO for Bonnier Holding and owner representative on NCG’s board of directors. "The previous years' development under Ratos and Bonnier’s joint ownership has shown that the merger was a real step forward, giving resources both to invest in and improve the cinema-going experience, and for pursuing growth opportunities.” Nordic Cinema Group is the leading cinema company in the Nordic region and Baltic states, with 66 cinemas, 444 screens and some 65,000 seats in 47 large and medium-sized cities. In 2014, the Nordic Cinema Group had sales of SEK 2.61 billion, and EBITA amounted to SEK 366 million. Bonnier Holding is the parent company in the Bonnier group. It’s holdings include including Bonnier’s minority shares in the Nordic Cinema Group and Bisnode. Bonnier is an international multi-channel media group..