Bridgepoint SKr4.7 billion acquisition of a majority stake in the Nordic Cinema Group

Overview:

• Bridgepoint, the European private equity group, has acquired the majority stake (58%) of Nordic Cinema Group Holding (NCG), from Ratos and Bonnier for SKr4.7 billion ($550 million).
• NCG is the leading cinema operator in the Nordic region and is headquartered in Stockholm. The company was originally formed by Ratos and Bonnier in 2013 as a product of the merger of Finnkino and SF Bio, which they respectively owned.
• Bonnier will re-invest part of its proceeds to take a reduced stake of 30% alongside management while Ratos will divest its whole 58% stake in NCG to Bridgepoint in this sale.
• Danske Bank led a syndicate of banks providing financing the transaction.
• AMC Entertainment later bought NCG from Bridgepoint and Bonnier in January 2017.

Wai Yee Tsang - Journalist