A Russian entrepreneur has acquired 51 percent of one of the biggest film licensing and distribution companies in Central and Eastern Europe.
Alexander Rodnyansky will become chairman of the board of directors of A Company Consulting & Licensing AG. The current chairman of the Berlin-based company, Alexander Freys, becomes deputy chairman.
Rodnyansky plans to expand the company's digital distribution efforts and increase production capabilities.
A Company licenses, distributes and produces movies through its subsidiaries and with partner companies, and has a distribution network in more than 20 countries.
It owns the German firm Eastern European Acquisition Pool, Hungary's Budapest Film and Russia's Gala Media.
Its library has more than 350 films, including "Shutter Island" and "Million Dollar Baby," and distributes New Regency and Morgan Creek's films. It released "The King's Speech," which grossed more than $10 million theatrically in A Company's territories.
Rodnyansky is the former CEO of CTC Media. His AR Films, which acquired A Company, now controls one of the biggest production companies in Russia, Non-Stop Production.
