Ratos
Encyclopedia
Ratos AB
(acronym for Ragnar and Torsten Söderberg) is a Swedish
private equity
company founded in 1933 and still controlled by the Söderberg family. Ratos is listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange
.
for the families growing enterprises. At the time the family was owners of Söderberg & Haak. Ratos developed with extensive ownership in companies such as Stora Kopparberg, Gränges
and Esselte
in addition to a wholly owned steel
division. It was listed on the stock exchange in 1954.
In 1979 the steel division, that at the time was called Tibnor, was sold to the state owned SSAB
as part of the reorganisation of the crisis hit steel industry. After that the company expanded into new areas, including a larger number of transport companies
, the hotel chain Scandic Hotels
and the plumbing chain Dahl International. During this period Sven Söderberg (1928-2004) was CEO.
The financial crisis hit Ratos with reduced profits in 1992 and Urban Jansson was appointed new CEO and the subsidiaries were either floated on the stock exchange or sold. After Arne Karlsson took over as CEO, Ratos was transformed to a private equity company.
Aktiebolag
Aktiebolag is the Swedish term for "limited company" or "corporation". When used in company names, it is abbreviated "AB" or "Ab"...
(acronym for Ragnar and Torsten Söderberg) is a Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
private equity
Private equity
Private equity, in finance, is an asset class consisting of equity securities in operating companies that are not publicly traded on a stock exchange....
company founded in 1933 and still controlled by the Söderberg family. Ratos is listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange
Stockholm Stock Exchange
The Stockholm Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in Stockholm, Sweden. Founded in 1863 it is the primary securities exchange of the Nordic Countries....
.
History
The Söderberg brothers established Ratos in the 1933 as a holding companyHolding company
A holding company is a company or firm that owns other companies' outstanding stock. It usually refers to a company which does not produce goods or services itself; rather, its purpose is to own shares of other companies. Holding companies allow the reduction of risk for the owners and can allow...
for the families growing enterprises. At the time the family was owners of Söderberg & Haak. Ratos developed with extensive ownership in companies such as Stora Kopparberg, Gränges
Granges
Granges may refer to:*The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry , an agricultural organization*Granges, Saône-et-Loire, a commune in France*Granges, Switzerland, a municipality of the canton of Fribourg...
and Esselte
Esselte
Esselte is privately held company headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, USA. It is a holding company, specializing in office products. It owns several companies, including Pendaflex, Leitz, Oxford, Xyron, Rapid, and an operating company also called Esselte....
in addition to a wholly owned steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
division. It was listed on the stock exchange in 1954.
In 1979 the steel division, that at the time was called Tibnor, was sold to the state owned SSAB
SSAB
SSAB Swedish Steel AB , or simply SSAB is a Swedish company, formed in 1978 and specialised in processing raw material to steel. Industrivärden is the largest shareholder.-Swedish operations:...
as part of the reorganisation of the crisis hit steel industry. After that the company expanded into new areas, including a larger number of transport companies
Transport
Transport or transportation is the movement of people, cattle, animals and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, rail, road, water, cable, pipeline, and space. The field can be divided into infrastructure, vehicles, and operations...
, the hotel chain Scandic Hotels
Scandic Hotels
Scandic Hotels is a hotel chain headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden with its main operations in the Nordic countries. Alongside hotels in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark, the company also has a presence in Belgium and the Netherlands, Estonia and Lithuania, Northern Germany, Poland, and Russia...
and the plumbing chain Dahl International. During this period Sven Söderberg (1928-2004) was CEO.
The financial crisis hit Ratos with reduced profits in 1992 and Urban Jansson was appointed new CEO and the subsidiaries were either floated on the stock exchange or sold. After Arne Karlsson took over as CEO, Ratos was transformed to a private equity company.
Industry
- AH Industries - metal components and services to the wind power, offshore and marine industries. (stake 66%)
- CamfilCamfilThe Camfil Farr Group is a producer and developer of air filters and clean air products.Camfil Farr is also a global air filtration specialist with 24 production units and R&D centres in four countries in the Americas, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. The Group, headquartered in Stockholm,...
- clean air technology and air filters. (stake 30%) - Contex Group - developer and manufacturer of innovative 2D and 3D digital imaging solutions. (stake 98%)
- DIABDiabDiab is a village in the Bassar Prefecture in the Kara Region of north-western Togo.-External links:**...
- manufactures and develops core materials for composite structures. (stake 94%) - EuroMaint - maintenance companies and offers advanced maintenance services to the rail transport sector and industry. (stake 100%)
- GS-Hydro - supplier of non-welded piping systems. (stake 100%)
- HL Display - supplier of products and systems for merchandising and in-store communication. (stake 29%)
- Inwido - manufactures and sells a full range of windows and doors to consumers, construction companies and modular home manufacturers. (stake 96%)
- Jøtul - manufacturer of stoves and fireplaces. (stake 63%)
- Lindab - development, production, marketing and distribution of systems and products in sheet metal and steel for the construction industry. (stake 22%)
- MCC - offers complete climate comfort systems. (stake 100%)
- Medisize - manufacturer specialised in medical devices for delivery and administration of drugs and pharmaceutical packaging. (stake 93%)
- Superfos - develops, produces and sells injection moulded packaging for the food, paint and chemical industries. (stake 33%)
Service
- AnticimexAnticimex- External links :* * * * * * *...
- services for healthy and safe indoor environments. (stake 85%) - Bisnode - provider of digital business information. (stake 70%)
Consumer goods
- Arcus GruppenArcus ASArcus AS is Norway's largest wholesaler of wine and liquor. It was cretated when it was demerged from the state owned wine and liquor retailer Vinmonopolet on January 1, 1996 to differ between the retailing, kept in Vinmonopolet, and the import, export, production and storage that was transferred...
- wine and spirits producer. (stake 83%) - Hafa Bathroom Group - bathroom furnishing. (stake 100%)
- Scandinavian Business Seating - produces ergonomic seating solutions. (stake 85%)
Other holdings
- BTJ Group - supplier of media products and information services to libraries, universities, companies and organisations. (stake 66%)
- IK Investment PartnersIK Investment PartnersIK Investment Partners is a leading European private equity firm, focusing on investments in the Nordic region, Benelux, France and Germany. Since inception, the firm has raised a total of €5.7 billion in investor commitments...
- Ratos has invested in four funds: 1989 (closed), 1994 (closed), 1997 and 2000. - Overseas Telecom - telecom operations in developing countries. (stake 9%, voting rights 19%)