Funds advised by BC Partners new owners of Dometic

Funds advised by the European private equity group BC Partners are acquiring the Swedish Dometic Group from EQT. Dometic has since the separation from Electrolux in 2001 developed into the world’s leading supplier of comfort equipment for the mobile leisure life, a development the new owners expect to continue.

- Dometic has developed strongly under EQT’s ownership and we are today the world’s leading supplier to the growing mobile leisure markets. We look forward to working with BC Partners to capitalize on our attractive future growth opportunities, says Lars Johansson, CEO of Dometic. The acquisition comprises 100% of the shares in Dometic International AB. BC Partner’s other investments include General Healthcare Group in the UK, SEAT Pagine Gialle and Galbani in Italy and Picard in France. - Dometic is an exciting company with excellent future prospects. The Dometic management and the existing organization will continue to be key in further developing Dometic’s leading products and positions. We hope to be a valuable partner in this next phase, says Simon Palley, who led the investment in Dometic at BC Partners. Dometic manufactures air conditioning systems, refrigerators, cookers, sanitation systems, awnings, lighting, windows and doors, etc to recreation vehicles and larger pleasure boats. Dometic also manufactures small refrigerators with the silent absorption technology, so called miniBars, together with safes to the hotel industry and specially developed medical refrigeration equipment for the medical sector. - Dometic’s financial targets for growth and profitability remain intact and we will continue to see both organic and acquired growth. The market for better equipped motorhomes, caravans and pleasure boats is growing, creating a strong underlying demand for Dometic’s products. A clear trend is that end-users expect and demand the same level of comfort in their mobile leisure life as they have as home. The value of Dometic’s installed products per vehicle has thereby increased considerably over time, says Rutger Wachtmeister, Executive Vice President of marketing and sales at Dometic. Dometic’s management group and organization will remain in place. Daily contacts with customers, suppliers and end-users will also not be affected. Background In 2001 the Swedish private equity company EQT acquired Electrolux Leisure Appliances, which at the time was an independent product line within the Electrolux Group. The new group was named Dometic, a brand used since the 1960-ies for the leisure appliances manufactured by Electrolux and sold on the important North American market. Since 2001, Dometic has grown from 5 SEKbn in net sales to approximately 7 SEKbn in 2004 and from 3 700 employees to approximately 4 400. BC Partners BC Partners (www.bcpartners.com) is a leading pan-European private equity firm, operating through integrated teams based in Paris, Hamburg, London, Milan and Geneva. The BC European Capital VII funds have total commitments of €4.3bn, one of the largest buyout funds in Europe to date. Over 17 years the firm has developed a long track record of successfully acquiring and developing European businesses in partnership with management, investing in 57 acquisitions with a combined enterprise value of €33bn. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For further information, please contact: Dometic: Lars Johansson, CEO. Tel: +46-141-23 81 00. Rutger Wachtmeister, Executive vice President Marketing and Sales. Mobile: +46-703-24 20 46 Louise Hedberg, Investor Relations. Mobile: +46-707-10 43 21 BC Partners: Alex Pettifer, Cardew Group, Tel: +44 20 7930 0777, alex.pettifer@cardewgroup.com