Industri Kapital sells Elektrokoppar to Liljedahlsbolagen

The Industri Kapital 1997 Fund has signed an agreement to sell 100 per cent of its shares in the Elektrokoppar group to Liljedahlsbolagen. Elektrokoppar is one of the leading manufacturers of copper wire rod and winding wire in Europe.

In 2006 the Elektrokoppar group’s turnover amounted to SEK 8 billion. The group, which has around 600 employees, has manufacturing facilities in Sweden, Germany, Poland and China and refines approximately 200,000 tons of copper and aluminum per year. Elektrokoppar’s customers are mainly manufacturers of transformers, engines, generators, white goods and vehicles.

“During Industri Kapital’s ownership the company has strengthened its position, especially on the fast growing Eastern European markets. The timing is good for Elektrokoppar to continue to build on these successes with an industrial owner such as Liljedahlsbolagen,” says Gerard De Geer, partner at Industri Kapital.

During Industri Kapital’s ownership, Elektrokoppar has expanded its product line with oxygen-free wire rod as well as developed various niche products. In 2005, the company expanded into the fast growing Eastern European markets through the add-on acquisition of EKS Slaska in Poland. Since then productivity has improved considerably in the Polish plant. Strong demand from the Eastern European markets has further increased turnover and profitability substantially. In addition, Elektrokoppar recently established itself in China.

”Our goal with the acquisition of the Elektrokoppar group is to continue developing the group’s market position both through organic growth, as well as through further acquisitions,” says Bengt Liljedahl, CEO of Liljedahlsbolagen AB.

The transaction is subject to customary merger control approvals.