AKELIUS FOUNDATION ACQUIRES MELLBY GÅRD’S TOTAL HOLDING IN ACADEMEDIA
Press release
13 February 2024
Akelius Foundation, through Akelius Apartments Ltd, (“Akelius Foundation”) and Mellby Gård AB (“Mellby Gård”) have today entered into an agreement whereby Akelius Foundation will acquire all Mellby Gård’s shares in AcadeMedia AB (publ) (“AcadeMedia”). The shareholding represents 25,802,981 shares, corresponding to 24.4 percent of the total number of shares and votes in AcadeMedia. The transaction is conditional upon receipt of relevant regulatory approvals.
Mellby Gård has been one of AcadeMedia’s largest shareholders since the listing at Nasdaq Stockholm in June 2016 and is the company’s largest shareholder since 2017. Mellby Gård’s investment in AcadeMedia is based on the will to contribute to Sweden reinforcing its position as a nation of knowledge. During the time as the company’s main shareholder, Mellby Gård has actively supported AcadeMedia’s vision to be an international role model in terms of quality, results and innovation, a work that Akelius Foundation will now continue in its role as the company’s new main shareholder.
“We have not had any plans to sell our shares in AcadeMedia, but following our discussions with Roger Akelius, we have great comfort in that the company will get a new responsible main shareholder with great commitment and resources to further develop the business. Just like us, Akelius Foundation is an active and long-term owner, and they share our strong commitment to education and development of knowledge in the society” says Johan Andersson, CEO of Mellby Gård
The total purchase price amounts to approximately SEK 1.68 billion, corresponding to a price per share of SEK 65.
Due to the new Swedish Act on review of foreign direct investments (FDI Act), the transaction is conditional upon approval by the Swedish Inspectorate of Strategic Products (ISP). Such approval is expected to be received during the first half of 2024. Mellby Gård remains as holder of the shares in AcadeMedia until the approval has been received.
Mellby Gård has engaged Cederquist and Akelius Foundation has engaged Linklaters as legal advisors in connection with the transaction.
For further information about Mellby Gård, see www.mellby-gaard.se. For further information about Akelius Foundation, see www.akelius-foundation.org.
For additional information, please contact:
Johan Andersson, CEO Mellby Gård
+46 708 88 33 06
johan@mellby-gaard.se
Kerstin Engström, Chairperson of the Council of Akelius Foundation
+46 73 073 61 89
kerstin.engstrom@akelius.se
About Mellby Gård AB
Mellby Gård is a family-owned, long-term and active investor founded in 1986. Today, the Mellby Gård group consists of around twenty companies, mainly within four business verticals: Industry, Consumer goods, Agriculture and Services. Approximately half of the companies are fully controlled subsidiaries whereas the other half is associated companies in which Mellby Gård normally acts as the largest shareholder. Examples of companies within the group are Roxtec, Feralco, Academedia, Duni and KappAhl. In 2022, the subsidiaries had consolidated net sales of SEK 11.5 billion and Mellby Gård’s head office is located in Malmö. www.mellby-gaard.se.