Ratos: Inwido growing in Finland
Ratos's subsidiary Inwido is acquiring the Finnish company Eskopuu. Following the acquisition, Inwido's sales in Finland will amount to more than SEK 500m.
Inwido is the leading manufacturer of windows and doors in the Nordic region, with strong market positions in Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland. Sales in 2005 amounted to SEK 2,197m (1,235), and operating profit (EBITA) was SEK 282m (135).
Through the acquisition of Eskopuu, Inwido will further strengthen its position in Finland, where it established a presence in 2005 through the acquisition of Pihlavan Ikkuna. Today's transaction will increase Inwido's share of the Finnish window market to just over 20%.
Eskopuu had sales of approximately EUR 17m in 2005/06 and an operating profit (EBITA) of EUR 1.3m. Following the acquisition, Inwido Finland will have approximately 330 employees and production at two locations in two window factories and two door factories.
"Eskopuu is a major supplier to the Finnish construction market," says Leif Johansson, Senior Investment Manager at Ratos. "Particularly for Inwido Finland, Eskopuu offers a channel to the new projects segment, in which we were not previously represented."
Ratos has a 95% ownership stake in Inwido. Ratos is not contributing any capital in connection with today's acquisition.
For further information:
Leif Johansson, Senior Investment Manager Ratos, +46 70 520 40 25
Sven-Gunnar Schough, CEO Inwido, +46 70 602 34 78
Anna-Karin Celsing, Head of Corporate Communications Ratos, +46 70 399 62 39
Financial calendar from Ratos:
Interim report January-June 2006 24 August 2006
Interim report January-September 2006 10 November 2006
Ratos is a listed private equity company. The business concept is to maximise shareholder value over time by investing in, developing and divesting primarily unlisted companies. Ratos thus offers stock market players a unique investment opportunity. The equity of Ratos's investments is approximately SEK 11 billion. Ratos's holdings include Alimak Hek, Arcus, Anticimex, Atle Industri, Bisnode, Bluegarden, BTJ Group, Camfil, DIAB, Gadelius, GS-Hydro, Haendig, Haglöfs, HL Display, Hägglunds Drives, Industri Kapital, Inwido, Lindab, Overseas Telecom and Superfos.