Ratos AB: Ratos divests its shares in Gudrun Sjödén Group

Press release 12 September 2018 

Ratos has signed an agreement to sell all of its shares, corresponding to a holding of 30%, in the associated company Gudrun Sjödén Group to the company's founder and CEO Gudrun Sjödén. In conjunction with the transaction, Gudrun Sjödén will resume full ownership of the company. Ratos will receive a consideration of approximately SEK 225m for its shares.

Gudrun Sjödén Group, an international design company with a unique, colourful design and a clear sustainability profile, was founded in 1976 by Gudrun Sjödén. Gudrun still runs the company as an active owner, CEO and Creative Director.

"After two years partnership, Ratos and Gudrun Sjödén have agreed that the company will be wholly owned by Gudrun going forward. We are convinced that the company will continue to perform well under an ownership led by Gudrun, CEO, owner and founder. By selling our shares, Ratos ends a good investment and continue the work of developing our portfolio," says Jonas Wiström, CEO of Ratos.

"Our partnership with Ratos over the past two years has also been a learning experience for Gudrun Sjödén Group. I remain highly committed to the active ownership and development of the company, which is why I have chosen to reinvest in the company and continue our growth toward becoming a more global and digital Gudrun Sjödén Group," says CEO and owner Gudrun Sjödén.

Ratos has been a part-owner of Gudrun Sjödén Group since September 2016. During Ratos's holding period, the company has displayed a positive earnings trend and developed as a brand through investments in its organisation, digitalisation and increased customer value. An agreement has now been signed to sell all of Ratos's shares. Ratos will receive a consideration of approximately SEK 225m for its shares. The total investment in the company amounts to SEK 160m for a 30% holding.

The divestment is expected to generate a positive exit gain of approximately SEK 30m and is scheduled to be completed in the third quarter of 2018.

For further information, please contact:
Jonas Wiström, CEO, Ratos, +46 8 700 17 00
Anders Slettengren, Vice President, Ratos, +46 72 589 89 00
Helene Gustafsson, Head of IR and Press, Ratos, +46 70 868 40 50

Financial calendar from Ratos:
Interim report January-September 2018        25 October 2018
Year-end report 2018                                     15 February 2019

Ratos is an investment company that owns and develops unlisted medium-sized companies in the Nordic countries. Our goal as an active owner is to contribute to long-term and sustainable business development in the companies we invest in and to make value-generating transactions. Ratos's portfolio consists of 13 medium-sized Nordic companies, with the largest segments in terms of sales being Industrials, Construction and Consumer goods/Commerce. Ratos is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and has a total of approximately 12,700 employees.