Stofa acquires Canal Digital's cable TV business in Denmark
This information is disclosed in accordance with the Securities Markets Act, the
Financial Instruments Trading Act or demands made in the exchange rules.
Ratos's subsidiary Stofa A/S has acquired the Danish cable TV activities of
Canal Digital for an Enterprise Value of approximately DKK 100m (SEK 120m) . The
seller is Canal Digital AS, owned by Telenor. In connection with the
acquisition, Ratos is contributing capital corresponding to the entire
Enterprise Value.
Stofa is a Danish triple-play operator (broadband, cable TV and telephony) that
provides approximately 350,000 households with cable TV and 140,000 of these
also with broadband. The services are delivered in close co-operation with 300
antenna associations throughout Denmark. Stofa has 450 employees and had sales
of DKK 1,024m in 2009, with an operating profit (EBITA) of DKK 92m. The head
offices are in Horsens (Jutland), Denmark.
Stofa's acquisition pertains only to Canal Digital's Danish cable TV business.
In 2009 this business had 42 employees and sales of DKK 383m. Although Canal
Digital offers triple-play services, a large share of its business is agency-
based, i.e., offering channel packages to antenna associations in Denmark, which
together have approximately 633,000 connected households. Canal Digital
currently has approximately 56,000 subscribers (cable TV, broadband and
telephony). As a part of the transaction, Stofa has entered into an agreement
regarding distribution of the TV channel Canal 9 to its customers.
"Through this acquisition, Stofa strengthens its role as the second largest
cable TV operator in Denmark, which will pave the way for both a stronger
relationship with the programme companies and a broader offering to customers.
The customer base will be significantly strengthened, which will give us an
opportunity to gain a larger share of the market with Stofa's product offering,"
comments Ratos CEO Arne Karlsson.
In connection with the acquisition, Ratos is contributing capital corresponding
to the entire Enterprise Value. The acquisition is contingent upon approval from
the competition authorities and is expected to be completed during the first
quarter of 2011.
For further information, please contact:
Arne Karlsson, CEO, +46 70 379 79 79
Emma Rheborg, Head of Corporate Communications and IR, +46 733 80 22 63
Financial calendar from Ratos:
Year-end report 2010 17 February 2011
Annual General Meeting 2011 5 April 2011
Interim Report January - March 2011 5 May 2011
Interim Report January - June 2011 19 August 2011
Interim Report January - September 2011 9 November 2011
Ratos is a private equity conglomerate. The company's mission is to maximise
shareholder value over time through the professional, active and responsible
exercise of its ownership role in primarily medium to large unlisted Nordic
companies. Ratos's holdings include AH Industries, Anticimex, Arcus Gruppen,
Biolin Scientific, Bisnode, Camfil, Contex, DIAB, EuroMaint, GS-Hydro, Hafa
Bathroom Group, HL Display, Inwido, Jøtul, KVD Kvarndammen, Lindab, Medisize,
Mobile Climate Control, SB Seating, Stofa, Superfos and Other holdings. Ratos is
listed on NASDAQ OMX Stockholm and market capitalisation amounts to
approximately SEK 40 billion.
