Interimreport January March 2000
Interimreport January - March 2000 * Profit before tax rises to SEK 788m (724) * Earnings per share SEK 9.48 (8.71) * Holding in Telelogic reduced - exit gain SEK 602m * Follow-on investment in Telia Overseas * Ratos to own 30% in the merged Camfil/Farr * NAV per share on 28 April 2000 SEK 124 * Board decides to use AGM buy-back mandate Ratos has had a new strategic focus for just over a year. The company's business concept is based, as it always has been, on creating value through active development of wholly and partly owned companies. In the future the company's assets will be invested in a limited number of medium and large, primarily unlisted companies. SEK 810m in new and follow-on investments In the first quarter of 2000, three new and follow-on investments were made and one new investment was initiated. These deals involve a total investment for Ratos of SEK 810m. At the end of January, Ratos invested a total of SEK 250m in IT consulting company DataVis, which is based in Sundsvall, Sweden. The aim is to create a nationwide total supplier of IT services through both organic growth and acquisitions. Ratos' holding amounts to 48%. In the spring, the telecom company Telia Overseas carried out new issues in which Ratos participated with SEK 75m. Ratos' investment in Telia Overseas has thus increased to SEK 219m. On 30 March, Ratos' wholly owned air and sea freight company, ACE, concluded an agreement with the owners of the Conmel Group for acquisition of Conmel's logistics division. This marks a key step in ACE's strategy to be a leading player in the Nordic air and sea freight sector. On 27 March, through a wholly owned subsidiary, Ratos made a bid totalling SEK 1.2bn for the American air filter manufacturer Farr. On 2 May, it was decided to complete this offer. Ratos' total investment amounts to SEK 450m. As soon as the acquisition is completed, Ratos will merge Farr with the Swedish air filter manufacturer Camfil, giving Ratos a 30% stake in the new group. ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/05/09/20000509BIT00830/bit0001.doc Full report http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/05/09/20000509BIT00830/bit0002.pdf Full report