Ratos is to acquire 100% of the Danish company Contex Holding A/S, a
world leader in the development, manufacture and marketing of
advanced two- and three-dimensional image solutions. The sellers are
EQT (60%) and a number of other investors. Ratos' investment is
estimated at approximately SEK 600m.
Contex Holding A/S is a world leader in the development and
manufacture of advanced two- and three-dimensional image solutions.
The company has three business areas: Contex A/S (50% of sales),
which manufactures large-format scanners and related software, Z
Corporation (30% of sales), which manufactures products for printing
out 3D models, and Vidar Systems Corporation (20% of sales), which
manufactures film digitisers for medical diagnostics. Manufacturing
is conducted in Denmark and the USA, and the company has a total of
435 employees. Sales are made in more than 80 countries, with the USA
accounting for 46%, Europe for 36%, and the rest of the world for
18%.
Contex has had annual growth (pro forma) of 33% since 2004. Operating
profit (EBITA) in 2006 was SEK 165m on sales of SEK 901m."Contex has strong market positions today in all of its product
areas," comments Ratos' CEO, Arne Karlsson. "We believe the company
has potential for continued strong growth. We also see opportunities
for complementary acquisitions, especially in the area of 3D
imaging."
Ratos' acquisition of Contex is at an Enterprise Value of
approximately SEK 1 590m. Ratos is acquiring 100% of Contex, which
will be financed with approximately SEK 600m in equity from Ratos.
Senior executives in the company will be offered to co-invest with
Ratos.
The deal is conditional upon customary regulatory approval.
For further information, please contact:
Arne Karlsson, CEO Ratos, +46-703-79 79 79
Clara Bolinder-Lundberg, Head of Corporate Communications Ratos,
+46-70-719 84 43
Svenn Poulsen, CEO Contex Holding, +45-40 71 20 75
Financial calendar from Ratos:
Interim report January-June 21 August 2007
Interim report January-September 9 November 2007
Year-end report 2007 21 February 2008
AGM 2008 9 April 2008
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
Anticimex, Arcus Gruppen, Bisnode, Camfil, DIAB, GS-Hydro, Haendig,
Haglöfs, HL Display, HÅG/RH/RBM, Hägglunds Drives, Inwido, Jøtul,
Lindab, MCC, Medifiq Healthcare, Superfos and Other holdings.
