NOT FOR PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA,
CANADA OR JAPAN
This announcement is not an offer for sale of shares in Bisnode
Business Information Group AB (publ) ("Bisnode"). Shares in Bisnode
have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act") and may not be offered or sold in the
United States absent registration or an exemption from the
registration requirements of the Securities Act. Bisnode and the
selling shareholders do not intend to register the securities or
conduct a public offering in the United States.
Bisnode and its owners Ratos och Bonnier have decided to withdraw the
IPO of Bisnode.
When the application period for the offering to subscribe for and
acquire shares in Bisnode expired on 29 October the offering was not
fully subscribed.
- Ratos CEO, Arne Karlsson, comments: "Despite a substantial interest
from a large number of investors, primarily from the Nordic region,
the offering was not fully subscribed. This is primarily due to the
prevailing volatile market situation."
Ratos became a principal owner of Bisnode in 2005 when Ratos's
associated company Infodata was merged with Bonnier Business
Information. Since then, the company has strengthened its leading
position in the European market with some twenty strategic
acquisitions in Europe. 2006 sales amounted to SEK 3,293m and
operating profit (EBITA) was SEK 528m. The company has almost 3,000
employees.
- "It is of course unfortunate that we did not succeed in completing
the IPO for Bisnode. Obviously, this does not alter our positive view
of the company and its future prospects. Now, together with Bonnier
and the company's management, we will continue to develop Bisnode
outside the stock exchange in order to create an even larger and more
profitable company," says Ratos CEO Arne Karlsson.
For further information, please contact:
Arne Karlsson, CEO Ratos, +46 8 700 17 00
Clara Bolinder-Lundberg, Head of Corporate Communications Ratos, +46
8 700 17 63
Financial calendar from Ratos:
Interim report January - September 2007 9 November 2007
Year-end report 2007 21 February 2008
AGM 2008 9 April 2008
Interim report January - March 2008 8 May 2008
Interim report January - June 2008 22 August 2008
Interim report January - September 2008 7 November 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 and a market
capitalisation of approximately SEK 30 billion. Ratos's holdings
include AH Industries, Anticimex, Arcus Gruppen, Bisnode, Camfil,
Contex, DIAB, EuroMaint, GS-Hydro, Haendig, Haglöfs, HL Display,
HÅG/RH/RBM, Hägglunds Drives, Inwido, Jøtul, Lindab, MCC, Medifiq
Healthcare, Superfos and Other holdings.
Handelsbanken Capital Markets and UBS Investment Bank are acting for
Bisnode, Ratos AB and Bonnier AB and no one else in connection with
the sale and will not be responsible to any person other than
Bisnode, Ratos AB and Bonnier AB for providing the protections
afforded to clients of Handelsbanken Capital Markets and / or UBS
Investment Bank nor for providing advice in relation to the sale.
