Ratos's subsidiary Bisnode has concluded an agreement to acquire all
the shares in the German company WLW. The seller is the Italian group
Seat Pagine Gialle and the purchase price amounts to approximately
SEK 411m (Enterprise Value). Ratos will provide equity of
approximately SEK 288m in conjunction with this deal.
Bisnode is one of Europe's leading suppliers of digital business
information with services within market, credit and product
information. Ratos became a principal owner of Bisnode in 2005 when
Ratos's associated company Infodata merged with Bonnier Business
Information. Since then the company has strengthened its leading
position in the European market through some 20 strategic
acquisitions. The company has approximately 3,000 employees. Bisnode
has enjoyed a highly positive profitability trend in recent years and
sales in 2007 totalled SEK 3,899m with an operating profit (EBITA) of
SEK 580m.
WLW (Wer liefert was?) offers supplier search services on the
internet and the company has a strong market position in the
German-speaking countries of Europe. The head office is located in
Hamburg and the company has some 250 employees. Sales in 2007
amounted to SEK 355m and operating profit before depreciation
(EBITDA) was SEK 73m."WLW is an ideal partner for our Product Databases & Tradepress
business area. The acquisition will provide significant synergy gains
while strengthening our customer offering," says Bisnode's CEO Johan
Wall.
Ratos will provide equity of SEK 288m to Bisnode in conjunction with
the acquisition of WLW. Ratos's holding in Bisnode amounts to 70%,
the remainder is owned by Bonnier Holding AB.
The acquisition of WLW is subject to approval from the relevant
competition authorities.
For further information, please contact:
Arne Karlsson, CEO Ratos, +46 8 700 17 00
Bo Jungner, Investment Director Ratos, +46 8 700 17 85
Johan Wall, CEO Bisnode, +46 8 507 140 00
Clara Bolinder-Lundberg, Head of Corporate Communications Ratos, +46
8 700 17 63
Financial calendar from Ratos:
Year-End Report 2008 19 February 2009
Annual General Meeting 2009 2 April 2009
Interim Report January - March 2009 7 May 2009
Interim Report January - June 2009 20 August 2009
Interim Report January - September 5 November 2009
2009
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 offers investors a
unique investment opportunity. Ratos's equity is approximately SEK 11
billion and has a market capitalisation of approximately SEK 19
billion. Ratos's holdings include AH Industries, Anticimex, Arcus
Gruppen, Bisnode, Camfil, Contex, DIAB, EuroMaint, GS-Hydro, Haglöfs,
HL Display, HÅG/RH/RBM, Hägglunds Drives, Inwido, Jøtul, Lindab, MCC,
Medisize, Superfos and Other holdings.
