Infodata, a company belonging to the Ratos subsidiary Bisnode, has
signed an extension agreement with the SPAR Authority regarding
management of the SPAR database (Statens Person- och Adressregister,
a database containing names and addresses of every person listed in
municipal registers in Sweden). The extension agreement will run for
18 months, starting on 1 January 2009. The SPAR agreement is expected
to continue to have a positive effect on the Bisnode Group's
earnings.
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.
Since 1978, Bisnode's subsidiary Infodata has distributed and
operated information from the SPAR database on behalf of the SPAR
Authority. In spring 2007 the SPAR Authority announced that its
agreement with Infodata would be terminated with effect from 1
January 2009. A public procurement process was initiated but this was
halted in spring 2008 pending further consideration.
The Swedish government has now decided that the Swedish Tax Agency
will take over responsibility for SPAR starting on 1 January 2009.
This will involve developing a future model from the very beginning.
In order to guarantee management and supply of services, an agreement
has been signed with Infodata until a new operating model is in place
that meets the requirements of the PSI Directive and which is legally
secure and efficient."Infodata has been distributing SPAR information on behalf of the
SPAR Authority for 30 years, and it is very positive that Infodata
has now been entrusted to continue to distribute on behalf of the
Swedish Tax Agency," says Bisnode's CEO Johan Wall.
Ratos's holding in Bisnode amounts to 70%.
For further information, please contact:
Bo Jungner, Investment Director Ratos, +46 8 700 17 85
Emma Rheborg, Investor Relations Manager Ratos, +46 8 700 17 20
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 2009 5 November 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 23
billion. Ratos's holdings include AH Industries, Anticimex, Arcus
Gruppen, Bisnode, Camfil, Contex, DIAB, EuroMaint, GS-Hydro, Haglöfs,
HL Display, Inwido, Jøtul, Lindab, MCC, Medisize, Scandinavian
Business Seating, Superfos and Other holdings.
