Ratos: Arcus-Gruppen acquires Aalborg and other Nordic spirits brands

2012-07-13

This information is disclosed in accordance with the Securities Markets Act, the
    Financial Instruments Trading Act or demands made in the exchange rules.

Arcus-Gruppen has signed an agreement to acquire the brands Aalborg, Brøndums,
Gammel Dansk and Malteser from Pernod Ricard. The purchase price (enterprise
value) amounts to EUR 103m. The acquisition is subject to approval from the
relevant authorities.
Arcus-Gruppen is Norway's leading spirits company and the largest wine supplier
in the Nordic region through Vingruppen, Vinordia, Excellars and Arcus Wine
Brands. The group's brands include Braastad Cognac, Linie Aquavit, Løiten and
Vikingfjord Vodka. Production and bottling take place in Gjelleråsen, just
outside Oslo, and the company has 470 employees. Arcus-Gruppen's sales in 2011
totalled NOK 1,789m and operating profit (EBITA) amounted to NOK 126m.
Ratos's CEO, Susanna Campbell, comments: "Arcus-Gruppen has achieved strong
growth in the wine segment in Sweden and Norway in recent years and is today the
largest wine supplier in the Nordic region. We are now taking the next step and
strengthening the portfolio of spirits brands as well. This is a strategically
significant acquisition which will considerably increase Arcus-Gruppen's size
and market presence within the spirits segment."
The acquired operations comprise the brands Aalborg, Brøndums, Gammel Dansk and
Malteser as well as a production facility in Aalborg, Denmark. The acquired
brands will increase Arcus-Gruppen's sales in the spirits segment with around
50% and increases operating profit significantly.
Arcus-Gruppen's CEO, Otto Drakenberg, comments: "Arcus-Gruppen's strategy is to
build strong local Nordic brands and make Nordic aquavit even more attractive in
international markets. We have a long tradition of doing this successfully in
Norway and Sweden. Therefore, we are delighted to be able to increase our
presence in Denmark and Germany by adding strong and renowned brands such as
Aalborg and Gammel Dansk to our portfolio."
The purchase price (enterprise value) amounts to EUR 103m and will be mostly
financed through a loan in Arcus-Gruppen. Ratos will provide equity in a maximum
amount of EUR 9m (approximately SEK 80m). Ratos's holding in Arcus-Gruppen
amounts to 83%. The acquisition is subject to approval from the relevant
authorities and is expected to be completed no later than in the beginning of
January 2013.
For further information, please contact:
Susanna Campbell, CEO Ratos, +46 8 700 17 00
Otto Drakenberg, CEO Arcus-Gruppen, +46 70 864 55 04
Emma Rheborg, Head of Corporate Communications & IR, Ratos, +46 73 380 22 63
 Financial calendar from Ratos:
 Interim report January - June 2012      17 August 2012
 Interim report January - September 2012 9 November 2012

Ratos is a private equity conglomerate. The company's mission is to maximise
shareholder value over time through the professional, active and responsible
exercise of its ownership role in primarily medium to large unlisted Nordic
companies. Ratos's holdings include AH Industries, Arcus-Gruppen, Biolin
Scientific, Bisnode, Contex, DIAB, Euromaint, Finnkino, GS-Hydro, Hafa Bathroom
Group, HL Display, Inwido, Jøtul, KVD Kvarndammen, Lindab, Mobile Climate
Control, SB Seating and Stofa. Ratos is listed on Nasdaq OMX Stockholm and
market capitalisation amounts to approximately SEK 21 billion.