SB Seating refinancing - releases approx. SEK 400m to Ratos

2013-12-09

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

Ratos's subsidiary SB Seating has decided to carry out a refinancing of NOK 345m
and in conjunction with this to pay a total of NOK 385m (approximately SEK
406m) to the owners, whereby Ratos will receive a cash payment of approximately
SEK 400m. The refinancing has been made possible by the company's favourable
development and cash flow in recent years.
SB Seating develops and produces high-quality, ergonomic office chairs in
Scandinavian design for private and public environments. The products are sold
under the brands HÅG, RH and RBM and distributed through retail outlets. The
group has subsidiaries in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the UK, the
Netherlands, France, Switzerland and Singapore. SB Seating is also represented
by importers in over 30 countries.
"SB Seating has been highly profitable since we acquired the company in 2007 and
has strengthened its market positions through, for example, the commercial
success of new products. We refinanced SB Seating in December 2011, and thanks
to strong cash flows, a solid balance sheet and favourable future prospects, we
are now able to carry out another one," says Ratos CEO Susanna Campbell.
In conjunction with the refinancing, SB Seating will pay NOK 385m (approximately
SEK 406m) to its owners, of which Ratos will receive a cash payment of
approximately SEK 400m. The refinancing will not affect the Ratos Group's
earnings.
Ratos's holding in SB Seating amounts to 85% and consolidated book value at 30
September was SEK 1,120m. In 2007, Ratos invested SEK 747m in SB Seating and
received SEK 303m in conjunction with the 2011 refinancing. Following the
present refinancing, Ratos's net invested capital in SB Seating amounts to
approximately SEK 44m.
For further information, please contact:
Susanna Campbell, CEO, +46 8 700 17 00
Emma Rheborg, Head of Corporate Communications and IR, +46 8 700 17 20

Financial calendar from Ratos:
Year-end report 2013                  20 February 2014
Annual General Meeting 2014           27 March 2014
Interim Report January-March 2014     8 May 2014
Interim Report January-June 2014      15 August 2014
Interim Report January-September 2014 7 November 2014

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, Aibel, Arcus-Gruppen, Biolin
Scientific, Bisnode, DIAB, Euromaint, GS-Hydro, Hafa Bathroom Group, HENT, HL
Display, Inwido, Jøtul, KVD Kvarndammen, Mobile Climate Control, Nebula, Nordic
Cinema Group and SB Seating. Ratos is listed on Nasdaq OMX Stockholm and market
capitalisation amounts to approximately SEK 18 billion.