Hakon Invest today completed its acquisition of 50% of the shares in
the online retailer inkClub in accordance with the agreement that was
signed and disclosed on 19 June 2007. Hakon Invest's investment
amounts to SEK 428 M.
The deal was subject to the usual terms and conditions and approval
from the authorities. All such conditions have now been met.
Claes-Göran Sylvén, President of Hakon Invest: "Lennart Nyberg, with
initially very modest resources, has succeeded in building up a
highly successful and professional business in inkClub in just a few
years. The Internet is an attractive sales channel and we see good
potential for expansion for inkClub."
Hakon Invest has appointed Mats Munther, head of business development
at ICA AB, the entrepreneur Mats Hultin and Stein Petter Ski, Senior
Investment Manager at Hakon Invest, as its representatives on
inkClub's board. The proposed chairman is Mats Hultin. Other board
members are Lennart Nyberg, Hans Nilsson and Gunnar Mattsson.
inkClub is a pure-play online retailer that sells ink cartridges and
other printer consumables via the Internet. The company, which was
founded by Lennart Nyberg in 2000, has seen rapid growth and posted a
profit since the start. inkClub currently has more than 1 million
active customers in 14 European countries and in 2006 reported sales
of SEK 344 M and an operating profit of SEK 41 M. This places inkClub
among the leading global players in online sales of ink cartridges.
Hakon Invest's investment in inkClub is being made through
acquisition of existing shares for SEK 428 M in cash, which will
provide an ownership stake of 50%. Following the sale, the principal
owner Lennart Nyberg and his family will still own 45% of the shares
with other shareholders owning 5%.
The acquisition analysis of inkClub will be reported in the interim
report for the third quarter of 2007.
For further information, please contact:
Hakon Invest:
Senior Investment Manager Stein Petter Ski, tel 08-55 33 99 44
Hakon Invest:
Informationschef Anders Hallgren, tel 08-55 33 99 66
inkClub:
Grundare Lennart Nyberg, tel 070-824 39 11
inkClub:
VD Fredrik Brandt, tel 070-824 39 21
This press release is not for publication or distribution in or into
the US, Canda, Australia or Japan.
Hakon Invest, which is listed on the Nordic Exchange Large Cap,
conducts active and long-term investment operations in
retail-oriented companies in the Nordic region. Hakon Invest owns 40%
of ICA AB, the Nordic region's leading retail company with focus on
food. In addition have holdings in Forma Publishing Group, Kjell &
Company, Hemma and Cervera. Further information about Hakon Invest is
available at www.hakoninvest.se.
