Stockholm August 16, 2004
Segulah II, LP, is acquiring a 60% interest in HMS Industrial Networks AB. The vendors are IDI and SEB Företagsinvest the founders of the company, Nicolas Hassbjer and Staffan Dahlström, will remain major shareholders in HMS, which is a profitable and fast-growing electronics company in the field of industrial networks. HMS turnover for the current year will amount to MSEK 150.
Based in Halmstad, HMS was founded by Nicolas Hassbjer and Staffan Dahlström in 1989. HMS develops and manufactures innovative solutions for integrating automation equipment with data networks. HMS markets its industrial network solutions under the AnyBus® name to leading manufacturers of automation equipment throughout the world. It has sold 250,000 AnyBus network cards to 450 customers in 46 countries.
HMS’s head office and production facilities are located in Halmstad, Sweden. The company, which has its own sales offices in Japan, the USA, Germany and Great Britain, has 90 employees.
IDI and SEB Företagsinvest have been shareholders in HMS since the end of the nineties, when they were invited by the founders to finance the growth phase the company was just entering. As HMS has now successfully developed new products, established subsidiaries abroad and built up an international sales organisation, the first stage of its expansion process is complete.
With an investment focus on relatively mature companies with sound development potential, Segulah is investing at a time when HMS is ready to move into the next phase of its development.
“We are impressed by the company that HMS has become and are very confident in its ability to continue its profitable growth. We look forward to being involved in the development of this exciting company together with two highly capable entrepreneurs,”says Sebastian Ehrnrooth, one of Segulah’s Partners.
Segulah has set up a holding company in partnership with Nicolas Hassbjer and Staffan Dahlström to acquire all the shares in HMS Networks AB, the parent company of the HMS group. HMS ‘s business will not be affected by the change of ownership, and the company is still aiming for a listing on the Stockholm Stock Exchange in a couple of years.
In connection with the change of ownership, Berthold Lindqvist will step down as chairman of HMS. He will be succeeded by Jörgen Centerman, formerly CEO of ABB, who has long and wide-ranging experience of industrial automation.
Following the share sale, the founders, Nicolas Hassbjer and Staffan Dahlström, will retain 40% of HMS. Their intention is to remain large shareholders in HMS, even after a future listing. “We see this as an ideal solution. We will be acquiring a strong financial partner with an industrial approach, while retaining a major shareholding, and having our sights set on a stock market listing. This is highly stimulating,” concludes Nicolas Hassbjer, HMS’s CEO and co-founder.
For further information, please contact:
Sebastian Ehrnrooth, AB Segulah:
+46 (0)8 442 89 50, mobile +46 (0)733 60 42 05, or
Nicolas Hassbjer, CEO HMS Industrial Networks:
+46 (0)35 17 29 00, mobile +46 (0)709 17 2902.
For additional information, see www.hms.se
