7/4/2011 6:00 AM Ahlsell acquires NEA Elmateriel

Ahlsell and Närkes Elektriska AB (NEA) have signed an agreement meaning that Ahlsell is acquiring the shares in NEA Elmateriel AB, one of NEA's fully owned subsidiaries.

NEA Elmateriel AB is an electrical wholesaler with a turnover of SEK 850 m and is established in approximately 40 locations throughout Sweden. The customers are primarily industrial companies.

"Through this acquisition, we are significantly reinforcing Ahlsell's presence and position within the electrical equipment range in Sweden. Our operations complement one another well and we view the combined unit as a strong platform for continued expansion," says Göran Näsholm, CEO of Ahlsell AB.

Per Sjöstrand, CEO of the NEA Group, remarked that the decision to sell the operations to Ahlsell was taken following a competitive process with a number of interested parties, in which Ahlsell presented the best offer overall. The price has certainly been important, but another decisive factor was Ahlsell's desire and ability to be a proactive future partner for the owners of the NEA Group (the Dutch company Imtech N.V.) regarding their Nordic operations within the Electrical and HVAC field.

A final agreement is subject to approval by the Swedish Competition Authority.

For questions relating to this information, please contact Göran Näsholm, CEO, phone +46 (0) 708 23 71 00, e-mail goran.nasholm@ahlsell.se.

Ahlsell is the leading technical trading company in the Nordic region for installation products, tools and machinery. Ahlsell offers professionals a wide range of goods and services in the product segments heating & plumbing, electrical, tools & machinery, and refrigeration. The Group has an annual turnover of about SEK 20 billion and some 4,500 employees.