Investor AB is a Swedish investment company, founded in 1916 and still controlled by the Wallenberg family through their foundation asset management company FAM. The company owns a controlling stake in several large Swedish companies with smaller positions in a number of other firms. In 2006 it had a market value of 119 billion kronor (€13 billion, $16 billion). Currently Investor has a strong financial position and is almost debt free.

Quick facts[link]

December 31, 2004

• Listed holdings market value: SEK 88,907 million (core + new from AR 2004, 87,645 + 1,262)
• Unlisted holdings value: SEK 16,622 million ("new investments, unlisted" + "other" (presumably unlisted equity), 9,568 + 7,054)

October 15, 2006

• The company stock trades at a 25% discount to the total value of its assets. One possible theory to explain this is the companies practice of issuing dual-class shares to the Wallenberg family, who own just 22% of the company but control 46% through multiple-vote shares.
• 16% of Investors net value is made up of unlisted (private-equity) investments. These include part-ownership of EQT and Investor Capital Partners, a Hong Kong based subsidiary.

History[link]

In 1916, new legislation made it more difficult for banks to own stocks in industrial companies on a long-term basis. Investor was formed as an investment part of Stockholms Enskilda Bank, at the time the largest instrument of power in the Wallenberg family.

Investments[link]

Core[link]

Investor held shares in the following companies as of 31 December 2010:^[1]

• ABB - power and automation technology (7.3% stake, 7.3% voting rights)
• Atlas Copco - industrial tooling and equipment (16.7% stake, 22.3% voting rights)
• AstraZeneca - pharmaceuticals (3.7% stake, 3.7% voting rights)
• Electrolux - consumer appliances (13.6% stake, 29.9% voting rights)
• Ericsson - telecommunications (5.0% stake, 19.3% voting rights)
• Husqvarna - auto, chainsaw and sewing machine manufacturer (15.7% stake, 30.8% voting rights)
• Saab - aviation and military technology (30.0% stake, 39.5% voting rights)
• SEB - banking (20.8% stake, 20.9% voting rights)

Operating investments[link]

Investor's other investments include:^[1]

• 3 Scandinavia - (3rd Generation mobile phone services) (40% stake)
• Aleris - healthcare and care services (97% stake)
• CaridianBCT - developing and commercializing technology that serves customers in the blood banking and transfusion medicine industries (49% stake)
• Gambro - medical technology (49% stake)
• Mölnlycke Health Care - medical technology (96% stake)
• NASDAQ OMX - securities market operator (10.2% stake)
• Novare - recruitment firm (50% stake)
• Grand Hôtel, Stockholm - five star hotel (100%)
• Lindorff - a credit management company in the Nordic region with a growing European presence. (58% stake)
• Investor Growth Capital - venture capital firm, exceeds $1 billion in venture capital (100%)
• Swedish Orphan Biovitrum - a Stockholm based specialty biopharma company (40% stake)
• EQT Partners - private equity firm, €11 billion in equity capital (Investor participation varies from fund to fund)

See also[link]

Companies portal

Some former holdings[link]

• IBX - provider of efficient purchasing solutions and services (sold to Capgemini in 2010)
• WM-data - IT services (sold in August, 2006)^[2]
• Saab Automobile - acquired by General Motors
• Scania - sold part of its stake to Volkswagen AG in 2000, selling the remainder to the German car-maker in March 2008. [1]
• Bredbandsbolaget - (BBB) a broadband and telecoms provider. This was initially in difficulty but was sold 2005 to Telenor for a profit.^[3]
• OMX - financial services company (sold in May, 2007 to Nasdaq)

Other Swedish investment companies[link]

• Ratos
• Investment AB Kinnevik
• Investment AB Latour
• L E Lundbergföretagen AB

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Yahoo! - Investor AB Company Profile

v t e OMX Stockholm 30 companies of Sweden ABB Alfa Laval Assa Abloy AstraZeneca Atlas Copco Boliden Electrolux Ericsson Getinge Hennes & Mauritz Investor AB Lundin Petroleum Modern Times Group Nokia Nordea Sandvik SCA Scania SEB Securitas Skanska SKF SSAB Svenska Handelsbanken Swedbank Swedish Match Tele2 TeliaSonera Volvo