Grycksbo Paper
Country: Sweden
Region: Mellersta Norrland
Investors: Accent
Accent, together with company management, acquired the fine paper maker Grycksbo from Finnish paper and pulp group Stora Enso in 2006. At that time Grycksbo was producing around 250,000 tonnes of paper, of which 90% was exported. Accent believed there was an exciting opportunity to grow by becoming more customer and market orientated, and encouraging a more commercial mind-set. These efforts, combined with the establishment of a new sales force, allowed Grycksbo to rebalance its global sales. Over 20% of the company’s sales were brought back to Europe from Asia, which reduced costs and consequently increased Grycksbo’s profitability. Grycksbo was sold to the Polish-Swedish group Artic Paper in late 2009.
Lennart Westman
CEO - Grycksbo Paper
This will mean more investments, and in the long-run more jobs remaining in the region.
>25%
cost reduction in transportation
4x
increase in EBITDA
What did the business need?
Transformation from being one of many corporate production and supply centres within a large group
Establish confidence and focus as a European leader in its niche
Improved customer/market and business orientation
Apply target setting and improve commercial thinking in purchasing
How did private equity backing create lasting value?
Recruited new CEO and Sales Director
Established a new sales organisation, relocating more than 20% of sales from Asia to Europe resulting in increased profitability
Executed an extensive profit improvement programme
Invested in pulp sourcing flexibility
Implemented a long-term cost-effective and environmentally friendly energy solution
Improved control and planning thanks to a changed logistics setup and a new IT system
What outcomes did private equity investment achieve?
Increased sales to over €210m (SEK1.9bn) from nearly €187m (SEK1.7bn) from 2006 to 2009
Increased EBITDA more than fourfold*
Saved virtually all jobs at the Grycksbo mill that risked being lost
Reduced transportation costs by 25%
*EBITDA stands for earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation and is a measure of company performance
Investors
