Short history

1984

The company AB Hevea, which later became Latour, was part of the Skrinet Group.

1985

Hevea received a new principal owner in the form of the Douglas family through companies. The company took on its current operations and strategy. Hevea acquired 95 percent of the Securitas Group, 31 percent of Almedahls-Dalsjöfors, 25 percent of Trelleborg and 15 percent of Pharos and increased its ownership in Forsinvest to 30 percent. Boliden was one of its larger holdings with 5 percent of its capital. Holdings in Finans AB Nyckeln, SSRS Holding AB and Civic Fondkommission AB were sold.

1986

The Boliden block was sold to Trelleborg. Instead Hevea became the largest owner in Trelleborg with 19 percent. The holding in Almedahls-Dalsjöfors was sold and exchanged for a 30 percent ownership in the Almedahls Group. The holdings in Forsinvest and Pharos were sold.

1987

Name change from AB Hevea to Investment AB Latour. Minor changes in the investment portfolio.

1988

The Almedahls Group was listed and acquired AB Fagerhult – name change to Almedahl-Fagerhult AB. The Securitas Group doubled its profit and acquired several other companies, among them Assa AB. The number of Latour shares grew eightfold through a split and a bonus issue.

1989

Ownership in Almedahl-Fagerhult increased from 20 to 26 percent of the capital. Ownership in Trelleborg decreased from 17 to 16 percent of the capital.

1990

Ownership in Securitas amounted to 63.5 percent. Ownership in Almedahl-Fagerhult increased from 26 to 38 percent of the capital.

1991

Securitas was listed. Latour became a pure investment company. Offer of redemption of every tenth Latour share. Latour’s ownership in Securitas amounted to 43 percent.

1992

Latour acquired, together with Hagströmer & Qviberg AB, control over Investment AB Öresund. After that Latour acquired more than 10 percent of Hagströmer & Qviberg. Decrease in holdings in Trelleborg and Hasselfors. Directed new issue in Securitas. Latour made an offer for Almedahl-Fagerhult.

1993

Latour acquired Almedahl-Fagerhult and became a mixed investment company. At the same time the holding in Hagströmer & Qviberg increased to 22 percent. Latour sold most of its holdings in Trelleborg AB and converted all its convertibles to shares in Securitas, which gave the company control over 32 percent of the capital and 41 percent of the votes. AB Sigfrid Stenberg was acquired.

1994

Latour contributes to creating Europe’s largest lock group by establishing Assa Abloy. Latour acquires the industrial group Swegon, Nobex AB (Nord-Lock AB) and Aneta AB.

1995

The industrial group Swegon became wholly owned. Offer of voluntary redemption of every fourth Latour share in exchange for one share in respectively Securitas, Assa Abloy and Hagströmer & Qviberg.

1996

Ownership in Securitas amounts to 16 percent and in Assa Abloy to 9 percent. Acquisition of Eurobend AB and AS Knappehuset.

1997

Distribution of Fagerhult and Säkl. Acquisition of 16 percent of the capital in Sweco and 10 percent of the capital in Piren.

1998

Latour carries out a share split 5:1. Ownership in Fagerhult was 29 percent.

1999

Increased ownership in Fagerhult, NEA, Piren and Sweco.

2000

Holdings in Piren and BT Industrier sold. Buyback of Latour shares.

2001

Acquisition of Dayco Automotive (Autotube). Buyback and redemption of Latour shares.

2002

Acquisition of shares in Drott.

2003

Acquisition of folding ruler operations in Germany and Romania. Liquidation of Marieholms Yllefabriks AB and Oy Almedahl. Stig Wahlström AB sold. Acquisition of shares in Munters corresponding to 5 percent of the capital. Increased holdings in Elanders, Fagerhult and Sweco.

2004

Reorganisation of the wholly owned industrial and trading operations from three to eight business areas. The Hydraulics business area acquires Näsström System AB (Specma Component AB) and WiroArgonic AB. Increased holdings in Assa Abloy, Munters, Securitas and Sweco. Divestiture of holdings in Hexagon, Holmen, Hufvudstaden and Getinge.

2005

Hand Tools business area acquired Wibe Stegar. Crafts operations in Almedahls were sold. Almedahl-Kinna and Holma-Helsinglands were sold.

2006

Acquisition of the HordaGruppen, Brickpack, JMS and Snickers Workwear. Divestment of the entire business area Filters along with the property belonging to it in Alingsås. Regarding the investment portfolio, a major holding in OEM was acquired and the entire holding in NEA was divested.

2007

Acquisition of Meptek Oy, AVT Industriteknik AB and BBM Verktyg AB. Assignment of the business which formerly was engaged in sales of machinery to the Swedish timber industry. Increased holdings in OEM and Sweco. Acquisition of 23 percent of the capital and the votes in Nederman.

2008

Two new companies, HMS Networks and Loomis, were added toh the investment portfolio while Securitas Direct was divested. The wholly owned industrial and trading operations acquired nine companies and sold of two

2009

Divestiture of holdings in OEM International. Increased holdings in HMS Networks. Sweeping cost-reduction program in the wholly owned operations as a consequence of the downturn in the economy. Two acquisitions and one divestiture in the wholly owned operations.