Canfor Corporation has entered into an agreement to purchase 70% of the VIDA Group of Sweden for a purchase price of 3,990 million Swedish Krona (approximately US$439.57 million) on a cash and debt free basis, company announced. The current owners of VIDA will retain a 30% interest and continue to manage the day-to-day business.
“With the acquisition of VIDA, we are excited to become a truly international manufacturer and provider of wood product solutions for our global customers,” said Don Kayne, President and Chief Executive Officer of Canfor. “This transformational growth will allow Canfor to further diversify and secure a worldwide fibre supply to meet the growing demand of our customers for high-quality wood products.”
VIDA is Sweden’s largest privately-owned sawmill company, operating nine sawmills in southern Sweden with an annual production capacity of 1.1 billion board feet. All of the sawmills produce spruce and pine products, and are strategically located in high quality and sustainable fibre regions of Sweden. In addition, VIDA has nine value-added facilities that include premium packaging, modular housing, industrial products and energy.
“VIDA, a well-known brand in its current markets, i s aligned with our corporate strategy of producing high-value products, providing an exceptional customer service experience and maintaining a low-cost structure,” added Kayne. “We are excited that Santhe Dahl, Group CEO and Måns Johansson, Deputy CEO, of VIDA will continue to lead the company operations in Sweden. We welcome VIDA’s skilled management team, talented employees and modern operations to our Company.”
“We have known Canfor for a long time as a high-quality manufacturer and provider of wood product solutions. We are proud to announce that we are now becoming part of a global operation together with Canfor. This will allow us to continue to strengthen and develop the VIDA brand on a global scale,” said Santhe Dahl, Chief Executive Officer, VIDA Group. In conjunction with the Elliott Sawmilling Company Inc. acquisition announced last week, this acquisition is a positive step forward in our diversification strategy for our operations, products and customers.