Ratos companies Vestia Construction Group (which is part of SSEA Group) and HENT AS are building, together with Vasakronan, Kaj 16 – a new landmark in Gothenburg. The construction cost for Kaj 16 is expected to amount to approximately SEK 1.6 billion, of which a significant part has been allocated to Vestia and HENT.

Kaj 16 was designed by the Danish architectural firm Dorte Mandrup and, at 78 meters, will be Gothenburg’s tallest wooden building. The project will be carried out in partnering and the objective is to minimize climate and environmental impact and to achieve certification according to LEED Platinum.

“This is a fantastically fun and developing project for both Vestia and HENT. Kaj 16 will be a project at the forefront of many current issues, including wooden construction, circularity, and digitization. We are now in the starting pits for projecting system action and continued calculation work. When the ground contract is complete, we will start the construction, according to the plan, it will be in the fall of 2024. Kaj 16 is planned to be completed in the summer of 2027,” says Christian Wieland, CEO of SSEA Group and board member of HENT AS.

“We are proud to have been trusted to build another landmark, also in partnering, which is something Vestia is really recognized as knowledgeable and at the forefront of. To also be able to do it together with HENT AS, and to realize the fine synergies that exist in the Ratos Group, is a big bonus. We have won the contract in tough competition with tough conditions in the operational environment ​​as a backdrop, which is really a quality stamp for the company, says Christian Johansson Gebauer, chairman of SSEA Group and HENT AS, and President, Business Area Construction & Services, Ratos.

About Vestia Construction Group
Vestia is active in the Gothenburg region with, among other things, the newly opened Åbybadet, the SEEL research center and the unique combination school + nursing home in Sandarna in the project portfolio.

About Hent AS
HENT AS has been the general contractor for many complex wooden house buildings, for example the world’s tallest wooden building Mjøstårnet (85.4 m), located approx. 120 km outside Oslo, and the Nordic region’s largest wooden house, Sara Kulturhus in Skellefteå.

For more information, please contact
Christian Wieland, CEO SSEA Group, +46 70 654 09 30
Josefine Uppling, VP Communication, Ratos, +46 76 114 54 21

About Ratos
Ratos is a business group consisting of 16 companies divided into three business areas: Construction & Services, Consumer and Industry. The companies have approximately SEK 30 billion in net sales (LTM). Our business concept is to own and develop companies that are or can become market leaders. We have a distinct corporate culture and strategy – everything we do is based on our core values: Simplicity, Speed in execution and It’s All About People. We enable independent companies to excel by being part of something larger. People, leadership, culture and values are key focus areas.

Vestia Construction Group (Vestia), a part of SSEA Group, will partner with Kungälv Municipality to renovate, rebuild and extend Ytterby School in central Ytterby. The project will provide the school with inclusive, efficient premises that are suited for modern education in a municipality with a growing number of residents. The project encompasses approximately 11,000 square metres, and the budget is estimated at SEK 250m.

Project planning will begin after summer 2023 and production will start in stages during the autumn. The project will be completed by year-end 2025. The oldest section of Ytterby School was built in 1952, and the school currently has space for 600 students from years 7 to 9. When the renovations and extension are complete, the school will be able to accommodate just over 700 students.

Vestia has extensive experience of partnering on school projects where the building stays open during construction. The renovation and extension will be carried out in stages. Affected classes will be moved temporarily and held in modular classrooms on the school premises.

“Buildings that are important to society, such as schools, are built and maintained regardless of the economy. SSEA Group and Vestia’s expertise and niche are especially attractive in this regard. In combination with the recognised efficiency and trustworthiness of their partnering model, this means that the company has a bright future despite a market with uncertain prospects when it comes to, for example, housing construction. We’re pleased to have secured yet another excellent contract,” says Christian Johansson Gebauer, Chairman of the Board of SSEA Group and President Business Area Construction & Services, Ratos.

“I’m proud that we have been entrusted to develop Ytterby School together with Kungälv Municipality. Although the Gothenburg metropolitan area is our home market, this is a new customer for us. Large, complex school projects that require renovations and extensions while the buildings remain in use are an area in which the entire Vestia team is experienced. We look forward to joining forces with Kungälv Municipality’s talented team. Together, we’ll deliver a sustainable educational environment with an eye on the future,” says Christian Wieland, CEO of SSEA Group.

For more information, please contact:
Josefine Uppling, VP Communication, Ratos, +46 76 114 54 21
Christian Wieland, CEO, SSEA Group, +46 70 654 09 30

About Ratos
Ratos is a business group consisting of 16 companies divided into three business areas: Construction & Services, Consumer and Industry. The companies have approximately SEK 32 billion in net sales (LTM). Our business concept is to own and develop companies that are or can become market leaders. We have a distinct corporate culture and strategy – everything we do is based on our core values: Simplicity, Speed in execution and It’s All About People. We enable independent companies to excel by being part of something larger. People, leadership, culture and values are key focus areas.

Fronnt, a group of installation companies founded in partnership with Gimv, welcomes three more leading installation companies. Besides the acquisition of Electro Verbeke in Deinze, Van Vooren/Setec in Bruges and TAC! (The Airconditioning Company) in Wilrijk join the group thanks to the pooling of forces with the investment company Tilleghem. Together they aim to accelerate the energy transition in Flanders.

Making buildings and industrial processes more energy efficient, electrifying heating and mobility, and implementing new technologies and business models are crucial to the success of the energy transition. For this, various technologies such as heat pumps, charging stations, solar panels and batteries must be able to interact with each other. Currently, this complexity is still too much placed on the customer. In response, Fronnt wants to completely unburden the customer by offering a multi-technical approach. To this end, Gimv and Fronnt bring together medium-sized installation companies, often of family origin, with a great deal of relevant knowledge and experience, based on the conviction that these forerunners, or “Fronntrunners”, can be even stronger in a larger context while retaining their own unique identity and customer service.

Fronnt was initially created in the first half of 2022 with the acquisitions of Lenaerts/LVR and ABN Klimatisatie. Not much later, Climawest and Sanitel also joined the group. Now, Fronnt is pleased to announce a further expansion of the group with the addition of Electro Verbeke, Van Vooren/Setec and TAC!. The acquisitions of the latter two companies came about through a joining of forces with the investment company Tilleghem. As a result, Tilleghem also becomes a shareholder of Fronnt to realise together with Gimv, the mission to make Fronnt the leading group of installation companies in Flanders.

Geert Fostier, CEO of Fronnt, on this important step forward: “Last year, in July, the first two companies jumped on the Fronnt-train, and shortly afterwards Climawest. With Van Vooren/Setec and Electro Verbeke we bring on board two companies specialised in electrical work, data systems and automation. TAC! (The Airconditioning Company) is a quality partner for HVAC and plumbing. Together with our existing companies, they further strengthen Fronnt’s DNA: guiding our customers through their energy transition by means of our integrated multi-technical approach. These three companies will find in Fronnt a large, stable and healthy group where they experience the benefits and operation of an SME.”

Ruben Monballieu, Partner at Gimv Sustainable Cities, adds: “These acquisitions mark an important step forward in our ambition to build a leading group of installation companies. We are excited about the growth trajectory we have achieved so far and look forward to further strengthening Fronnt and providing solutions to the challenges posed by the energy transition together with Tilleghem and all the passionate Fronnt entrepreneurs.”

Piet Van Waes, Partner at Tilleghem: “We are enthusiastic to join forces with Gimv, Fronnt and its cluster of strong installation companies. Our vision and strategy fit seamlessly with the path mapped out by the Fronnt managers and entrepreneurs. We share the ambition to build Fronnt into a sustainable and innovative player in the ecosystem of multifunctional installations and energy transition”.

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Fronnt, a group of installation companies founded in partnership with Gimv, welcomes three more leading installation companies. Besides the acquisition of Electro Verbeke in Deinze, Van Vooren/Setec in Bruges and TAC! (The Airconditioning Company) in Wilrijk join the group thanks to the pooling of forces with the investment company Tilleghem. Together they aim to accelerate the energy transition in Flanders.

Making buildings and industrial processes more energy efficient, electrifying heating and mobility, and implementing new technologies and business models are crucial to the success of the energy transition. For this, various technologies such as heat pumps, charging stations, solar panels and batteries must be able to interact with each other. Currently, this complexity is still too much placed on the customer. In response, Fronnt wants to completely unburden the customer by offering a multi-technical approach. To this end, Gimv and Fronnt bring together medium-sized installation companies, often of family origin, with a great deal of relevant knowledge and experience, based on the conviction that these forerunners, or “Fronntrunners”, can be even stronger in a larger context while retaining their own unique identity and customer service.

Fronnt was initially created in the first half of 2022 with the acquisitions of Lenaerts/LVR and ABN Klimatisatie. Not much later, Climawest and Sanitel also joined the group. Now, Fronnt is pleased to announce a further expansion of the group with the addition of Electro Verbeke, Van Vooren/Setec and TAC!. The acquisitions of the latter two companies came about through a joining of forces with the investment company Tilleghem. As a result, Tilleghem also becomes a shareholder of Fronnt to realise together with Gimv, the mission to make Fronnt the leading group of installation companies in Flanders.

Geert Fostier, CEO of Fronnt, on this important step forward: “Last year, in July, the first two companies jumped on the Fronnt-train, and shortly afterwards Climawest. With Van Vooren/Setec and Electro Verbeke we bring on board two companies specialised in electrical work, data systems and automation. TAC! (The Airconditioning Company) is a quality partner for HVAC and plumbing. Together with our existing companies, they further strengthen Fronnt’s DNA: guiding our customers through their energy transition by means of our integrated multi-technical approach. These three companies will find in Fronnt a large, stable and healthy group where they experience the benefits and operation of an SME.”

Ruben Monballieu, Partner at Gimv Sustainable Cities, adds: “These acquisitions mark an important step forward in our ambition to build a leading group of installation companies. We are excited about the growth trajectory we have achieved so far and look forward to further strengthening Fronnt and providing solutions to the challenges posed by the energy transition together with Tilleghem and all the passionate Fronnt entrepreneurs.”

Piet Van Waes, Partner at Tilleghem: “We are enthusiastic to join forces with Gimv, Fronnt and its cluster of strong installation companies. Our vision and strategy fit seamlessly with the path mapped out by the Fronnt managers and entrepreneurs. We share the ambition to build Fronnt into a sustainable and innovative player in the ecosystem of multifunctional installations and energy transition”.

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Statsbygg, which manages most of the Norwegian government’s property portfolio, has selected HENT as the general contractor for the construction of the Norwegian Ocean Technology Centre Wing B. The project is a partnering project and one of Norway’s most unique construction projects.

HENT and Statsbygg are now entering the partnering phase of the project in preparation for the start of construction towards the end of the first quarter of 2024. The new Norwegian Ocean Technology Centre, which is expected to be completed in 2027, will play an important role in the green transition. It will help to secure Norway’s position as a leading port nation through the development and transformation of the local, national and international maritime industry. The centre will include a 300-metre-long ocean basin building measuring approximately 25,000 square metres, and that is what HENT is now building.

“It is gratifying that HENT has been awarded yet another important contract for the construction of critical infrastructure and another landmark in Norway. We will also do our utmost to uphold the confidence once again shown in HENT by Statsbygg. This is a complex project that requires considerable experience and an extraordinary partnering ability. It will be great to get started,” says Christian Johansson Gebauer, Chairman of the Board of HENT and President, Business Area Construction & Services, Ratos.

The centre will house office premises, meeting rooms and an underground parking garage as well as wet and dry laboratories, which in turn will house two ocean basin facilities. Working together with the equipment suppliers for the basin laboratories will be an important component of the partnering phase.

“We are very proud to have been awarded this contract. The facility will be a world leader in its area and is an important acknowledgment for HENT. It feels particularly gratifying to be able to contribute to Trondheim’s development since HENT has its roots and head office there. The Norwegian Ocean Technology Centre will be an important building for Norway, and we look forward to beginning the partnering phase and creating a solid foundation for implementing the project,” says Jan Jahren, CEO of HENT.

The projects carried out by the companies in Ratos’s Construction & Services business area mainly comprise infrastructure maintenance and commercial buildings, with very limited exposure to housing construction (<5% of net sales).

For more information, please contact:
Josefine Uppling, VP Communication, Ratos, +46 76 114 54 21
Endre Persen, VP Communication, HENT, +47 916 89 929

About Ratos
Ratos is a business group consisting of 16 companies divided into three business areas: Construction & Services, Consumer and Industry. The companies have approximately SEK 32 billion in net sales (LTM). Our business concept is to own and develop companies that are or can become market leaders. We have a distinct corporate culture and strategy – everything we do is based on our core values: Simplicity, Speed in execution and It’s All About People. We enable independent companies to excel by being part of something larger. People, leadership, culture and values are key focus areas.

Vestia Construction Group (Vestia) has signed a contract with the City of Mölndal for the new construction of Västerberg School and Bifrost Preschool in Mölndal. Västerberg School will accommodate 570 pupils from the age of six to 12 (Year F–6) in 9,500-square-metre premises including a full-size sports hall and is scheduled to be completed in March 2025. Bifrost Preschool will be the largest preschool in northern Europe with 14 classes housed in 4,200 square metres. Two classes will be specifically tailored for children with functional diversity and two will be open preschool classes offering activities for children who are not yet enrolled in preschool. The preschool will be completed in December 2024.

Västerberg School and Bifrost Preschool are part of the Lyftet programme, a strategic partnership between the City of Mölndal as the developer and Vestia as the general contractor. The programme includes eight projects: preschools, schools, and education centres. The ground was broken in December 2022 for the extensive refurbishment and extension of Building C at Almås School in Lindome, which is also part of the programme.

“Ratos’s construction companies are building a sustainable society by constructing sustainable commercial real estate and providing the state and municipalities with buildings that are important for society. We are very proud that we have been entrusted to build these schools in Mölndal. It is important to help provide a good environment for children and young people,” says Christian Johansson Gebauer, Chairman of the board of SSEA Group, which includes Vestia, and President, Business Area Construction & Services, Ratos.

In total, Västerberg School, Bifrost Preschool and Almås Building C entail a contract cost/order intake of SEK 669m for Vestia.

“The strategic partnership between the City of Mölndal and Vestia means that we are now initiating three additional school projects. It is incredibly gratifying to see how our strong partnership in 2022 has now resulted in the start of production for future school premises in the municipality,” says Christian Wieland, CEO of SSEA Group, which includes Vestia.

As part of the Lyftet programme, the refurbishment of Building H and Building L at Fässberg School has been completed, and at Stretered School one building is being refurbished and planning of another is in progress. Future projects will be carried out at Hålsten Preschool, Östergård School and Rävekärr School.

About the school projects

–          Developer: City of Mölndal

–          General contractor: Vestia Construction Group

–          Architect: Liljewall

–          Size: Västerberg School, gross area 9,500 square metres; Bifrost Preschool, gross area 4,200 square metres; Almås Building C, gross area 4,100 square metres

–          Contract cost: SEK 669m

About SSEA Group

SSEA Group is a Swedish construction group with operations throughout the country. The Group contributes to building sustainable communities. The focus for the operations is projects with implementation in collaboration/partnering where the customer’s most important priorities are high on the agenda. The group has the two subsidiaries: Vestia and SSEA AB.

För mer information, vänligen kontakta:
Josefine Uppling, VP, Communication, Ratos, +46 76 114 54 21, josefine.uppling@ratos.com
 

About Ratos

Ratos is a business group consisting of 16 companies divided into three business areas: Construction & Services, Consumer and Industry. The companies have approximately SEK 30 billion in net sales (LTM). Our business concept is to own and develop companies that are or can become market leaders. We have a distinct corporate culture and strategy – everything we do is based on our core values: Simplicity, Speed in execution and It’s All About People. We enable independent companies to excel by being part of something larger. People, leadership, culture and values are key focus areas.