Ratos to acquire Plantasjen for NOK1.2bn.

Ratos, a private equity company has agreed to acquire Plantasjen, the Nordic region's leading chain store for plants and gardening accessories for NOK1.2bn ($148m). "Plantasjen's leading market position, strong brand and product offering in a market with stable growth is highly attractive. We anticipate continued high potential for increased sales in both current garden centres and the new investments in smaller, more centrally located stores. The company is currently working to sharpen its focus on its range of plant products, in order to meet the increased interest in plants and cultivation, which we consider to be a successful strategy for continued growth in value. Our experience in driving growth in consumer companies, combined with the company's strong management and ambitious business plan, makes this a particularly interesting investment for Ratos." Lars Johansson, Ratos CEO.