Almedahl-Dalsjöfors

"My analyses of the prospective companies gave me a wish list. We wanted an ownership position in the rubber company Trelleborg for its stable operations, and therefore good dividends, to live on, furthermore the undervalued Boliden and Ahlsell to turn them around, and the majority of the security company Securitas for future long-term development. It would also be good to have an option on the skilled textile company Almedahl-Dalsjöfors. We also wanted a debenture to manage the financing. We would release all shares in Herakles, which essentially then became a cash reserve, or as Robert Weil's partner and CEO of Proventus, Gabriel Urwitz, put it: a financial muscle. We would not argue with each other going forward."

"In addition to the "heavy holdings" in Trelleborg, Boliden, and Securitas, Hevea had also acquired a significant ownership in the diversified investment company Almedahl-Dalsjöfors, with textile and other operations in subsidiaries and a stock portfolio. It seemed rather dull, but the CEO, Göran Sundblad, probably thought I should take a closer look at the company. We obtained two board positions and began to investigate. The more we saw, the more enamored we became. Particularly, the textile manager Göran Wirenstam immediately sparked our strong interest. He had spent his entire life working in constant challenging conditions and managed to defy the textile crisis that had virtually wiped out the entire industry in Sweden. Through continuous restructuring, wise investments, and constant adaptation upwards in the value chain, he had managed to retain manufacturing in Sweden. It was an incredible survival ability, and the company had always been profitable."