Börje Svenby

"Åkerlund backed down when faced with a done deal. However, the issue was not resolved with this. Åkerlund definitely wanted to get rid of his bond commitments totaling 700,000 kronor. And Ruben wanted to get rid of Erik Åkerlund’s option to avoid future problems. Therefore, a series of negotiations began that were only resolved in 1937 when the bank director Richard Julin, who was responsible for Åkerlund & Rausing’s credits at Enskilda Banken, stepped in as a mediator. The settlement consisted of the bank approving Åkerlund & Rausing’s loans of 700,000 kronor to remain, against publishing mortgages in the company. At the same time, the bank took over loans from Åkerlund to the company totaling 500,000 kronor on the condition that Ruben, Holger Crafoord, and Börje Svenby provided guarantees for the money. In addition, Ruben had a personal debt to Erik Åkerlund of 400,000 kronor for his share of the shares. This debt was also resolved through loans in the bank. Shares in the company were given as security. Against a commission of 50,000 kronor, Enskilda Banken had saved Ruben’s business."

"The foremost manufacturers of printing presses were located in Germany at this time, which is why Holger and Börje Svenby went there to negotiate among others. Quite soon, they discovered that they could exploit the Nazi regime’s export subsidies by moving back and forth between competing manufacturers and presenting new offers of lower prices. The sellers then turned to the government to get increased subsidies, which was also approved. In the end, they had arranged brand new presses for the company but at a price that was far below the market value. Enskilda Banken, in other words, did not have to finance the new presses. The German state did instead."

"Ruben thus decided to give the two young men the option to buy into the company. They would be allowed to do so as soon as he had gotten rid of the troublesome Erik Åkerlund. Now was the time. Holger was appointed deputy CEO and deputy chairman of the board and got to buy 20 percent and Börje Svenby ten percent of the shares in the company. Six years later, when Svenby switched to PLM in Malmö, Holger and Ruben divided his shares. Eventually, Holger owned 25 percent in Åkerlund & Rausing."