Growing Together: Building Long‑Term Value Through Acquisitions

“At Hultafors Group, we want entrepreneur‑driven businesses to keep their identity and continue doing what they do best,” says Ida Saalman, Chief Financial Officer at Hultafors Group. “Our role is to reinforce, not replace.”

This philosophy has become increasingly important as the pace of acquisitions increases across the industry. Rather than integrating companies into a single, centralized structure, Hultafors Group focuses on preserving what made each business successful in the first place.

Strengthening What Already Works

According to Saalman, long‑term value creation starts with respect for entrepreneurship.

“Strong businesses are built on deep expertise, committed people, and close customer relationships. If you disrupt that, you risk destroying the very value you acquired,” she explains.

This view is shared by Fredrika Ekman, Investment Director at Investment AB Latour, the long‑term owner of Hultafors Group. Latour has played a key role in shaping the Group’s acquisition strategy and governance model over the years.

“Long‑term value is built when strong businesses are allowed to remain strong — with the right support behind them,” says Ekman. “That means giving management teams trust, stability, and the resources they need to develop over time.”

Clear Principles for Sustainable Growth

The way Hultafors Group works with entrepreneurs and their teams is guided by a set of clear principles designed to support both independence and collaboration:

• Maintain independence by ensuring that each company keeps its identity, culture, and brand
• Build on existing strengths by reinforcing what already works, rather than imposing uniform solutions
• Share knowledge across the Group to accelerate innovation and spread best practices
• Take a long‑term perspective, investing in future generations rather than focusing on short‑term results
• Foster trust and transparency, recognizing that strong relationships are the foundation of sustainable growth

Together, these principles form a framework that balances autonomy with the benefits of being part of a larger group.

A New Chapter, Not an Exit

For many entrepreneurs, selling a company can be perceived as the end of a journey. At Hultafors Group, it is viewed differently.

“An acquisition is not the end of an entrepreneur’s journey — it is often the beginning of a stronger one,” says Saalman. “When we become owners, our task is to unlock potential and create stability and opportunity, both for leadership teams and for employees.”

With a long‑term owner in Investment AB Latour and a decentralized operating model, Hultafors Group aims to be a platform where businesses can continue to grow on their own terms — while benefiting from shared experience, financial strength, and a common commitment to professional users.

Image caption:Ida Saalman, Chief Financial Officer of Hultafors Group to the right,together with Fredrika Ekman, Investment Director at Investment AB Latour, who has played an integral role in leading transactions for Hultafors Group in recent years.