Public (Nasdaq Stockholm: KINV B) | |
Founded | 1936 |
Founders | Hugo Stenbeck, Wilhelm Klingspor, Robert Von Horn |
Headquarters | , Sweden |
Key people
|
Cristina Stenbeck, Principal Owner Tom Boardman, Chairman Joakim Andersson, Acting CEO, CFO |
Revenue | SEK 1.129 billion (2015) |
Website | www.kinnevik.se |
Kinnevik AB (Swedish pronunciation: [ɕɪnɛˈviːk]) is a Swedish investment company that was founded in 1936 by the Stenbeck, Klingspor and von Horn families.
Kinnevik is an active and long-term owner and its investments are made primarily in technology-based services aimed at consumers.
Kinnevik holds significant stakes in about 30 companies operating across five continents in more than 80 countries, with a particular focus on growth markets. The largest holdings are Zalando, Millicom, Tele2, Global Fashion Group and MTG.
Kinnevik’s largest shareholder is Verdere S.á.r.l., which is jointly owned by Cristina Stenbeck and the Estate of Max Stenbeck.
Kinnevik was founded as an investment company in 1936 by Robert von Horn, Wilhelm Klingspor and Hugo Stenbeck. The most important holdings when the company started were Mellersta Sveriges Lantbruks AB, Lidköpings Konfektyr Industri AB and Korsnäs Sågverks AB. The company grew quickly through share purchases and acquisitions of companies that included chocolate manufacturers Nordiska Suchard and Halmstads Järnverk.
The company’s aggressive acquisition strategy of Swedish industrial companies continued during Kinnevik’s first decades. The ownership structure of the investment company changed as Hugo Stenbeck gradually increased his holdings.
Kinnevik became a listed company and obtained additional capital in a new share issue in 1954. The first shares in Sandvikens Järnverk were purchased a few years after entering the stock market. Hugo Stenbeck replaced Wilhelm Klingspor as chairman of Kinnevik in the early 1960s. Shortly thereafter, Hugo Stenbeck’s oldest son, Hugo Stenbeck Jr, became managing director of the company.
Hugo Stenbeck Jr died in 1976 and his younger brother, Jan Hugo Stenbeck, joined Kinnevik’s management team. Hugo Stenbeck Sr died in 1977.