Sweden – INBETS

Who can help with a business transfer?

A number of organizations in Sweden provide advisory services and support for business transfers.
Some services are free of charge while other charge fees.

Guides for business transfer
Some organizations offer free guides and tips about business transfers.
• Download Almi`s guide about buying a business.
• Download Ludvig & Co´s step by step guide for transferring a family business to the next generation.
• Danskebank offers guides and tips about preparations for a business transfer.
• Företagarna offers tips about the business transfer process.
• Verksamt.se offers information about buying a business. They also have information about selling a sole trader business (enskild näringsverksamhet), trading partnership company (handelsbolag) and a limited liability company (aktiebolag).
• LandshypetekBank offers tips about transferring a family business to the next generation.

General support
Almi, Nyföretagarcentrum, and Connect Sverige support SMEs and can help with a business transfer. They also provide webinars, training, and information meetings about selling and buying businesses.
• Almi
• Nyföretagarcentrum
• Connect Sverige

Legal and financial support
Most banks and audit firms can provide support with law, tax, and finance issues during business transfers.

Supports sellers and successors:
• Swedbank
• Nordea
• PWC

Supports sellers:
• Ludvig & Co
• SEB
• Handelsbanken

Mergers & Acquisitions Companies
M&A Companies advise and support the selling and buying processes during business transfers.
• Carnegie
• Censor
• Ekenberg & Andersson
• Euc
• Excore
• Exitpartner
• Freja partner
• HDR partners
• Länia
• Svensk företagsförmedling

Finding businesses for sale
Several sites show available business, properties, and land for sale.
• Bolagsplatsen is Sweden´s biggest marketplace for business transfers.
• Svensk företagsförmedling is another big marketplace for business transfers.
• Objektvision shows available companies, properties, and land for sale in Sweden.
• Blocket is a selling and buying site. Companies can post an ad that their company is for sale and potential buyers can post an ad that they are looking for a specific business to buy.
• Exitpartner shows available companies for sale and buyers that have requests for specific businesses.
• Länia shows available companies for sale.
• Ludvig & Co provides forestry and agricultural properties and businesses for sale in Sweden.
• Euc specializes in business transfers in the café, restaurant, hotel and retail industry.

Business transfers within the agriculture and farming sector
Some organizations are specialized in advisory business transfers in the agriculture and farming sector.
• LandshypotekBank is specialized in agriculture and forestry. They finance investments and entrepreneurial advancements that will develop the countryside.
• Hushållningssällskapet is an NGO that supports agricultural economic development in Sweden. They offer legal advice to farmers.
• Ludvig & Co provides legal and financial advisory when transferring a family business to the next generation.

Book recommendations
There are several books in Swedish about business transfers.

Framgångsrika ägarskiften
(2018) by Satish Sen and Roland Dansell
När företaget går vidare i familjen: Guide till ett lyckat generationsskifte
(2018) by Annika Hall
Tillväxt till salu
Excore
Ägarskifte och generationsskifte: i företag och lantbruk
(2020) by David Gustafsson and Björn Lundén
Handbok för generationsskifte: familjen, samtalen och den personliga vägen till beslut

(2017) by Erik Hedblad

Podcasts recommendations
There are several podcasts in Swedish that discuss business transfers.

Exitpodden – En podd för dig som ska sälja ditt företag
Styrelsepodden – Avsnittt 15: Framgångsrika ägarskiften med Roland Dansell och Satish Sen
Företagarpodden – Avsnitt 95: Köpa företag – så funkar det!
LRF Podden – Avsnitt: Ägarskifte
Landet – Avsnitt 3: Banker och ägarskiften
Mitt lantbruk – Avsnitt 19: Panelsamtal om ägarskifte från Borgeby fältdagar

This list can also be downloaded as a pdf – please click on the image below to download the file.

Cases from Sweden

- Anonymous – SE
  Transfer description The business started as a project where one of the goals was to make an exit. In the year 2012, the company needed capital to finance the company’s next stage of development. Regarding the options, they either wanted a venture capital firm or finding a buyer. The successor was found in the company. It is a company specializing in buying other companies. Because of that the buying company has a department that is continuously scanning the market for potential companies to buy. Representatives of the two companies also met in different situations and thus the information about the prospective sale reached the buyer. They used an earnout model where the successor paid the first 72% in 2013 and the remaining 28% in 2016. This was to animate the shareholders to continue to do a good job and help the company continue to grow even after the transfer. The previous owners and all remained in the company. In 2016 when the business transfer was closed only two of the previous owners stopped working in the company. All other persons remained. The people in charge started thinking about the transfer and in the next step preparing the company for sale in early 2011. The discussion about identifying potential prospects (i.e. a buyer or a venture capital firm) started in Q3 2012. In May 2013, the last paperwork with the successor was completed and in 2016 100% was paid for the company and the deal was closed. It was a challenge to identify a potential buyer. Initially, they were looking for a venture capital firm. Additionally, it was hard for a relatively small company to find suitable contacts and create enough interest from potential investors. No, the planning of the new services to be provided was already under way before the transfer. Yet, the new ownership created a more comfortable and safe feeling to really make the efforts. The launching of the new services also went faster. When you have a growth-oriented mind set you are focusing on buyers/professional investors that are bigger than your company. This situation makes the former owners an underdog when it comes to aspects such as financing and knowledge. The former owner, therefore, recommends persons who plan to sell their companies to include a specialist in the negotiations. Otherwise, it will be an uneven starting point. The due diligence process was about 2-2,5 months and the seller explains that this process puts pressure on their organization since all information about the selling company it brought up. Everything needs to be transparent which could create a great pressure on the company. Therefore, the seller recommends other companies that are about to sell to be well prepared for marketing their company, i.e. to make it look as attractive as possible for the potential buyer. This includes the provision of solid financial figures as well as strong intangible values (such as a strong brand, well trained personnel) to show potential new owners the value they will get by buying the company. The seller also says that you should be prepared that the entire business transfer process takes time, especially if you have a growth plan that requires significant financial capital. This means that you will need to have available sufficient financial capital to make sure both 1) that the company can continue to grow and 2) that you can look for potential buyers who are willing to invest in the company’s continued growth. You don’t want end up in a situation where you are forced to sell the company at a low(er) price just because you run out of money before you find the right buyer. Facts PreviousCurrentOwnerAbout 50 different shareholders, i.e. mix of founder employees and business angelsAnonymousLegal form of the company LtdLtdNumber of employees 4598 BrandModel of transferInvolved institutionCountryAnonymous5 Transfer to another companyLawyer to write up contractSweden…
- Martins Gräv AB
  Transfer description While participating in an accelerating program for making companies grow, Martin and Lena realized that they were too old to make all the investments and efforts that would be needed to keep growing. Instead, they decided to sell their company since the company had already increased in turnover during the accelerating program. At first, they wanted someone from inside to take over of the company (i.e. internal succession), but no one was interested. Their second thought was to sell the company to another company they had in mind, but the process dragged on and a deal was never closed. Then they met a representative of another larger company when delivering goods and by chance they started talking about their company and their plan to transfer it. This other company was immediately interested, and the succession/transfer process started. The new owner could draw on many years of experience in running a company. To increase the likelihood that the company’s values and previous owners’ knowledge etc. could be transferred to the new owner, the previous owner is remaining in the company for at least 6 months. The process is ongoing as the interview is held. The previous employees are also remaining in the company. The overall process from deciding to sell the company until the previous owner finally can leave the company will take approximately two and a half years.The paper work to make the transfer happen took two months. The former owner was very well prepared and did not find it challenging. From the sellers’ side, perhaps, most challenging is the mental preparedness to sell your company to someone else. No innovation, but a new way of working and making the daily work more efficient. The former owner recommended the successor to start using more digital tools to make the work easier for the employees and the new owner. This was software that helps manage and log activities in the company and it was implemented at ones. Lessons learned: Be honest, transparent and well prepared as a seller when you meet with the successor and his/her legal representative. This will shorten the process. Prepare yourself mentally for the sale a long time before you take the fundamental step, at least two years. It will mean a big change and may turn out being emotionally tough. It is a big change to sell the company you have started and worked in for a long time. You must be 100% sure that you want to sell. You should involve individuals or organizations specializing in business transfers to master relevant aspects such as legal and economic issues Facts PreviousCurrentOwnerMartin Ivarsson & Lena IvarssonHylte transport ABLegal form of the company LtdLtdNumber of employees 1032 (no new people were hired but because two companies were combined into one, the number of employees increased). BrandModel of transferInvolved institutionCountryMartins Gräv5 Transfer to another companyThey worked with a consultant from ”LRF consult – business support organization” who the sellers met through the business accelerator program. They also involved the company’s accountant in the process. The previous owner claims that companies often contact a business broker who takes a percent of the sale profit. They did not, but instead they worked together with LRF and the accountant on an hourly basis. This reduced the costs of the business transfer process.Sweden…

Partners – SE

- University of Skövde
- Drivhuset

Who can help with a business transfer?

This list can also be downloaded as a pdf – please click on the image below to download the file.

Baltic Sea Academy e.V.

INTERREG Baltic sea region