Sweden. Nefab Group AB

The 7-year EUR 50 million loan agreement with Swedish industrial packaging company Nefab Group AB, will support its acquisitions of US PolyFlex Products Inc. and Swiss Cargopack group AG, as well as digitalisation investments from 2023 to 2027.

PolyFlex’s expertise in engineered solutions, prototyping, and manufacturing complements Nefab’s offerings in industrial packaging and logistics. The acquisition provides an opportunity for Nefab to further strengthen its market position in the Americas and in the important lithium-ion battery (LiB) and E-mobility segments.

The acquisition of the industrial packaging company Cargopack group AG in Switzerland will bring Nefab closer to its customers and provide new technical capabilities and business concepts.

In addition to the acquisitions, Nefab has initiated a digital transformation project to enhance efficiency, quality and opportunities, increasing automation across Nefab’s global sites.

With more than 75 years of experience, Nefab offers global solutions and local services worldwide to companies in industries such as telecom, data communication, semiconductors, energy, healthcare equipment, mining and construction, and LiB and E-mobility. Nefab Group has over 4,700 employees across 38 countries. Nefab is owned by the founding family Nordgren/Pihl (50%) and the Wallenberg foundations’ investment holding company FAM AB (50%).

PolyFlex Acquisition:

• The acquisition aims to expand Nefab’s geographic scope, providing access to new markets, technologies, and solutions.
• The acquisition is crucial for strengthening Nefab’s market position in the US lithium-ion battery and E-mobility segment. Polyflex brings leading-edge technologies in material handling and packaging for battery components, aligning with the dynamic demands of customers.

Cargopack Acquisition:

• The acquisition of Cargopack aims to strengthen NEFAB’s business-to-business logistic services and enhance its overall product and service offerings.
• Cargopack brings access to new technical solutions and business concepts, along with immediate entry into a new market and customer base. Cargopack’s expertise will enable NEFAB to capture new business opportunities in both in- and outbound logistics.
• The integration of Cargopack’s logistic service solutions will optimize lead times, storage, and increase flexibility in customer processes, resulting in resource savings.

Digitalization Investments:

• NEFAB has initiated a digital transformation project aimed at enhancing business opportunities, efficiency, responsiveness, and quality.
• The digital transformation involves increasing the level of automation in the supply chain across NEFAB’s global sites. Key functions benefiting from this transformation include virtual test labs, AI engineering, and streamlined sourcing processes.

NIB has not identified any significant environmental issues connected to the loan.