Questions and answers about Storskogen
Here you will find questions and answers about how Storskogen's focus on small and medium-sized businesses lays the foundation for long-term growth, operational resilience and attractive returns.
About Storskogen
1. What is Storskogen?
Storskogen is an international group of businesses across trade, industry and services. With a long-term ownership horizon, Storskogen acquires and develops leading small and medium-sized businesses in selected industries.
The name Storskogen, meaning large forest in Swedish, reflects permanence and diversification— qualities we value as a long-term owner.
2. When and why was Storskogen founded?
Storskogen was founded by entrepreneurs in Sweden in 2012, with the aim of acquiring and developing stable, cash-generating small and medium-sized businesses in need of a long-term owner. The founders saw an opportunity to build a diversified business group based on long-term ownership and reinvestment of cash flows.
3. What is Storskogen’s vision?
Our vision is to be the leading international owner of small and medium-sized businesses.
4. How is Storskogen’s business group structured today?
As of Q1 2025, we own 113 business units with operations in around 30 countries. These units are organised into three business areas - Industry, Services and Trade - each positioned to benefit from global megatrends such as digitalisation, sustainability and automation.
5. How many people work at Storskogen?
Approximately 11,000 people are employed across our business units, with 19 in corporate functions and 55 employees in our finance and business area organisation (numbers updated November 2024).
Business model and strategy
1. What is Storskogen’s business model?
We acquire and develop small and medium-sized businesses with proven business models and strong cash flows. By reinvesting the cash generated by our business group into acquisitions and organic growth initiatives, we aim to create a resilient business group and sustain a continuous cycle of profitable growth.
More information on Storskogen's strategy (excerpt from annual report in pdf).
2. Why does Storskogen focus on small and medium-sized businesses?
Small and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of local economies and represent an evergreen investment opportunity. In Europe alone, there are more than 230,000 companies with 50–250 employees and annual sales below EUR 50 million — many with untapped potential for long-term attractive returns, growth and value creation.
3. How do small and medium-sized businesses benefit from being part of Storskogen?
Many small and medium-sized businesses face challenges such as succession planning, limited access to long-term capital, and difficulties navigating areas such as digitalisation, international expansion and sustainability. As part of Storskogen, these businesses gain access to strategic support, capital, and a broad network of peer companies. This enables knowledge-sharing, operational improvements and long-term development — all while maintaining their entrepreneurial spirit through a decentralised ownership model.
4. How is the business group managed and how is value created in acquired companies?
We apply a model of decentralised yet active ownership. Business units retain their operational independence and entrepreneurial freedom while gaining access to capital, strategic support, governance and best-practice sharing throughout the wider group.
Value creation stems from this balance: business units receive tailored support so they can achieve operational efficiency, drive growth and realise their full potential.
5. How does Storskogen's decentralised ownership model work in practice?
Each business unit manages day-to-day operations independently, led by teams closest to their customers and markets. Storskogen complements this with active ownership through board representation, structured follow-ups, and regular dialogue.
We work closely with management to support, challenge, and evaluate leadership, ensuring each business has the conditions needed for long-term success. Support is tailored to each unit’s needs and may include strategic guidance, capital, and expertise in finance, operations, and succession planning.
6. Why does Storskogen own many different types of companies?
Diversification across Industry, Services and Trade helps us achieve profitable growth. It reduces risk, smooths performance across business cycles, and gives us flexibility to pursue the best opportunities — regardless of sector. This approach supports both resilience and long-term value creation.
7. What drives the success of Storskogen's business model?
Storskogen’s success is driven by strong cash flow generation, disciplined capital allocation and a long-term ownership model. Reinvesting cash flows supports organic growth, while maintaining a healthy leverage ratio ensures financial flexibility. Strategic acquisitions — both platform and add-on — play a key role in shaping and strengthening the portfolio.
Financials and performance
1. How does Storskogen make profits?
Storskogen makes a profit through the operational earnings of its business units. The group focuses on stable, cash-generating companies that contribute to group-wide EBITA.
2. What role does divestments play for generating returns?
Storskogen’s commitment to long-term perspective is one of our core values – and we don’t acquire companies with an exit in mind. Over time, there is no guarantee however that all of the business units in the group will align with strategic goals, expectations or financial targets. Divestments may therefore take place if deemed to be in the best interest of the group as a whole.
3. How does Storskogen manage its capital structure and leverage?
The group systematically works to optimise its balance sheet by maintaining a balanced mix of bank and market (bond) financing, with an even maturity profile over time. Currently, there are no significant bond maturities until 2027.
Storskogen aims to maintain a leverage ratio of 2–3x net debt to adjusted EBITDA. At the end of 2024, the ratio stood at 2.3x.
4. What is Storskogen's dividend policy?
Our dividend policy allows for 0–20 percent payout. The final decision is made by the Annual General Meeting based on the Board’s proposal.
Current questions
1. What is your current approach to acquisitions?
We are currently prioritising organic growth and financial consolidation. Acquisitions will resume once leverage is persistently at the lower end of our target range and market conditions are favourable.
2. What is your strategy going forward?
We are focused on profitable growth, capital efficiency, and resilience. This includes a strong emphasis on organic EBITA growth and strategic capital allocation.
3. How is Storskogen affected by tariffs, and what is its exposure in terms of sales in the USA?
In 2024, less than 5 percent of Storskogen’s sales came from the U.S., with about half stemming from our own local production. The direct impact of U.S.-related tariffs is therefore marginal. However, we remain attentive to potential secondary effects from global trade tensions and supply chain disruptions, although it is currently too early to assess their full impact.