Swedish private equity firm Ratos said that it is selling its 70% stake in data and analytics company Bisnode to US business analytics firm Dun & Bradstreet.

Dun & Bradstreet will pay SEK7.2 billion ($807m) in cash and stock for Bisnode, with Ratos’s stake corresponding to an equity value of SEK3.9 billion.

Ratos said 75% of the equity value comprises cash, with the remaining 25% in shares, giving Ratos a 1% stake in New York Stock Exchange-listed Dun & Bradstreet, worth around SEK1 billion. In addition, Ratos will receive a dividend from Bisnode during the fourth quarter of 2020 amounting to SEK175 million.

Following the completion of the deal, expected by early 2021, Ratos chief executive Jonas Wistrom will join the Dun & Bradstreet International Strategic Advisory Board.

Bisnode’s business operations in Belgium won’t be sold as part of the deal though as it differs sharply from Bisnode’s other operations and doesn’t offer synergy opportunities for Dun & Bradstreet. Ratos said the enterprise value of Bisnode’s Belgian operations is SEK42 million and it will divest the business separately.

Swedish media group Bonnier is also selling its 30% stake in Bisnode to Dun & Bradstreet.

Source: Private Equity News

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