The Pervan family – majority shareholder of Välinge Innovation and full owner of Bjelin – has agreed with Kirkbi A/S, minority shareholder of Välinge, on the terms of merging Välinge and Bjelin to one group of companies – the Välinge Bjelin Group.
The main reason for the merger is to create synergies between the companies and to facilitate cooperation throughout the organisation. This will streamline all business operations and be beneficial for knowledge and competence exchange within the group. The aim is to, on all levels, create a solid and efficient structure to support further expansion and development and to prepare the global group for the planned initial public offering [IPO] ahead.
Pervanovo Invest – controlled by the Pervan family – will be the majority owner of the merged group. They will hold around 70 percent of the company’s share capital, giving them a strong control stock and a deciding voice in all organisational matters – a position the Pervan family plans to keep long-term. Darko Pervan, founder of both Välinge Innovation and Bjelin, will be Chairman of the Board for the new Välinge Bjelin Group and Niclas Håkansson will be appointed group CEO and will lead the merged organisation together with the existing Välinge management team located at the Swedish head office. Mr. Håkansson has been working at Välinge since 2003 and has served as acting CEO since 2011.
There will be two divisions within the merged group, both with separate management teams. Led by Per Nygren, Välinge Innovation will continue to handle all technologies and the licensing business. Bjelin Innovation, led by Sebastian Vrbanc will include all industrial activities, handle raw material, production, and product sales. The Croatian organisation will operate under the Bjelin division and will be led by Stjepan Vojinić. The Välinge Bjelin Group will continue to have a strong global structure and each country will have its own country manager in charge of local activities.
The group has a distinct growth ambition and the extensive investments in both organisation and production capacity already made will continue ahead. The aim is to further strengthen the role as an industry leader in innovations, R&D and licensing and to take a global, leading role in all parts concerning production and sales within certain categories of flooring and furniture.
Management is committed to, without delay, adapt the new business structure and ensure efficient ways of working within the merged organisation. Further details and information will be shared along the way.
Välinge Bjelin Group
Estimated group turnover: Above 400 M€ for 2023
Total number of employees: About 2 500
CEO: Mr. Niclas Håkansson
Chairman: Mr. Darko Pervan
Välinge Bjelin Group – global facilities
Sweden: Head office, R&D, support centre, production, sales and showrooms. Around 300 employees.
Croatia: Seven large production sites containing the full value chain – from sawmill to ready-made flooring and furniture products and semi-finished components. Sales, showroom and all business-related functions. Around 2 150 employees.
China: Technical support centre, sales, business development and all business-related functions. Around 20 employees.
US, Denmark, Norway, Finland, France, UK: Product sales companies. In total around 25 employees.
