The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

Nissan Completes Acquisition of Sweden's ATLET AB


PHOTO

TOKYO - October 17, 2007: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. announced today the completion of its acquisition of ATLET AB on 16th through its subsidiary, Nissan Forklift Europe B.V., following approval from the European Commission.

Mr. Toshio Aoki, General Manager of Industrial Machinery Division at Nissan Motor, is appointed as new chairman of the board at ATLET while Mr. Keiji Ikeda of Nissan Motor is appointed as new CEO at ATLET. Both will be based at the ATLET headquarters in Mölnlycke, Sweden.

Nissan Forklift's key markets include Europe, USA, Japan and other global markets. Nissan Forklift's main products are engine and battery powered counterbalanced forklifts. Atlet has a strong presence in Europe, its main market, and is also experiencing growth in emerging markets.

The agreement will allow both companies to benefit from the exchange of technology and manufacturing know-how. In addition, joint purchasing opportunities are expected to improve cost competitiveness.

Combined, the companies produce more than 36,500 units worldwide a year with an annual turnover of 858 million euros. Both brands and sales networks will be operated separately in the market.

Nissan Forklift Europe B.V. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., and is part of Nissan Motor's industrial machinery division. Nissan Motor's Industrial Machinery Division produces material handling products and is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

    
    Outline of Nissan Motor's Industrial Machinery Division

    Headquarters:                        Tokyo, Japan
    Start of forklift production:        1957
    Production facilities:               Japan, USA and Spain
    Sales:                               EUR 676mil
    Production:                          30,000 units
    Number of Employees:                 Approx. 1,400 (including 
                                         subsidiaries)

    Outline of ATLET AB

    Atlet was founded 49 years ago by Knut Jacobsson and since then, this
    family-owned business has provided new and innovative solutions for the
    internal material handling market.

    Headquarters:                    Mölnlycke, Sweden
    Operations:                      Development, manufacturing and sales 
                                     of warehouse material handling equipment
    Start of production:             1958
    Sales:                           SEK 1,685.8 million /EUR 182mil
    Production:                      6,500 units
    Number of Employees:             Approx 1,000 (including subsidiaries)