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BE Group - where it all started
In 1868 Starckjohann & Co was founded in Viborg, Finland (today Russia), by Peter Starckjohann. Shortly thereafter in 1885, Hans and Jöns Edstrand founded Bröderna Edstrand in Malmö, Sweden. Both companies have right from the start been active in steel, metals and connecting business nationwide (Sweden and Finland).
The Finnish operations 1940s-1970s
As Finland was drawn into the Second World War, Starckjohann moved their main office and operations to Lahti in 1940. In the 1960s Starckjohann diversified into other business areas such as, cars, shipping and building materials. 1976 pre-processing of steel and metals was introduced in Finland by Starckjohann.
The Swedish operations 1980s-1990s
1988 Trelleborg AB bought Bröderna Edstrand. After four generations the Edstrand family left the company. In 1992 the operations of Bröderna Edstrand was centralized to one company and all the regional subsidiaries disappeared.
Expansion of the operations in the 1990s
During the 1990s Bröderna Edstrand expanded their business by establishing business units in Denmark, Poland, Latvia and Lithuania.
Expansion of the Finnish operations in the 1990s
As a measure to expand their business within stainless steel and aluminium Starckjohann Steel bought Mercantile in 1996. In the mid 90’s operations in Estonia were established. In 1999 one of the most modern steel service centres in Europe was established by Starckjohann Steel in Lahti, Finland.
The establishment of the Bröderna Edstrand Group, 1999-
1999 Nordic Capital became majority owner with 51 % of the shares in both Bröderna Edstrand and Starckjohann Steel. The two companies with their subsidiaries around the Baltic Sea were merged and BE Group was established. In the fall of 2003 the Group established a subsidiary in the Czech Republic, continuing the European expansion. 2004 Nordic Capital acquired the rest of the shares in the company and became the sole owner of BE Group.
Expansion within BE Group New Markets
The business area New Markets is rapidly growing to strengthen BE Group's position in Eastern Europe. 2004 the group estrablished a subsidiary in Slovakia. In January 2006 BE Group established its own business unit in St Petersburg.
BE Group AB (publ) becomes a listed company
BE Group was listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange on November 24, 2006. The market showed an enthusuastic welcome to the group and the IPO was over-subscrited eleven times.
Same Corporate Brand on all markets
During 2007 BE Group changed the names of all subsidiaries and launched a corporate brand for the entire group.
BE Group present in China
2007 BE Group opened a representative office in Shang Hai.
Acquisitions in Central and Eastern Europe
In 2007 BE Group acquires CzechProfil in the Czech Republic. The year after, BE Group acquires Ferram Steel, situated in Ostrava, Czech Republic . At the same time BE Group starts up its new logistics centre in Ostrava, for distribution to customers in all markets. The company heavily increases its capacity in the region.
2007 förvärvar BE Group CzechProfil i Tjeckien. Året därefter fortsätter man på samma spår och växer kraftigt i regionen genom att förvärva Ferram Steel som ligger i Ostrava i östra Tjeckien. Nu startar också BE Group sitt nya logistikcenter som försörjer kunder på alla marknader.
Joint venture on the Swedish market - ArcelorMittal BE Group
In 2008 BE Group forms a joint venture within thin sheets and coils with ArcelorMittal CCS AB.
Acquisitions 2010-2011
2010 BE Group acquires the steel construction company Lecor Stålteknik AB in Sweden. 2011 BE Group acquires the Swedish metal processing group RTS. RTS maintains operations in Eskilstuna, Sweden and Rapla, Estonia, as well as a smaller-scale trading operation in Romania.