Mont Blanc Group and Automaxi merge

Mont Blanc Group AB, manufacturer of roof racks, roof bars, bicycle carriers, roof boxes and accessories,

acquired Access Auto Investissement SAS (France) which holds the company Automaxi

International (France) and its subsidiary Automaxi Roumanie. It operates under the

Automaxi brand name and is mainly active in France and Southern Europe within roof

racks, bike racks and other accessories. In 2010, the company has had a turnover of

12 million Euros and currently employs over 100 employees in two manufacturing

units: St. Malo, France and Brasov, Romania. The management of the acquired company

will become part-owner of the Mont Blanc Group as part of the transaction.

Automaxi, with its headquarters in the French city of St. Malo, was founded in 1955. The

company operates on the aftermarket and has sales in 20 countries. The company mainly

exports to Southern Europe, but sales are also made to other countries in Europe.

Together with Mont Blanc's units in Sweden and England and the logistics centre in Germany, a

strong and flexible partnership with joint sales of over 40 million Euros and 275 employees is

created. Through the acquisition, the Mont Blanc Group will further strengthen its position as

Europe's second largest manufacturer of user friendly load carrying solutions for consumers

who value function, quality and security.

"Through the acquisition, Mont Blanc is strengthening its position as number two on the

aftermarket in Europe. We hope to be able to contribute additional competence within quality

and security for the next generation of aftermarket products," says Per Zaunders, Chairman of

the Board of the Mont Blanc Group.

"Our customers are benefitting from this acquisition by gaining an increased range of high

quality roof racks, bicycle carriers and roof boxes that are well-adapted to the specific

requirements on function, design and security of different markets. Mont Blanc's recognised

strength as a direct supplier to car manufacturers and strong position among several

important customers within the aftermarket in Europe gives Automaxi a solid foundation for

continued expansion," says Jean-Yves Letanoux, Chairman of the Board, Access Auto SAS.

"Automaxi is a French company that has orientated and successfully adapted itself to

production that makes effective use of resources and created a strong offer for several key

customers on the French market.  Our ambition with this acquisition is, together with the

management and the employees of the acquired company, to increase the growth on existing

and new markets through continued cost-effectiveness and a broader offer of good product

solutions to common and new customers," says Per Ekholm, CEO of Mont Blanc Group AB.