Who Owns SKF Group Company?

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Who owns SKF Group?

Understanding a company's ownership is key to grasping its strategy and market influence. A significant development, like the planned separation of SKF Group's Automotive business for a potential Nasdaq Stockholm listing in early 2026, underscores the shifting nature of corporate control and its impact on future growth.

SKF Group, founded in 1907 in Gothenburg, Sweden, has grown into a global leader in bearings, seals, and lubrication systems, serving industries from automotive to aerospace. As of July 23, 2025, its market capitalization is $11.3 billion, with 455 million shares outstanding, reflecting a diverse ownership base.

The ownership of SKF Group is distributed among various institutional investors, individual shareholders, and other entities. This diverse structure is typical for a publicly traded company, with its SKF Group BCG Matrix analysis likely reflecting the performance of its various business segments.

SKF Group was founded on February 16, 1907, in Gothenburg, Sweden, by Sven Gustaf Wingquist. Wingquist, a maintenance engineer, developed the self-aligning ball bearing to address industrial shaft misalignment issues. The initial capital and support for manufacturing came from Gamlestadens Fabriker AB.

Founding Vision

Sven Gustaf Wingquist founded SKF Group to solve persistent bearing wear and inefficiency in industrial settings. His invention of the self-aligning ball bearing was key to this innovation.

Key Invention

The self-aligning ball bearing, patented by Wingquist in Sweden on June 6, 1907, was the technological cornerstone of the company. This invention addressed critical industrial needs.

Initial Backing

Gamlestadens Fabriker AB provided the crucial initial capital and project support for establishing ball bearing manufacturing. Axel Carlander and Knut Johansson Mark were instrumental in this backing.

Leadership Roles

Sven Wingquist served as the first CEO and technical manager of SKF Group. Axel Carlander and Knut Johansson Mark held significant early stakes through their involvement with Gamlestadens Fabriker AB.

Early Expansion

By 1910, SKF Group had grown to 325 employees and established its first international subsidiary in the United Kingdom. The company rapidly expanded into Germany and France by 1909.

Founding Principles

The early vision for SKF Group focused on meeting the universal demand for reliable and efficient bearing solutions. This foundational principle drove its swift international market entry.

The founding of SKF Group was driven by a clear need for improved industrial efficiency, directly addressed by Sven Gustaf Wingquist's innovative self-aligning ball bearing. The early financial backing from Gamlestadens Fabriker AB, with key figures like Axel Carlander and Knut Johansson Mark, was pivotal. This support enabled the company to not only manufacture its groundbreaking product but also to embark on rapid international expansion, establishing a presence in the UK, Germany, and France within its first few years. This early growth trajectory set the stage for SKF Group's future as a global leader, underscoring the importance of its Mission, Vision & Core Values of SKF Group from its inception.

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SKF Group's journey from its inception to its current status as a publicly traded entity has been marked by significant shifts in its ownership landscape. The company's shares have been available on the Nasdaq Nordic exchange since 1914, with American Depository Receipts (ADRs) also traded in the USA, ensuring broad accessibility for investors.

Institutional investors form the largest bloc of SKF Group ownership, collectively holding around 60% of the company's shares as of April 23, 2025. Among these, FAM AB is the most significant single shareholder, maintaining a 15% stake and controlling 29.3% of the voting power. This substantial holding by institutional entities, including pension funds and asset managers, suggests a focus on long-term value. The ownership structure also includes individual investors, who hold smaller but collectively important stakes. In SKF India, for instance, AB SKF holds 45.85%, with mutual funds at 23.1% and Foreign Institutional Investors at 8.22%.

Understanding SKF Group's Share Structure

SKF Group employs a dual-class share system, impacting voting power distribution. This structure is a key element in understanding SKF company ownership.

• Series A shares grant one vote per share.
• Series B shares grant one-tenth of a vote per share.
• As of January 31, 2025, there were 28,938,999 Series A shares and 426,412,069 Series B shares.
• The Wallenberg family holds a dominant 53.99% of the voting rights as of July 2025, underscoring their significant influence over SKF Group's strategic direction.
• This structure ensures that while a broad base of shareholders participate, a concentrated voting power exists, a common feature in many established corporations.

The dual-class share system, where Series A shares carry more voting rights than Series B shares, is a critical aspect of SKF Group's ownership structure. This system means that a smaller number of Series A shares can exert considerable influence. As of January 31, 2025, SKF had 28,938,999 Series A shares and 426,412,069 Series B shares. The Wallenberg family's substantial control, holding 53.99% of the voting rights as of July 2025, highlights their pivotal role in the company's governance. This arrangement is a key factor in who owns SKF and how decisions are made. For a deeper understanding of the company's origins and its evolution, one can refer to the Brief History of SKF Group.

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The Board of Directors at SKF Group is responsible for the company's overall governance and strategic direction. As of 2025, the board comprises members including Hans Stråberg as Chair, Håkan Buskhe and Mats Rahmström as Vice Chairs, alongside other directors and the President and CEO, Rickard Gustafson. Employee representatives also contribute to the board's composition.

SKF Group's voting power is structured through a dual-class share system, where Class A shares hold one vote each, and Class B shares hold one-tenth of a vote. This system grants significant influence to holders of Class A shares. The Wallenberg family, through FAM AB, is a major stakeholder, controlling 53.99% of the voting rights as of July 2025. This concentration of voting power impacts corporate decisions and board elections.

Understanding SKF Group's Voting Power

SKF Group's ownership structure is influenced by its dual-class share system. This system can lead to concentrated voting power among certain shareholders.

• Class A shares have one vote per share.
• Class B shares have one-tenth of a vote per share.
• The Wallenberg family holds significant voting power.
• Recent share conversions have adjusted the total voting rights.

In a move to optimize its share structure, AB SKF announced a conversion of Series A shares to Series B shares, effective January 31, 2025. This resulted in a decrease in the total number of voting rights from 73,272,544.3 to 71,580,205.9. This adjustment could potentially alter the dynamics of shareholder influence and the ease of achieving majority votes on corporate matters, impacting decisions related to board appointments and strategic initiatives. Understanding these shifts is key to grasping the Target Market of SKF Group and its governance.

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What Recent Changes Have Shaped SKF Group’s Ownership Landscape?

Over the past three to five years, SKF Group has undergone significant strategic shifts impacting its ownership landscape. A key development is the planned separation of its Automotive business, with a view to a separate listing on Nasdaq Stockholm in the first half of 2026. This move aims to enhance SKF's focus and capitalize on recovery-driven growth opportunities.

Metric	2024	Q1 2025
Net Revenue	SEK 98.72 billion	SEK 23.966 billion
Adjusted Operating Margin	12.3%	13.5%
R&D Investment	SEK 3.33 billion (3.4% of revenue)	N/A
Renewable Electricity Sourcing	72%	N/A

SKF's financial performance in 2024 showed a net revenue of SEK 98.72 billion, a decrease of 5.4% year-on-year, while maintaining a robust adjusted operating margin of 12.3%. The first quarter of 2025 saw net sales reach SEK 23.966 billion with an improved adjusted operating margin of 13.5%. The aerospace segment has demonstrated particularly strong growth, with a 12% annual sales increase and an 8 percentage point rise in its adjusted operating margin between 2022 and 2025, indicating a positive trend in this sector.

Strategic Business Separation

SKF is actively separating its Automotive business, planning a distinct listing on Nasdaq Stockholm by mid-2026. This strategic initiative is designed to sharpen SKF's focus and unlock growth potential as market demand rebounds.

Share Structure Optimization

As of January 31, 2025, SKF reported adjustments to its total voting rights due to the conversion of Series A shares to Series B shares. This aims to streamline governance and improve shareholder engagement.

Innovation and Sustainability Focus

In 2024, SKF invested SEK 3.33 billion in R&D, representing 3.4% of revenue, with over 90% of projects targeting high-growth markets. The company has also achieved a 59% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions since 2019, surpassing its 2030 target.

Market Performance Insights

The aerospace business has shown robust performance, with a 12% annual sales growth and a significant increase in its adjusted operating margin. This highlights the company's ability to leverage specific market strengths, a topic also explored in the Competitors Landscape of SKF Group.

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