Nissan buys Atlet
October 1st 2007 Nissan Forklift cemented its
relationship with Atlet by
buying the Swedish
warehouse truck
manufacturer in September.
Although subject to EU
approval, the firm is
confident the deal will be
formalised by the year end.
Atlet has been making
warehouse trucks for Nissan
since 2002, and at the sharp
end, the acquisition will have
little impact upon the
businesses, which will
operate independently of
each other. Both parties will
benefit from combined R&D
and buying power.
Brendon Sparks, Nissan's
director for Industrial
Machinery in the UK, says
the move is a "statement of
Nissan's intention to
continue the expansion of its
materials handling business".
Paul Forster, UK md of
Atlet, says "the synergies will
be very positive", and that
there was an "inevitability"
that the Swedish firm,
formed just after Nissan's
forklift business some 49
years ago, would become
incorporated. "It's a fantastic
achievement for Knut
Jacobsson to remain owner
of the company for so long,
but it was a question of
when and with whom rather
than if. It's a very good
outcome for Atlet, Nissan
and our customers."
Forster says Atlet is
currently in line for 10-12%
growth on last year.
Combined, the companies
produce more than 36,500
units a year with an annual
turnover of 858million euros. More articles from Nissan Motor (GB) Limited: | 
