Sterner Strengthens international investment with new co-owner

CEO Sterner Group Kim David Lid and founder Bjarne Pettersen

PRESS RELEASE

The recognized Austrian entrepreneur and investor Erich Erber (69) has bought 49 percent of the shares in Norway-based Sterner Group for NOK 350 million.

Erber is a resident in Singapore. Since the 1980s, he has founded and developed several companies in animal health, feed and vaccination.

Sterner is a highly interesting group. In addition to having a strong position in water purification and aquaculture in Norway, the company possess the technology and ambitions that enable them to take positions in new areas internationally, says Erber.

Erber is the main owner of SAN Group in Singapore. The company was founded in 2020 after Erber sold his group, Erber Group. To the multinational Dutch company Royal DSM.

Aims for growth
The fresh capital that has been invested enables a more offensive international investment in RAS facilities, as well as purification of drinking water and wastewater. In addition, several new hires are planned in Norway to further strengthen the position in water purification.

At the end of the first quarter, the company had an order book of more than NOK 200 million, and the demands for Sterner’s solutions is growing sharply.

We are incredibly pleased to have an enthusiastic owner with extensive international experience and an impressive career on board. This strengthens Sterner’s opportunities for international investment. The new owner adds valuable knowledge and industrial perspective that strengthens the business, says the chairman of the board, Arild Hustad, in Sterner Group.

Great potential
Sterner was established in 1990, and in 1993 Bjarne Pettersen became co-owner and general manager of the company. Based on technology for clean water, the company has grown and taken a leading position in RAS facilities and wellboat technology, as well as the purification of drinking- and wastewater.

Today, Sterner is Norway’s largest supplier of ozone- and UV- solutions for drinking water and has a market share in municipal drinking water of 40 percent.

Investor Erich Erber and Chairman of the Board Arild Hustad

Upon Erber’s entry, Pettersen sells three quarters of his shareholding. This spring, he also handed over the daily management of the company to Kim David Lid, but Pettersen will continue to be a major owner and active board member of the company.

Sterner Group has been, and will continue to be, my life’s work. Through Erber’s entry, the company is provided with capital and expertise enabling us to take the next step in growth and internationalization. This I something I look forward to being a part of, says Pettersen.

Out into the world
Upon joining Sterner Group, Erber is clear on the point that his goal is to help create growth for the company in new markets.

Clean water is in demand all over the world, for several purposes. Today, Sterner already possess the cleaning technology that is in demands and that provides growth opportunities internationally, for example in land-based fish farming, which is strongly advancing all over the world, says Erber.

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If you have any questions, please contact:

Ida Kristoffersen

Marketing and communications manager

Fact box:

Briefly about Sterner:

Norwegian group that specializes in technology for water purification and water treatment
The group has a leading position in Norway within RAS facilities and wellboat technology, as well as within purification of drinking- and wastewater.
The parent company Sterner Group AS, owns the companies Sterner AS, Sterner International AS, Sterner Solutions AS and Sterner Egypt AS. Total turnover in 2020 was NOK 156 million.
Sterner was established in 1990, and in 1993 Bjarne Pettersen came in as co-owner and sole employee. Today, the Sterner Group has over 70 employees and has operations in the Norwegian regions Ski, Grenland, Bergen and Leknes in Northern Norway.