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Beijer Ref buys 90% of Lithuania's Refra to boost natural refrigerant line

What's the deal? Beijer RefDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has agreed to acquire 90% of Lithuanian HVAC/R manufacturer RefraDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, with an option to buy the rest. Refra, founded in 1994 and based in Vilnius, has an annual turnover of roughly SEK 500 million.

What does Refra do? It builds custom cooling and heating systems using natural refrigerants such as CO₂ (R744) and propane (R290). The company has grown from CO₂ refrigeration into a European provider of propane chillers and heat pumps.

What changes? Refra will keep its own brand. Beijer Ref expects a minor positive impact on its results.

Why it matters: The deal strengthens Beijer Ref's OEM portfolio with proprietary technology for indirect cooling and heating systems, plus expertise in hydrocarbon-based solutions.

"This is a strategically important acquisition for Beijer Ref," said Jonas Steen, chief operating officer for EMEA. Acting chief executive officer and chief financial officer Joel Davidsson pointed to demand as the driver: "As demand for natural refrigerant solutions continues to grow, this acquisition enhances our offering and creates opportunities to leverage our global sales network."

What could go wrong? The binding agreement still needs approval from Lithuania's competition authority before closing.

The signal: Beijer Ref — one of the world's largest refrigeration wholesalers, present in 45 countries — is betting on natural refrigerants as regulatory and market pressure pushes the industry away from synthetic alternatives.

Read more: news.cision.com

Image credit: Walmart Corporate

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