About us

Caseb AS is a family-owned investment and trading company located in Oslo. The company's owners are the two families Sejersted Bødtker and Johnsen/Vedeler, who have been business partners for over 30 years.In addition to being an active owner in small and medium-sized businesses in the Nordics|, the company also sells selected niche products and services that we market to research institutions, industrial companies and military organizations.

Read more about the company and why we do what we do

Our history

Although Caseb was formally founded in 1983, the history goes back further than that, and the first “seeds were sown” already in the 1950s. The company has developed and changed significantly throughout the years, from a small trading company focused on the defence sector, to becoming a diversified investment and trading company as it now appears. The following is a brief journey through time from Caseb’s early beginnings until today.

1950s until 1982:

The company’s founder, Carl Sejersted Bødtker, established his own, personal agency at the end of the 1950s to market French aviation and defence components to the Norwegian military. He had built personal relationships and contacts within this industry during World War II, due to his role as a fighter pilot. Later he took over Meisterlin & Co AS, a company that traded metals to various Norwegian industries.

Bilde 2_Om oss
Carl Sejersted Bødtker, Caseb's founder, was a fighter pilot during World War II.
Bilde 3_Om oss

Throughout the 60s and 70s, Carl expanded Caseb’s agency portfolio to include more products and services, including TML and their strain gauges, and strengthened the company within defence and aviation. At the end of the 1970s, the founder was eventually joined by his son, Carl Fr. Sejersted Bødtker, who took responsibility for sales and business development in the company.

1983 until today:

Caseb AS was formally incorporated in 1983, and subsequently established itself as a significant supplier to Norwegian offshore operations, including metals, isolators, and aviation. Most notably, the company had great success in the 1980s with the sale of French helicopters to Norwegian offshore operations and further expanded the company’s aviation portfolio.

The late 1980s and early 1990s were far tougher for the company, which consequently lead to some major changes in both its product portfolio, company profile and employment base. After peaking at 15+ employees and with direct sales through multiple subsidiaries, Caseb was soon after downsized and restructured; subsidiaries were closed, agencies sold off, and profits were directed more towards direct investments in niche business within which Carl and Carl had experience and knowledge.

First and foremost, the company became a shareholder in Vibratec Akustikprodukter AB as early as 1988 and kept investing in more companies during the 90s. At the beginning of the 2000s, NFM came in as a new investment and a renewed focus on the defence industry was established. During this period, the company’s focus shifted further away from trading and towards investing, and as such streamlining staff and administration even more. In 2018, the 3rd generation Sejersted Bødtker joined the company, Alexander, son of Carl Fr. He too was given responsibility for business development in Caseb, which escalated the search for new investments and business opportunities. The subsequent years have yielded two new investments, Legal Insurance Group and Smart Sensor Systems respectively, and we continue to develop our existing businesses while simultaneously exploring new investments.
Nytt bilde Caseb historie (1)
Caseb circa 1990
Bilde_Om oss_verdier
Our vision must be shared and followed by all our stakeholders.

Our vision

Regardless of whether you view Caseb as an investment or trading company, we have one unified vision for the business that we follow every single day. In short, together with our companies and employees, we work to build long-term value that contribute to positive societal development. An ambitious vision – absolutely – and no simple task, but with such a goal in mind, it becomes easier to select what, where, and whom to invest in and do business with. Additionally, it provides clear mandates for the companies we are involved in and how they should prioritize.

Our Values

Naturally, what we value and how we wish to be perceived is closely tied to our ambitious vision, but with an even stronger focus on PEOPLE – our employees and those we interact with in our business life. We aspire to be a company that contributes something positive to those we interact with, whether it’s through our products or services, or simply the way they experience us as individuals.

Accountable

Our first and most important value; we shall keep our word and be known for our trust and openness by those we interact with. This should also apply to the way we contribute to the companies we work with. We shall  never overpromise, whether it relates to knowledge or finances, rather overdeliver where possible.

Long-term

When Caseb makes an investment, it is with “the perspective of eternity.” A bit facetious, yes, but still representative of our goal; to create long-term value. Our history also proves this, in that we contribute with solid financial frameworks combined with some good-old patience.

Engagement

For us, engagement means that we will actively contribute with our personality, knowledge, experience, and network. Not to overrule or control, but to help where we can and show that we care. We shall all pull together in the same direction, because we only succeed if everyone works toward the same goal.

Hvordan jobber vi?

Erfaringsbasert og langsiktig

Når vi investerer i selskaper så gjør vi det primært innen industrier vi har kompetanse og erfaring fra, og med «evigheten som perspektiv».

R6__9520a

Aktivt eierskap

Vi engasjerer oss aktivt i selskapene vi investerer i. Vi deltar i beslutningsprosesser, tilbyr strategisk veiledning og støtter ledelsen for å sikre at virksomheten oppnår sitt fulle potensiale. Ved behov tar vi også formelle roller i selskapene.

Kompetansebasert

Vår investeringsstrategi er fundamentert på vår brede kompetanse og erfaring innen ulike bransjer og markeder. Vi fokuserer på å investere i selskaper hvor vi kan tilføre verdi gjennom vår spesialiserte kunnskap og innsikt.

Langsiktig

Vi tar en langsiktig tilnærming til investeringer, som nevnt med “evigheten som perspektiv”. Dette innebærer at vi forsøker å se bort fra kortsiktige gevinster, og heller fokusere på å bygge verdier over tid med moderate avkastningskrav underveis.

Nisje-fokusert

Vi retter vår oppmerksomhet mot nisjeindustrier og markeder hvor vi ser muligheter for vekst og lønnsomhet. Dette nisje-fokuset gir oss også muligheten til å differensiere oss i markedet og oppnå bedre resultater for våre investorer.

How do we work?

Experience-based and long-term

When we invest in companies, we do it primarily within industries where we have competence and experience, and with “the perspective of eternity.”

Active ownership

We take an active approach to investing, and work directly with the companies we invest in. We participate in decision-making processes, offer strategic guidance, and support management to ensure that the businesses achieve their full potential. When necessary, we also take on formal operating roles in the companies.

Competence-based

Our investment strategy is founded on our broad competence and experience within various industries and markets. We focus on investing in companies where we can add value through our specialized knowledge and insight.

Long-term

We take a long-term approach to investing, as pointed out earlier. This means that we try to diminish the focus on short-term gains and instead build value over time with moderate return requirements along the way.

Niche-focused

We direct our attention toward niche industries and markets where we see opportunities for growth and profitability. This niche focus also gives us the opportunity to differentiate ourselves in the market and achieve better results for us and our partners.