1980. Svenska Traktor AB and Toyota Autoimport AB with its subsidary AB A Wikland are acquired. Together with Motorami AB, Sweden’s largest General Motors retailer, and Motorami Maskin AB, both of which Kinnevik already owns, the companies form a single unit reported under the name of Svenska Motor AB (SMA). SMA’s operations include selling trucks, construction machinery and engines, as well as the import of Toyota cars and retailing operations.
1981. Svenska Motor AB SMA is reorganised and Comvik AB also launches a new modern mobile telephone system. The market launch is however delayed by pressure from the telecom monopoly, Televerket, which tries to have Comvik AB closed down. In the end, the Swedish Supreme Administrative Court rules in favour of Comvik AB.
1982. AB Sveatrade, the Swedish general agent for Atila (excavation machinery) and JCB (tractor diggers) is acquired. The company also becomes the general agent for Toshiba Seiki Company Ltd’s industrial robots. At Mellersta Sveriges Lantbruks AB, meanwhile, the Gamlegården property is sold and the process of acquiring the Svedberga property in Skåne begins. Comvik AB has by this time set up a virtually nation-wide radio network.
1983. Kinnevik becomes a subsidiary of Fagersta AB and is delisted. Skånska Cementgjuteriet (nowadays known as Skanska) stages a corner deal by means of the so called dawn raid. The final outcome is that Kinnevik sells Sandvik AB but retains and strengthens Korsnäs. The following year, Kinnevik plays a very active part in rationalising the Swedish special steel industry.
1984. Techvik AB is founded. The company’s business concept is to develop, manufacture and sell advanced electronics products. The special steel industry in Sweden is rationalised, putting an end to 20 years of collaboration between Swedish manufacturers. Halmstads Järnverks AB and Forsbacka Jernverks AB are both successful in the new competitive market.
1985. The name of the company is changed to Industriförvaltnings AB Kinnevik. A new satellite system for TV distribution is also completed. Kinnevik plays a crucial role in ensuring that the ASTRA satellites becomes reality. The second half of the 1980s is characterised by the aggressive formation of new companies and by a tough struggle against Sweden’s telecom, radio and TV monopolies. Invik & Co. AB is created by a directed share issue to the shareholders. Investments in mobile telephony are initiated outside Europe in countries such as Hongkong, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Costa Rica, The Philippines, and Pakistan.
1986. Credit card and payment systems are introduced, and NetCom is founded. Invik expands to 12 employees instead of four, and four business areas are established. The Invik shares are quoted on the so called press list.
1987. Local cable-TV networks are launched, and the company begins publishing magazines, including a monthly known as Z, which causes heavy turbulence in Sweden press circles. On New Year’s Eve 1987, TV3 makes its first broadcast from London. The very first programme is a show featuring Magnus Härenstam. Invik becomes, after purchase of shares from Korsnäs, the largest sole shareholder in Kinnevik.
1988. Independent TV productions are launched. The company also invests heavily in the new mobile network. The Swedish government decides to encourage competition on equal terms in the new market. As the Stockholm Stock Exchange introduces the O-list, the conditions are changed for the planned system of automatic securities trading which Transvik AB - a subsidiary of Invik - is planning.
1989. Banque Invik S.A. is founded and the company secures the necessary license to conduct its operations. Comvik GSM AB obtains a license and frequency allocation to launch a new mobile telephone system in Sweden that complies with the so-called GSM standard. Pay-TV is also introduced this year, as is home shopping via TV. Kinnevik’s telecom company takes a leading position in the gradual deregulation process taking place on the global market.