A Conversation with Håkan Oscarsson, Founder & CEO of ABEKA

Håkan, you founded ABEKA nearly three decades ago. What was the original vision, and how has it evolved?

Sweden has always had a complex grid infrastructure; already back then, there was a growing need for specialized providers who could manage demanding grid projects end-to-end. Over three decades, that core criterion hasn’t changed. What has changed is the scale, complexity, and urgency of what our customers need. Electrification is accelerating across industries, renewable and decentral generation and storage capacity is expanding, and all of this requires significant grid reinforcement. ABEKA’s role has become more critical than ever, and our mission has naturally evolved alongside Sweden’s energy system.

ABEKA was part of Bravida for a decade. What led to the decision to pursue another ownership structure?

Bravida was a good home for ABEKA, and the company developed well during that period: our team grew the business and improved profitability significantly. But as the grid market entered a new phase of expansion, it became clear that ABEKA needed a different kind of ownership to capture full potential. Bravida recognized this too. They saw that a dedicated, independent platform with the right growth partner would give ABEKA the best conditions to take the next step. For us, this step was about regaining entrepreneurial independence and finding a partner who shares our long-term ambition and vision for the business.

Why did you choose Vidia as that partner?

What convinced us is that Vidia invests in the critical players that make the energy transition possible. They understand that as electrification accelerates and renewables and storage scale up, grid expansion becomes the critical enabler. Their approach is hands-on and collaborative: from the first conversation, it was clear this was about building a plan together. On top of that, Vidia gives us the independence and growth capital to develop the business on our own terms, while preserving the culture and relationships we’ve built over 30 years. Their experience in the Nordics was an additional plus. That combination made the decision straightforward.

Sweden’s power grid is undergoing a major transformation. How is ABEKA positioned to support this, and what role does the company play in the broader energy transition?

In Sweden, electrification is driving demand for grid capacity. At the same time, dispersed production and consumption requires substantial investment in transmission and distribution networks. ABEKA operates right at the intersection of these trends. We design, build, and commission the critical infrastructure that enables this transition: cabling, substations, grid connections. Our customers are the leading network operators, power producers, and industrial players in Sweden, and what they need is reliable, high-quality project execution. That’s what we’ve delivered for nearly 30 years, and the demand for these capabilities is only growing. In many ways, grid infrastructure is the foundation everything else depends on. Without it, the energy transition stalls.

What are the priorities for ABEKA going forward, now that you’re partnering with Vidia?

At ABEKA, we are excited about what’s ahead. Our priorities are clear: strengthen our team, invest in our capabilities, and continue to deliver excellent projects for our customers. Beyond that, we see significant opportunities to grow the platform: both organically, by expanding into adjacent service areas and deepening customer relationships, and inorganically, by identifying acquisition targets that complement our expertise and geographic reach. Vidia brings the operational support and required capital to pursue these opportunities at the right pace. What excites me most is that we can now think bigger while staying true to what made ABEKA successful in the first place: reliable expertise, long-term customer relationships, and a strong team culture. Partnering with Vidia gives us the independence and the backing to write the next chapter on our own terms.

About ABEKA
ABEKA El & Kraftanläggningar AB, a Swedish grid infrastructure specialist founded in 1995, has joined Vidia Climate Fund I following a carve-out from Swedish installation group Bravida Holding AB. ABEKA provides turnkey electrical infrastructure solutions for regional and local power grids – from design and engineering to construction and commissioning – supporting the critical grid expansion that underpins Sweden’s energy transition. We spoke with Håkan Oscarsson, who founded ABEKA nearly 30 years ago and continues to lead the company as CEO, about the partnership with Vidia and what lies ahead.

www.abeka.se