[1] The Söderberg brothers established Ratos in the 1933, as a holding company for the family's growing enterprises.

Ratos developed with extensive ownership in companies such as Stora Kopparberg, Gränges and Esselte in addition to a wholly owned steel division.

[2] The financial crisis hit Ratos with reduced profits in 1992 and Urban Jansson was appointed new CEO and the subsidiaries were either floated on the stock exchange or sold.

After Arne Karlsson took over as CEO, Ratos was transformed to a private equity company.

[3] In 2019, Ratos sold the Adelswärdska house, the building on Drottninggatan in Stockholm where the head office is located.