History

Businessman Alfred Onninen begins working as a plumbing contractor in Turku. Over the years, the business expands from contracting to wholesale trade, and the company Onninen Oy is born. Onninen also grows beyond the borders of Finland.

Kalle Heinonen establishes a company called Keski-Suomen Sähköliike ("Central Finland Electrical Company"). The company, which specialises in radios and electrical work, later adds car sales to its portfolio and adopts the name ARE in 1938. The name comes from the words "automobiles", "radio" and "electricity". According to engineer T.L. Laakso, who came up with the name, it could also be derived from the words "Aina Rohkeasti Eteenpäin" ("Always Boldly Forward").

ARE is acquired by the Kansallis-Osake-Pankki (KOP) bank. Later in the same year, ARE is jointly acquired by Hankkija and Imatran Voima.

Onninen, which has expanded into a national technical building service provider under Erkki Toivanen’s leadership in the 1960s, acquires ARE from Hankkija.

Onninen seeks synergy benefits between its own operations and those of ARE. As a result, ARE and its strong electrical expertise is merged with Onninen’s contracting unit Onninen-Termo. ARE becomes a full-service technical building services group.

Alfred Onninen’s descendants establish Onvest Oy as a holding company for the business operations they own. As an owner, Onvest supports Onninen and ARE’s growth and development, and supports the family’s wealth through active investment and real estate activities.

ARE is fully transferred to Onvest’s ownership with Onvest’s acquisition of ARE shares from Imatran Voima.

Onvest’s owners decide to split the business into two companies.

Conficap Oy begins its operations under the ownership of Maarit Toivanen and her children. The technical building services company ARE, security investment activities, as well as indirect and foreign real estate investments are transferred to Conficap’s ownership.

In September, Erik Toivanen is appointed as Managing Director, representing the fifth generation of the family business. In the same year, Conficap celebrated its 110th anniversary as a family business.

ARE’s 100th anniversary, making it a year of celebration. A publication describing ARE’s history, "Always Boldly Forward – ARE’s part in modernising the world 1924–2024" is published.

Conficap continues to operate as a strong and independent company and continue its 110-year-long story of family entrepreneurship, containing numerous significant events and turning points. Conficap’s activities are steered by its values of being an investor with a face, responsibility and the long-term goals allowing the company to be developed for future generations.