Stockholm has emerged as a powerhouse for private equity, hosting renowned firms like Nordic Capital, Altor Equity Partners, and EQT Partners. These firms leverage Sweden’s robust financial ecosystem, innovative tech landscape, and strategic European positioning to drive transformative investments across multiple sectors. For professionals seeking to connect with industry leaders and explore exciting opportunities in this dynamic landscape, join our thriving community at alexejpikovsky.com/community.
Nordic Capital
Investment Style: Nordic Capital focuses on predominantly majority investments in leading businesses in the Nordic region, Europe, and globally. Their strategy emphasizes healthcare, technology and payments, financial services, and industrial and business services sectors, with a strong emphasis on operational improvements and sustainable growth.
Portfolio Companies: Nordic Capital’s portfolio includes AniCura (animal hospitals), Macrobond (financial software), and Cary Group (vehicle glass repair and replacement).
Founding Date: 1989
Number of Investment Professionals: Over 130
Assets Under Management: Approximately €25 billion
Key Investment Professionals:
- Kristoffer Melinder, Managing Partner: Spearheads the firm’s strategic investments, focusing on transformative growth initiatives and market leadership.
- Henrik Johansson, Partner: Leads investments in healthcare and industrial services, contributing significantly to portfolio value creation.
Recent Exits:
- Conscia to Danish private equity firm Gro Capital.
- Thule Group via public offering on the Stockholm stock exchange.
Recent Acquisitions:
- Boost.ai, a market leader in conversational AI for enterprises.
- ArisGlobal, a leader in providing life sciences software solutions.
Office Locations:
- Stockholm (Headquarters): Stockholm, Sweden
- Additional Offices: Copenhagen, Helsinki, Oslo, London, Frankfurt, New York
Website: www.nordiccapital.com
Quote: “At Nordic Capital, our focus is on creating sustainable growth in our investments through deep sector expertise and operational excellence.” – Kristoffer Melinder, Managing Partner
Altor Equity Partners
Investment Style: Altor Equity Partners targets medium-sized companies in the Nordic region for buyouts and growth capital investments. Their strategy revolves around industry consolidation, business transformation, and enhancing operational capabilities.
Portfolio Companies: Includes Rossignol (winter sports equipment), Dustin (IT products and services), and Lindorff (credit management services).
Founding Date: 2003
Number of Investment Professionals: Over 60
Assets Under Management: Approximately €8.3 billion
Key Investment Professionals:
- Harald Mix, Partner: Co-founder of Altor, known for leading successful acquisitions and transformations in various sectors.
- Joakim Karlsson, Managing Partner: Focuses on strategic growth and value creation in portfolio companies.
Recent Exits:
- Exit of Piab to Patricia Industries, part of the Investor Group.
- Haarslev Industries sold to US-based private equity firm Triton Partners.
Recent Acquisitions:
- O’Learys, a Swedish restaurant and entertainment chain.
- Navico, a global leader in marine electronics.
Office Locations:
- Stockholm (Headquarters): Stockholm, Sweden
- Additional Offices: Oslo, Helsinki, Copenhagen
Website: www.altor.com
Quote: “Altor is distinguished by our hands-on approach and our commitment to working closely with management teams to achieve lasting impact.” – Harald Mix, Partner
IK Partners
Investment Style: IK Partners specializes in investments in European mid-market companies, with a focus on business services, consumer goods, healthcare, and industrials. They pursue buyouts and growth investments driven by operational improvement and strategic development.
Portfolio Companies: Includes Evac Group (waste and wastewater management for the marine industry), and Marle (orthopedic implants).
Founding Date: 1989
Number of Investment Professionals: Over 80
Assets Under Management: Approximately €9.5 billion
Key Investment Professionals:
- Christopher Masek, CEO: Leads the firm’s strategic direction and has overseen numerous successful investments and exits.
- Jos Zandhuis, Partner: Focuses on healthcare and business services sectors, enhancing portfolio performance through strategic initiatives.
Recent Exits:
- Sale of Vistra Group to Baring Private Equity Asia.
- Dynapac to Fayat Group, enhancing its strategic position in construction machinery.
Recent Acquisitions:
- Masonite, a leading provider of architectural and commercial doors.
- Quilvest, a significant player in wealth management and private banking.
Office Locations:
- Stockholm (Headquarters): Stockholm, Sweden
- Additional Offices: Hamburg, London, Paris, Amsterdam
Website: www.ikpartners.com
Quote: “Our collaborative approach and deep industry insights set us apart, allowing us to create substantial value in our investments.” – Christopher Masek, CEO
Summa Equity
Investment Style: Summa Equity invests in companies within industries such as resource efficiency, changing demographics, and tech-enabled businesses, aiming to solve global challenges while generating sustainable returns.
Portfolio Companies: Comprises Olink Proteomics (biotechnology), HyTest (manufacturers of monoclonal antibodies), and Pagero (cloud-based invoicing).
Founding Date: 2016
Number of Investment Professionals: Over 40
Assets Under Management: Approximately €2.3 billion
Key Investment Professionals:
- Reinhold Geijer, Partner: Focused on tech-enabled and resource efficiency companies, driving sustainable growth strategies.
- Henrik Persson, Partner: Specializes in demographic shifts and leveraging industry trends for strategic investments.
Recent Exits:
- Sustainable exit of Milarex to a global seafood company, expanding its market reach.
- Nordic Waterproofing listed on Nasdaq Stockholm.
Recent Acquisitions:
- Investment in Sortera, a market leader in construction recycling and waste management.
- Acquisition of Axion BioSystems, a leader in high-performance microelectrode array systems.
Office Locations:
- Stockholm (Headquarters): Stockholm, Sweden
- Additional Offices: Oslo
Website: www.summaequity.com
Quote: “At Summa Equity, we believe in making investments that not only provide excellent returns but also contribute positively to society.” – Reinhold Geijer, Partner
EQT Partners
Investment Style: EQT Partners focuses on consistent transformative investments, primarily in healthcare, technology, and industrial sectors. They target growth buyouts and infrastructure investments characterized by a long-term horizon and active ownership.
Portfolio Companies: Includes Anticimex (pest control), IFS (enterprise software), and Sivantos Group (hearing aid technology).
Founding Date: 1994
Number of Investment Professionals: Over 700 globally
Assets Under Management: Approximately €87 billion
Key Investment Professionals:
- Christian Sinding, CEO and Managing Partner: Drives EQT’s global strategy and major investments, enhancing the firm’s active ownership model.
- Caspar Callerstrom, Partner: Focuses on value creation and strategic initiatives in the technology sector.
Recent Exits:
- Successful IPO of Suse on the stock market, securing growth capital.
- Exit of Tia Technology to Sapiens International Corporation, expanding its footprint in the software solutions industry.
Recent Acquisitions:
- Acquisition of Enfuce, a leading payment service provider in Europe.
- Investment in Freepik Company, enhancing its market position in digital content.
Office Locations:
- Stockholm (Headquarters): Stockholm, Sweden
- Additional Offices: Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Helsinki, Hong Kong, London, Madrid, Milan, Munich, New York, Oslo, Paris, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, Zurich
Website: www.eqtgroup.com
Quote: “Our ambition is to drive transformation and growth in industries that play a crucial role in society, ensuring sustainable development.” – Christian Sinding, CEO and Managing Partner
Accel-KKR
Investment Style: Accel-KKR focuses on middle-market technology-enabled businesses, providing capital for buyouts as well as growth equity investments. Their emphasis is on driving operational enhancements and accelerating growth through strategic partnerships.
Portfolio Companies: Features Episerver (digital experience platform), Telcor (healthcare software solutions), and Abila (nonprofit software solutions).
Founding Date: 2000
Number of Investment Professionals: Over 60
Assets Under Management: Approximately €8 billion
Key Investment Professionals:
- Tom Barnds, Managing Director: Leads investment activities and strategic growth initiatives for technology-focused portfolio companies.
- Rob Palumbo, Managing Director: Specializes in growing software and technology-enabled services companies.
Recent Exits:
- Exit of Ipreo to IHS Markit, a significant achievement in fintech consolidation.
- Sale of PrismHR to Stone Point Capital, focusing on human resources software solutions.
Recent Acquisitions:
- Investment in Recurly, a leading subscription management platform.
- Acquisition of TrueCommerce, enhancing capabilities in supply chain network solutions.
Office Locations:
- Stockholm: Stockholm, Sweden
- Additional Offices: San Francisco, Atlanta, London
Website: www.accel-kkr.com
Quote: “Our focus on technology-driven businesses allows us to leverage our industry expertise to create lasting value and foster growth.” – Tom Barnds, Managing Director
Verdane
Investment Style: Verdane invests in growth companies in Northern Europe, particularly in the software, consumer internet, and energy sectors. Their strategy emphasizes sustainable growth and long-term partnerships to aid companies in scaling and expanding market reach.
Portfolio Companies: Includes Boozt (fashion e-commerce), Desenio (wall art), and Momox (re-commerce platform).
Founding Date: 2003
Number of Investment Professionals: Over 40
Assets Under Management: Approximately €3 billion
Key Investment Professionals:
- Bjarne Lie, Managing Partner: Focuses on empowering growth companies through strategic support and sector expertise.
- Erling Maartmann-Moe, Partner: Leads investments in technology and online businesses, driving digital transformation.
Recent Exits:
- Successful IPO of Boozt on Nasdaq Stockholm, enhancing its growth trajectory.
- Sale of Desenio to a consortium, further growing its digital art platform.
Recent Acquisitions:
- Investment in EasyPark, a leading digital parking solution provider.
- Acquisition of Outpost24, enhancing cybersecurity solutions.
Office Locations:
- Stockholm (Headquarters): Stockholm, Sweden
- Additional Offices: Oslo, Helsinki, Copenhagen, London, Berlin
Website: www.verdane.com
Quote: “Verdane invests in companies that can shape the future, driving growth and creating lasting impact in their industries.” – Bjarne Lie, Managing Partner
SEB Private Equity
Investment Style: SEB Private Equity targets small to mid-sized companies in Northern Europe, focusing on buyouts, growth capital, and sustainable investments. They aim to increase value through operational improvements and strategic growth initiatives.
Portfolio Companies: Includes Paroc Group (insulation materials), and Silex Microsystems (MEMS foundry).
Founding Date: 1998
Number of Investment Professionals: Over 20
Assets Under Management: Approximately €3 billion
Key Investment Professionals:
- Magnus Ramström, Head of Private Equity: Drives investment strategies and operational excellence in portfolio companies.
- Anna Sundberg, Partner: Focuses on value creation and sustainable growth in portfolio companies.
Recent Exits:
- Exit of Paroc Group to Owens Corning, enhancing its market leadership in insulation solutions.
- Sale of Silex Microsystems to Chinese investors, expanding its global market reach.
Recent Acquisitions:
- Investment in Contiga, a leading provider of concrete products and solutions.
- Acquisition of MedCap, expanding their footprint in the healthcare sector.
Office Locations:
- Stockholm (Headquarters): Stockholm, Sweden
Website: www.sebgroup.com
Quote: “Our approach combines financial discipline with a commitment to sustainability, creating value for both our investors and society.” – Magnus Ramström, Head of Private Equity
Conclusion
Stockholm’s private equity landscape continues to evolve, reflecting the city’s dynamic financial ecosystem. The firms here are reshaping investment strategies, demonstrating remarkable adaptability and keen market insight. As global economic conditions shift, these entities remain agile, identifying opportunities across diverse sectors. Their collaborative approach and deep understanding of regional market nuances position Stockholm as a critical hub for strategic financial maneuvering.
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