Lars Green

The global ESG landscape may be shifting, but at Swedbank, we are unwavering in our belief that sustainability is central to responsible banking 🏦 We believe that sustainability and long-term financial success are inseparably linked. In today’s complex and uncertain environment, the need to support our clients in their transition is greater than ever. Our role is to help them navigate change, manage risks, and seize new opportunities in a more sustainable economy. For many companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, ESG discussions often come with frustration — largely due to the growing volume and complexity of regulations. Swedbank Group Head of Sustainability, Johanna Fager Wettergren, acknowledges the increasing administrative burden but stresses the importance of regulation in driving change. "Yes, ESG rules have multiplied in recent years, and with them comes bureaucracy. While this creates challenges, regulation remains a key driver of transparency and progress — especially where voluntary measures alone may fall short," she explains. Finding the right balance is crucial: "Legislation is necessary, but rules must also be practical — impactful without overwhelming companies," Wettergren adds. The risks of ignoring ESG are clear: financial losses, reputational damage, sanctions, and missed opportunities. "It’s no longer just about doing the right thing — it’s about protecting long-term value and resilience," she concludes. Read more (the article is in Estonian) 👉 https://lnkd.in/d__R2mnh 📷: Kaupo Kalda

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A new quantum chapter begins in Copenhagen. Today, Denmark and EIFO take a bold step into the quantum future. Together with Novo Holdings, Vsquared Ventures and Cambium Capital Management, we are proud to launch 55 North, the world’s largest venture fund dedicated exclusively to quantum technologies. This follows a strategic quantum objective set by the Danish Government two years ago. With a target size of €300 million, 55 North is a strategic investment in the future of computing, secure communication, healthcare and other fields where quantum will make a difference. Why is EIFO so focused on quantum?   Because this is about building critical infrastructure for the future. We want to help position Denmark and Europe strongly in a rapidly evolving global landscape.   This fund has been two years in the making. The EIFO team has mapped most of the European ecosystem, evaluated dozens of potential partners, and worked closely with the Novo team to make this happen.   The result, I believe, is pretty decent: 55 North is backed by an outstanding team with decades of experience building deep-tech companies across Europe and the US:   Owen Lozman Helmut G. Katzgraber Kai Hudek Michael Jobst David Moehring   In a way, the incubation of the quantum fund is a classic EIFO effort. Quantum is more complex than most things we do. But at the end of the day, it’s about orchestrating the right people and the right capital behind a strategic ambition.

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I have shared my thoughts with Computerworld Danmark on employee retention and how we at KMD create a place people want to stay.   More and more colleagues choose to continue their journey with us, and that brings stability to the benefit of our teams and customers. Together with new talent who add fresh perspectives, this balance enables us to develop IT solutions that make a real difference in society.   One reason colleagues choose to stay is that we actively listen. Every single week, we ask our 2,800 employees how they're doing and what we can do to improve their wellbeing and motivation. This gives leaders early insights that make it possible to address issues before they turn into reasons for leaving.   Some colleagues will still move on to new challenges. That is a natural part of a dynamic labor market. We make sure to part on good terms and to learn from every transition. Link to the article here (in Danish) https://lnkd.in/dhUEuerx

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𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 (𝐒7𝐄21) (Links in first comment below) In this episode, I speak with Antti Ilmanen, Principal and Global Co-head of the Portfolio Solutions Group at AQR Capital Management.  Antti has long been one of the most thoughtful voices in the world of expected returns, having written not one, but two landmark books on the subject. But in his latest paper series, he returns to the topic with fresh urgency—probing the difference between objective and subjective expectations, and asking why even rational models can go so wrong in real time.  We explore everything from CAPE ratios and market timing accusations, to why equity investors tend to extrapolate while bond investors expect mean reversion. We dig into how behavioral biases, valuation anchors, and structural shifts collide when forming capital market assumptions — and how Antti and the AQR team try to navigate that mess themselves.  If you’re in the business of long-term forecasting or just curious why markets often act like they’ve never read the textbooks, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.  Please enjoy my conversation with Antti Ilmanen. 🎯 Objective vs. subjective forecasts 📉 Analysts' overoptimism 📊 CAPE's role (and its limits) 🌍 Macro surprises & market rationality 📈 Growth extrapolation ≠ equity returns 🤖 AI’s impact on future yields 🇺🇸 US exceptionalism—real or not?

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Heimstaden Bostad AB has priced EUR 500 million in green bonds. The bond is a green senior unsecured fixed rate note with a maturity of 5.5 years and a coupon of 3.75%. Proceeds will finance and refinance projects that strengthen energy efficiency and sustainability across our portfolio, in line with our Green Bond Framework (2023), which has been positively reviewed by Morningstar Sustainalytics, a leading independent provider of ESG research and ratings. This underlines our commitment to sustainable financing and energy-efficient buildings across our portfolio. Link to the full press release in the comments ⬇️ #Heimstaden #sustainability #greenbonds #pressrelease #esgrating

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William Blair acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Meribel Pharma Solutions, a portfolio company of BLUE WOLF CAPITAL PARTNERS LLC, in connection with the sale of its Strängnäs facility to APL (Apotek Produktion & Laboratorier AB). Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gBWC7taS

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The Nordic M&A market has seen strong momentum in 2025, with private equity firms actively investing across technology, healthcare, and industrial sectors 👀 As highlighted by Wessel Ploegmakers, Partner and Head of Nordics at Main: “A continued focus on the tech sector which remains a material portion of all deals, as well as active corporate divestitures/carve-outs and public-to-private deals as companies refocus on core business.” At Main, we continue to see significant opportunities in the Nordics, particularly within software and technology, and remain committed to supporting innovative companies in realizing sustainable growth. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eCS6wX8b

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The Nordic Consumer M&A report for H1 2025 is now live! The report covers transaction activity and valuation trends across the Nordic Consumer markets during the first half of 2025. Deal activity has remained stable compared to H2 2024, with Nordic volumes outperforming other European markets despite ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty. While trading multiples are still below their historical averages (a large selection of listed consumer companies at 8.2x EV/EBITDA vs. 5-year average of 9.8x), consumer confidence has shown signs of recovery in Sweden, Norway, and Finland - indicating a cautiously optimistic outlook for the sector. For insights into sub-sector trends and notable recent transactions, explore the full report. Feel free to reach out to our Consumer M&A team if you have any questions or would like to discuss market opportunities.

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