Thomas Johansen

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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Festina Finance joins the billion valuation club as Netcompany increases its stake Danish fintech Festina Finance has reached a new milestone with a 1 billion DKK valuation following a fresh investment from Netcompany. The IT giant upped its ownership from 20 to 22 percent, valuing the company nearly twice as high as when it first invested in 2023. Festina Finance develops core systems for banks and pension companies and has been gaining ground in the Nordic and Dutch markets. The company’s CEO Mikael Braagaard confirms ongoing conversations with new investors and reiterates the long-term ambition of reaching unicorn status. According to him, momentum is building while investor interest continues to grow. The valuation jump reflects broader trends in fintech infrastructure. Netcompany’s recent acquisition of SDC for 1 billion DKK marked a rare shift in Danish banking, where datacentres have traditionally been owned by banks themselves. That model is changing. With Netcompany Banking Services now in place, Festina Finance sits at the intersection of a consolidating infrastructure play and a growing demand for modern advisory tools. While Festina Finance posted a loss of 22 million DKK last year, revenue grew to 171 million. Like many high-growth companies in the sector, the past years have been defined by investment and expansion rather than profitability. With a stronger institutional shareholder base, rising international presence and a clearly stated unicorn goal, Festina Finance is positioning itself as a next-generation fintech infrastructure provider.

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Resilience is not just about defence – it’s also about building a stronger society and economy Today, my op-ed was published in Jyllands-Posten with a clear message: security is not a cost – it’s the foundation for Denmark’s future strength. As Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen recently underlined, Denmark is being targeted by hybrid attacks. The question is no longer if, but when the next one comes whether it is through drones or cyber-attacks. Denmark was among the first countries to digitalise — giving us a head start. But early leadership also means parts of our infrastructure are now first-generation and increasingly vulnerable to evolving hybrid threats. We must act now, and I’m calling for the Minister for Resilience and Preparedness, Torsten Schack Pedersen, to bring together public and private actors across sectors responsible for critical infrastructure, so we can coordinate efforts and strengthen our national resilience. Under Denmark’s new NATO agreement, we will invest 5% of GDP annually by 2035, including 1.5% for defence and security-related initiatives. This is a historic opportunity to reinforce our digital backbone – the infrastructure that keeps our society running. Just as schools were once designed to serve as hospitals in times of crisis, today’s investments in cybersecurity and digital infrastructure must provide security in crisis and value in peace. Now is the time to launch a second wave of digitalisation – upgrading our foundations, increasing robustness, and freeing resources for welfare, innovation, and competitiveness. If we invest wisely, Denmark can become one of Europe’s most resilient and innovative societies. Because resilience isn’t just an expense – it’s a strategic advantage in an uncertain world. 👉 Read the full op-ed here: https://lnkd.in/egG6qemK

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What does a day in the life of a Future Financial Professional look like? Three of our talented trainees share their experiences. 👉 https://lnkd.in/dRbQ394W Christoffer Stenius on the ESG & Structured Finance Tools team helps develop applications that support our sustainability-linked loans. 💡 "The real reward comes from the daily intellectual challenge of solving problems and building effective bridges between technology and business," he says. Kerkko Konola focuses on interest rate hedging offers and pricing on the Derivatives Coverage Finland desk. 💡 "The most intense moments are when we are in the middle of making a deal with a customer and we must simultaneously talk with the customer and handle live market data," he says. Titus Kokko on the Business Risk Control (BRC) team performs key controls and analyses transaction data. 💡 "I have noticed that I have been able to take on more responsibility and ownership in BRC's controls already during my first 2-months at Nordea Markets," he says. Read their stories and career tips. #FutureFinanceProfessional #FinanceInternship #Nordea

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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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As a responsible actor within the financial sector, Handelsbanken is committed to support our customers and meet their needs of addressing environmental and climate challenges. Through the issuance of green bonds, we raise capital to support our customers in sustainable projects that contribute to a more resilient future.   We have updated our Green Bond Framework to ensure it remains robust, transparent, and aligned with current market practices. The Framework has been developed to align with the International Capital Market Association (ICMA) Green Bond Principles published in June 2025. It has also been enhanced to better reflect the EU Taxonomy’s technical screening criteria for substantial contribution to one of the EU environmental objectives. The updated Framework defines the terms and processes under which Handelsbanken can issue Green Bonds and further accelerate the transition to a sustainable future. Link to framework: https://lnkd.in/dUsAxTf2 Link to SPO: https://lnkd.in/dnmjEKia

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