Nordic business leaders plot to keep companies in home markets
NDAQ•A new Nordic business alliance plans to enlist at least seven partners for a fund to invest in the region’s growing companies and launch initiatives to deepen capital markets. It estimates Nordic firms will need up to €35 billion in growth capital from 2027 to 2031, with a shortfall of about €10 billion.
1. Fund plans
Nordic Compass, backed by Sweden’s Wallenberg and Finland’s Herlin families, plans to enlist seven or more “anchor partners” to help shape an independently managed fund’s mandate, size and governance. The alliance estimates Nordic companies will need up to €35 billion in Series A-C growth capital between 2027 and 2031, leaving a shortfall of about €10 billion after existing and international investment.
2. Shared marketplace
A second initiative aims to make cross-border share trading easier across a market of about 1,400 listed companies worth roughly €2.5 trillion. Exchanges would remain independent. Nasdaq Europe head Nikolaj Kosakewitsch said the effort aims to synchronise trading, clearing, settlement and custody services, while noting that some regulatory changes could take several years.
3. Keeping firms in region
The alliance says fragmented Nordic and European capital markets are sending promising companies to the United States for funding and listings. Nordic Compass board chair Jyrki Katainen said a pan-Nordic capital market could help innovative and growing companies stay longer in the region. Euronext, which owns the Oslo exchange, joined the alliance this week.
