Nordic Buy Out Forum 2025 – 15 years as the leading Nordic M&A arena
On 4 December, Wiersholm hosted the 15th edition of the Nordic Buy Out Forum at the Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel in Oslo, bringing together decision‑makers, investors, advisers and industry experts from across the Nordics and beyond. Marking its 15‑year anniversary, the conference once again confirmed its position as the leading meeting place for the private equity and venture capital industries in the Nordic region.
With a full‑day programme focused on regulatory change, artificial intelligence, financing trends and ESG, this year’s Nordic Buy Out Forum offered a forward‑looking agenda reflecting key developments in the transaction market. Participants represented a broad spectrum of stakeholders – from private equity funds and corporate executives to lawyers, investment bankers and asset managers – underlining the forum’s role as the largest annual M&A conference in the Nordic region.
A 15‑year success story for the Nordic deal‑making community
Since its launch in 2011, Nordic Buy Out Forum has grown into a central arena for knowledge sharing, networking and insight in a continuously evolving market. Over the past 14 years, it has attracted a wide range of prominent speakers from the Nordic region and internationally, cementing its status as the largest annual M&A conference in the Nordics.
The 2025 anniversary edition continued this trajectory by combining market‑driven content with high‑profile speakers and dedicated networking arenas, allowing participants to exchange views on current opportunities and challenges across the deal‑making value chain.
A forward‑looking programme: from PE in transition to ESG and regulation
Throughout the day, participants had access to a timely and forward‑looking programme addressing how the transaction market is being reshaped by new regulations, technology and sustainability requirements.
The opening session set the tone under the headline “Private Equity in Transition – Reflections and Ambitions During Times of Uncertainty”, focusing on how leading investors navigate changing market conditions. Christian Sinding, Former CEO and Managing Partner of EQT, contributed with “How to Build The Next European Tech Champions”, sharing perspectives on scaling the next generation of European technology companies through private equity.
Bjarne Kveim Lie, Co‑Founder and Managing Partner at Verdane, joined this part of the programme, bringing reflections on how the PE industry is evolving and setting ambitions in times of uncertainty. Hugo Maurstad, Founder and Managing Partner at Monte Rosa Capital, added a sector angle with “Passion for Heritage Sport Brands”, illustrating value creation through buyouts in brand‑ and sports‑driven businesses.
Guillaume Rubens, Managing Director and Partner at BCG, addressed “15 years of Success for the PE Asset Class; Will the Story and Glory Continue?”, offering a macro‑view on the performance and outlook for private equity as an asset class.
In Part 2 – “Driving Strategic and Sustainable Value Creation in a fluctuating Investment Landscape” – the agenda turned to ESG and long‑term value. Reynir Indahl, Founder and Managing Partner at Summa Equity, spoke on “ESG and Sustainable Investments – a Bust and Boom”, examining how sustainability‑oriented strategies are both challenged and reinforced in today’s market.
Marc Lino, Partner and Global Sustainability Lead for Financial Investors at Bain & Company, followed with “Value Creation Driven by Sustainability”, showing how ESG considerations are increasingly integrated into investment decisions and drive value creation.
Allon Groth, CEO of the Norwegian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (NVCA), contributed with “What is Unique About Norway in the Nordic Investment Space?”, highlighting Norway’s distinct features within the broader Nordic investment landscape.
Regulatory complexity was addressed by Wiersholm partner Andreas Ehrenclou in “A World in Flux – Navigating Regulatory Uncertainty in M&A Deals”, focusing on how evolving rules affect deal execution and structure.
Reinventing the Nordic model and managing global risk
In Part 3, “Reinventing the Nordic Model: Attracting Capital and Cultivating Champions”, an experienced panel discussed how the Nordic region can continue to attract international capital and develop global champions. The panel included Anders Onarheim, Martin Bech Holte, Pernille Erenbjerg and Henrik Ehrnrooth, bringing industrial, financial and strategic perspectives to the debate.
Part 4, “Managing Global Risks and Investment Opportunities in Times of Economic Uncertainty”, turned the spotlight on defence, geopolitics and macro‑economic developments. Sabina Pennings, Managing Director in Rothschild & Co’s Industrials & Business Services team in London, presented “Investing in Defence – Does the Audio Match the Video?”, assessing how geopolitical developments and defence spending translate into concrete investment opportunities.
Kevin McGurgan, Managing Director Government and Public Affairs at OTPP, followed with “Geopolitical Risk – Navigating Global Uncertainty”, providing a global risk lens on cross‑border investment decisions. The formal programme concluded with “Macro‑Economic Outlooks; Is Winter Coming?” presented by Pål Ringholm, Chief Investment Officer at Formue, who shared his assessment of key macro drivers and what they may imply for investors.
A full value chain meeting place – and a strong platform for the next 15 years
Nordic Buy Out Forum 2025 brought together participants from across the M&A value chain, including private equity funds, corporate executives, lawyers, investment bankers and asset managers, in both formal sessions and dedicated networking arenas. This breadth – in both content and audience – is a key reason why the conference has become the largest annual M&A conference in the Nordic region.
Supported by sponsors such as Howden, dCompany, Newcode.ai and Admincontrol, the conference also showcased specialised solutions within M&A insurance, digital corporate management and secure collaboration tools for transaction processes.
After 15 years, Nordic Buy Out Forum has firmly established itself as a key meeting point for the Nordic deal‑making community, where market participants come together to discuss trends, share experience and shape the future of the transaction market. The 2025 anniversary edition demonstrated that the need for such a dedicated arena is stronger than ever, as investors and advisers navigate regulatory change, technological shifts, heightened sustainability expectations and a complex geopolitical backdrop.
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