Alla inlägg av andreasberonius

Navigating the world of reporting regulations

An interview with Alder Sustainability Manager, Eva Normell

Eva Normell joined the Alder team as Sustainability Manager in 2021. Here we talk to Eva about how she keeps on top of the ever-changing field of sustainability reporting regulations and ask what companies need to consider when working with them.

Can you tell us about your role at Alder?

Eva: My role as Sustainability Manager is to support the Alder team with the knowledge and tools to find companies that are aligned with our values and ambitions. I also work closely with our portfolio companies to help them integrate sustainability into strategy and leverage their positive impact while also reducing the environmental footprint of operations. We want to be part of driving the European Green Deal and be a role model for what’s needed to make business part of a resilient future.

What are some of the new and forthcoming EU sustainability reporting policies and regulations that companies like Alder need to be aware of?

Eva: Over the last couple of years, the EU has released several new sustainable finance regulations in line with the EU Green Deal. The SFDR and the EU Taxonomy lie at the cornerstone of this effort, and they are both super ambitious and are changing the dynamics of sustainable finance.

How do you prepare Alder and its companies to comply with these regulations?

Eva: We prepare in many ways. The first step is to keep track of how the regulations and guidelines evolve. We are aligned with the SFDR from January 2023, as required, but the regulations are so new that they are a bit like a moving target.

Since 2021 we have been working on our companies’ EU Taxonomy journey – understanding and adapting to determine their eligibility and alignment and to describe the contribution they make to sustainability using this new language. We have performed a thorough GHG inventory to become serious participants in the “race to zero” and learn more about our emissions throughout the entire value chain, including scope 3. We also track data across all our companies to regulary report on Principle Adverse Impacts (PAI).

New for this year, we have chosen to implement a common Sustainability Management platform that automates the collection, processing and visualisation of sustainability data using SustainLab’s tools, which will make things much easier to access understand and track in the coming years.

”Focus on value creation and what you want to achieve!”

What are the main challenges of regulation alignment?

Eva: For many companies, the obvious challenges are usability, lack of availability of ESG data, data gathering problems, and inconsistent use of terminology. But I see the bigger challenge being that we can get so caught up in the details of data gathering and number crunching that we forget what’s important. We fail to focus on improving how we work, reducing and improving resource use, cutting emissions and leveraging and supporting companies with positive environmental impact to take faster and bigger steps.

Other challenges are securing enough in-house ESG expertise, awareness and training, and integration of sustainability into business models and strategies. One particular challenge for Alder with the EU Taxonomy is that it is trying to definitively define sustainability, but it is actually not comprehensive. At Alder, we look deeper into the mechanics of a sustainable economy and find companies playing critical roles in monitoring, communicating and controlling resource use, efficiency and safety. Many of these areas are not yet included in the taxonomy, but they are important to enable their customers to be sustainable. We hope that the taxonomy will not limit the definition of sustainability so that we don’t see the economy in all its richness and inventiveness because it is just this that we really need for the transition.

All these new requirements may seem daunting to many companies, but what are the benefits or opportunities they pose?

Eva: They are a great way to create trust. For example, since all our funds are categorised as Article 9 according to SFDR, our investors have a guarantee that we are serious and that sustainable investments are our main objective. When it comes to the Green Deal, there is an opportunity to be part of a unified language and approach, which will hopefully create a whole new level of understanding. These more transparent ways of measuring sustainable activities, aim to avoid greenwashing, so that investors can be sure they are contributing to real change.

Do you have any advice for other companies about how to keep on top of new directives and regulations?

Eva: Focus on value creation and what you want to achieve! You can’t avoid the groundwork, so do it in a way that you can manage moving forward. Start measuring, even if it is not perfect, so you have a baseline. And perhaps most importantly, be brave! Don’t let the regulations put you off, we need to make bold changes to create a resilient future. The regulations provide a valuable framework for sustainability efforts, but they should just strengthen your work and not dictate what you want to achieve.


Internship! Sex månaders heltidstjänst, vår eller höst 2023?

SIX MONTH FULL-TIME POSITION SPRING OR FALL 2023

Stockholm-based internship at private equity firm Alder, focusing on the development of environmentally sustainable companies with high growth potential.

About Alder

Alder is a Stockholm-based private equity firm with the goal of creating opportunities for environmentally sustainable companies to accelerate growth. Sustainability is a core part of Alder’s investment thesis and values, and we invest in companies that create both economic profit and environmental benefit. Alder invests in small- and mid-cap Nordic companies with established businesses models and high growth potential.

Alder has €250m in assets under management, has made sixteen platform investments and more than fifty add-on acquisitions to date, in industries such as smart energy metering, water treatment and intelligent transportation.

At Alder, we value diversity and believe that different backgrounds contribute to making our team stronger. Our team works closely together with inclusive and transparent decision-making. We mix industrial and financial expertise and believe in entrepreneurship as a driving force.

The Role

Alder is a flat organisation consisting of a small and tight-knit team. As a part of the team, you will gain experience from all stages of the private equity investment process and be given significant responsibility, including but not limited to:

  • Screening for new investment opportunities
  • Company valuations and close participation in investment processes
  • Strategic and financial analysis of markets and companies
  • Supporting the Alder team and portfolio company management in value creation initiatives

We are looking for an ambitious individual, fluent in Swedish and English, to join our team in Stockholm for a full-time internship during spring or fall 2023.

You are likely pursuing a degree in a relevant MSc program, e.g. Finance, Accounting or Industrial Engineering. Relevant work experience is a great plus. You are an analytical individual with a strong interest in finance and business development. You are open-minded and look forward to working in an environment characterised by Alder’s values: Development, Collaboration, Persistence and Sustainability in all aspects.

The spring position commences in January 2023 and the fall position in August 2023. Each internship lasts up to six months, depending on personal preferences.

How to apply

Please send your application including a curriculum vitae, cover letter and grade transcript to erika.ankarberg@alder.se, on the 15th of October 2022 at the latest. We encourage you to send your application as soon as possible as we will start interviewing candidates prior to the deadline. For more information, please contact Erika Ankarberg by email.

Tillbaka på jobbet!

Vi hoppas att du känner dig utvilad, inspirerad och redo för vad resten av året har att erbjuda.

Hösten är den perfekta tiden för nytänkande och sätta nya intentioner och mål. Precis så vill vi ta chansen att inspirera dig med ett kort videoklipp från vår Executive Training in Resilience Thinking som vi höll tillsammans med våra portföljbolag och Stockholm Resilience Center under två intensiva och intressanta dagar i maj. Under dessa två dagar fick våra portföljbolag möjlighet att ytterligare stärka den långsiktiga hållbarheten och konkurrenskraften i sina strategier genom att lyssna på framstående talare och diskutera sätt att ytterligare förbättra deras genomslag i en serie workshops.

Executive Training in Resilience Thinking

De senaste två dagarna har Alderteamet deltagit i en Executive Training in Resilience Thinking tillsammans med Stockholm Resilience Centre. Vi har haft förmånen att lyssna på framstående talare, däribland Carl Folke (medgrundare och ordförande för Stockholm Resilience Centre och chef för Beijerinstitutet, Kungliga Vetenskapsakademien), Johan Kuylenstierna (ordförande i Klimatpolitiska rådet), Per-Anders Enkvist (grundare och VD för Material Economics), Henrik Henriksson (VD för H2 Green Steel, tidigare vd för Scania), Lisen Schultz (utbildningsdirektör på Stockholm Resilience Centre) och Hans Beyer (Hållbarhetschef på SEB).

Förutom att höja vår kunskap inom hållbarhetsrelaterade ämnen och ta del av inspirerande presentationer och diskussioner har våra portföljbolag haft möjlighet att ytterligare stärka den långsiktiga hållbarheten och konkurrenskraften i sina strategier genom en serie workshops.

Alderteamet vill tacka alla deltagare, inklusive våra portföljbolag, Stockholm Resilience Centre och huvudtalare, för deras entusiasm, engagemang och trovärdiga diskussioner kring transformativ och handlingsbar förändring. Vi ser fram emot att fortsätta vårt uppdrag att öka resiliensen i våra verksamheter!

Alder II förvärvar AB Inventech

Alder invests in automation company AB Inventech

Stockholm – December 17th, 2021 – Alder II AB (“Alder”), a Nordic investment fund focusing on the development of environmentally sustainable companies, has closed an investment in AB Inventech A/S (“AB Inventech”, or the “Company”). Alder will become the majority owner of AB Inventech and will partner with the Company’s founder and management to continue the growth journey.

AB Inventech, founded in 1989, is a leading supplier and provider of automation applications and processes, primarily for global wind turbine blade manufacturers. With an attractive product and service offering, AB Inventech adds value to its customers by improving productivity, quality, work environment safety and cost of production through automation and professionalisation of manufacturing processes.

The wind turbine industry is growing, fuelled by structural market drivers of increasing energy demand, environmental focus, and consensus of its importance as a source for power generation long-term. Market trends of growing investments in wind turbine capacity, blade technology development and automation and professionalisation of production drive demand for AB Inventech’s products and services.

As the new majority owner, Alder will provide capital, experience, and support to enable AB Inventech to continue its growth journey internationally.

“We are impressed by the quality products and services supplied by AB Inventech under Arne Bech’s and Niels Kirkegaard’s management. The Company has built up considerable expertise and insight into the manufacturing of wind turbine blades, and we see a need for their knowhow and technologies as wind turbine blade manufacturing becomes increasingly complex. We are keen to enter into partnership with the skilled management team at AB Inventech to support them in their future international growth.”

says Jonas Frick, co-founder and partner at Alder

“With Alder as majority shareholder, we now have a strong and active partner with whom we can strengthen AB Inventech’s presence on the international markets within automation solutions for the wind turbine industry. This will go a long way towards meeting the wishes of our international customers.”

says Niels Kirkegaard, CEO of AB Inventech.

For more information, please contact:

Jonas Frick
Partner at Alder
Tel. +46 70 763 05 34
jonas.frick@alder.se

Niels Kirkegaard
CEO of AB Inventech
Tel. +45 4094 5022
nk@ab-inventech.dk

About AB Inventech A/S

AB Inventech A/S is a recognised player in the automation industry and as a supplier of specialist machines – in Denmark and internationally. AB Inventech A/S focuses in particular on production equipment for the manufacturing wind turbine blades and handling industrial composite fibres. In recent years, the carbon fibre reinforcement of wind turbine blades has been a key growth area for the company, which is now world-leading within the field. AB Inventech A/S has approximately 100 employees and is based in Ikast in Jutland.

For more information, visit www.ab-inventech.dk

About Alder

Alder II AB is a Nordic investment fund with the goal of creating the best possible conditions for long-term development of sustainable technology and service companies. With a mix of industrial and financial expertise and with the interest in entrepreneurship as a driving force, Alder creates profitable growth in close companionship with our companies.

Alder II investerar i Centriair

Alder invests in Centriair, a leading industrial airborne odour and emissions treatment company

Stockholm – December 6, 2021 – Alder II AB (“Alder”), a Nordic investment fund focusing on the development of sustainable technology and services companies, closed an investment in Centriair Holding AB and its subsidiaries (“Centriair” or the “Company”). Alder will partner with Centriair’s founders and management to continue the growth journey of the Company.

Centriair, founded in 2007, designs, develops and delivers airborne odour and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions abatement systems for process industries, resulting in lower concentrations of harmful gases and aerosols. The Company has a leading offering for demanding applications and a strong position in the waste, food and biogas segments in primarily the Nordics, DACH and the UK. Centriair has a recent history of strong growth, increasing its revenues by an annual growth rate of 50% in the past six years. The growth is attributable to a competitive technology offering and growing demand based on changing customer preferences and stricter regulation.

Environmental sustainability is an important aspect of Centriair’s business model, offering solutions that help remove harmful aerosols and gases from process air, providing clean air within industrial processing environments and public spaces. The Company is headquartered in Sävedalen, Sweden, and has an annual turnover of ca. 100 MSEK with ca. 40 employees. Alder will provide capital, network and experience from other investments in related fields such as air filters and gas emissions analysis. Furthermore, Mats R Karlsson will join as Chairman providing considerable industrial and growth experience.

“Centriair is a company in an attractive market that has shown impressive growth in the past few years. Run by a highly competent and entrepreneurial team, the Company continuously aims to deliver a leading technology offering within its field. We look forward to working in unison with the founders, management and Board to continue the Company’s growth journey”

says Dag Broman, Partner at Alder

“At Centriair we can be proud of the success we have achieved thus far. The success has enabled us to now strengthen the owner base by taking in significant capital to invest into the business and continue our growth journey. We have built a mutual trust with Alder and believe in their ability to support us in this next phase.”

says Jack Delin, CEO and Co-Founder of Centriair

For more information please contact:

Dag Broman
Partner at Alder
Mobile +46 70 516 40 18
dag.broman@alder.se

Jack Delin
CEO Centriair Holding
Phone +46 70 777 87 81
jack.delin@centriair.com

About Centrair A/S

Centriair was founded in 2007 and develops technology leading solutions for the abatement of industrial airborne emissions, primarily in the Nordics and DACH regions. Centriair works on behalf of customers within the biogas, waste, wastewater and food segments to meet emissions requirements of customers, authorities and the public.

For more information, visit www.centrair.com

About Alder

Alder II AB is a Nordic investment fund with the goal of creating the best possible conditions for long-term development of sustainable technology and services companies. With a mix of industrial and financial expertise and with the interest in entrepreneurship as a driving force, Alder creates profitable growth in close companionship with our companies.

Alders portföljbolag Briab förvärvar Projsec

Projsec joins Briab

On June 28, Briab welcomed its new colleagues at Projsec, experts in physical security with operations in Sweden. Since its inception in 2002, Briab has grown organically from 8 employees to today’s 140 and is a leader in fire protection engineering and risk management services under the promise “The right side of risk”. Projsec is Briab’s first acquisition after the investment fund Alder became the new main owner of Briab in November 2020.

“Our value proposition – to help our customers to get on the right side of risk – is now becoming even more comprehensive and relevant. Fire protection, risk management and physical safety are fundamental to safe and sustainable environments and take its starting point in the design and engineering of buildings and infrastructure. Projsec and Briab work in exactly the same way and the synergies and opportunities between the companies are almost too many to list”

says Briab’s CEO Björn Wulff

Projsec and Briab have operations in about 10 locations in Sweden, from Gävle in the north to Malmö in the south.

“Briab feels like a completely natural buyer and partner for all of us at Projsec. The most important thing, however, is that it is seen as valuable for our customers and I am completely convinced that it does. Being able to offer competence and taking responsibility for a broader area around fire, risk and physical security is great and something our colleagues on the customer side ask for”

says Henrik Good, CEO and founder of Projsec

The companies have initiated an integration of operations and the companies will move into a new state-of-the-art head office at Södermalm, Stockholm in the beginning of 2022.

“We work with the same customer needs – safety, we work in the same market – buildings and infrastructure, and we work at the same stage in the projects – in design and planning. Finally, we face the same growth opportunities through digitalisation and sustainability. We are a perfect match and it will be incredibly exciting to grow together going forward”

Björn Wulff concludes

For more information, please contact:

Björn Wulff
VD Briab
Tel. +46 8 406 66 35
bjorn.wulff@briab.se

Henrik Good
VD Projsec
Tel. +46 72 506 99 01
henrik.good@projsec.se

About Projsec

Projsec is a security consultant in physical security well versed in the laws, rules, standards, norms and regulations required by authorities and insurance companies as well as other claimants. Projsec works independently of suppliers and with active external monitoring of trends in solutions and requirements. The company has 25 employees and is represented in Stockholm, Örebro, Karlshamn and Malmö.

Read more at projsec.se

About Briab

Briab offers services and products in risk management. Briab’s origin is in fire protection and is today supplemented by MEP, R&D, Property Risk Management and risk management in industrial and in community planning. Briab currently has 140 employees and offices in 7 locations around Sweden.

Read more at briab.se