Norwegian bank DNB to buy Carnegie for $1.14 billion

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -Norway’s largest bank DNB said on Monday it had agreed to buy Swedish investment bank and asset manager Carnegie from private equity firm Altor and minority owners for around 12 billion Swedish crowns ($1.14 billion).

DNB said in a statement it expects to finalise the all-cash deal, which is subject to authority approvals, in the first half of 2025.

“We and Carnegie are realising our joint ambition to build a leading player across the Nordic region in investment banking, securities brokerage and research, corporate banking, private banking and asset management,” it said.

Carnegie, which employs around 850 people, had 436 billion Swedish crowns in assets under management as of Sept. 30.

DNB said it expects the deal to generate a return on invested capital above 15%, and lead to some efficiency gains across the combined operations.

“The primary value driver of the transaction is the growth opportunities unlocked by a stronger combined Nordic platform and enhanced client offering which are expected to generate the majority of transaction benefits,” it said.

DNB said DNB Markets and Morgan Stanley acted as its financial advisors while Carnegie Investment Bank, Goldman Sachs and Lenner & Partners acted as financial advisors to Carnegie.

($1 = 10.5308 Swedish crowns)