Equip Capital, a Nordic private equity firm, agreed to acquire a portfolio of 20 operating companies from Vestum, a Sweden-based investment company, for $31m. "Vestum demonstrates strength by acting in a market where we feel we can generate higher returns by allocating capital to the debt side, which significantly lowers our interest costs and streamlines our capital structure and flexibility. The divested businesses are solid companies that we believe can be developed in an excellent way with the new owner. During Vestum's ownership these companies, together with other Vestum companies, have among other things carried out target-oriented sustainability work which now enables the sustainability-linked bond issued by Lakers Group AB (publ) to be resolved in a cost-effective manner. However, a divestment of the businesses provide several advantages for Vestum, such as improved profitability and cash flow and increased resource efficiency," Conny Ryk, Vestum CEO.