Ferd

Ferd is a family-owned Norwegian investment company dedicated to creating enduring value and leaving clear footprints, encompassing both financial returns and positive societal and environmental contributions. The firm operates across a diverse range of business areas, including active ownership and corporate development in private and publicly listed companies, financial investments, real estate development, investments through external managers, impact investing, and social entrepreneurship. Ferd emphasizes a broad perspective on value creation, aligning its activities with sustainability goals and fostering progress for individuals and society.

The current entity, Ferd AS, was established in 2001 through the merger of Tiedemanns-Joh. H. Andresen DA and Hartog & Co AS. Its history, however, traces back to the Andresen family's acquisition of J. L. Tiedemanns Tobaksfabrik in 1849. The family, now in its fifth and sixth generations, continues to own and guide Ferd, with Johan H. Andresen and his daughters Katharina and Alexandra playing active roles. The firm seeks partners who share its values, aiming to contribute actively as a value-adding partner with significant ownership stakes.

Ferd's portfolio includes a variety of companies across different sectors. Notable investments in private companies include Brav (sports and leisure), Elopak (packaging), Interwell (oilfield services), Norkart (geospatial software), General Oceans (marine technology), Aidian (diagnostics), and Trifork (IT consulting). Through its Impact Investing arm, Ferd also invests in early-phase companies and funds focused on sustainable solutions, such as Kvist Solutions (environmental certification for buildings), Metizoft AS (sustainable ship operations software), and funds like 2150 (sustainable urban environments), Pale Blue Dot (climate tech), and SWEN Blue Ocean Fund (ocean health). The firm is also a proud owner of Marienlyst, a significant development site in Oslo, where it aims to create a sustainable and vibrant urban district.

Ferd's team comprises investment professionals with expertise across its various business areas. The firm's approach involves active and long-term ownership, where it encourages and challenges its portfolio companies to pursue international growth, providing capital, competence, and networks to realize their potential. This commitment extends to its social entrepreneurship initiatives, where it invests in organizations that deliver both social and financial results, strengthening their opportunities for success.