Norway secures record levels of cross-border investment

By Emily Wright, reporting from Oslo

Overseas investment into Norway hit record levels last year making up around half of all deals as the country continues to open up to international capital.

Stig Bech, partner at Oslo based law firm BA-HR, which was responsible for advising on NOK112bn of a total NOK125bn of deals in Norway in 2015, said that the country was more open to foreign capital than ever before.

He said: "We understand we are part of an international world. It is important to have a lot of players in the market. Otherwise it would get quite boring."

He added that foreign investors were attracted by Norway's safe, stable economy, standardised contracts and best practice and said that Norwegian companies were now even prepared to slow down their famously rapid deal periods to give overseas investors a chance to make their plays.

"Things do happen very fast here. But local companies have been more willing to slow things down and wait a little longer to give international buyers a chance to keep up. And prospectuses have now started to be printed in English.

"Ten years ago the Norwegian market was very local. But things are changing and I have been really impressed by the foreign investors. They have come to the market very prepared."

emily.wright@eatatesgazette.com