Latest news with #STOCKHOLM
Kuwait Times
27-05-2025
- Business
- Kuwait Times
IKEA launches new edition of the iconic STOCKHOLM collection in Kuwait
IKEA Kuwait, the leader for life at home, launched the new edition of STOCKHOLM collection in an exclusive event at IKEA The Warehouse. Celebrating 40 years, STOCKHOLM debuts its largest collection, with 96 thoughtfully designed pieces reflecting a signature mark of high-quality materials and Scandinavian design, from statement sofas and handwoven wool rugs to chandeliers and mouth-blown glass vases. The STOCKHOLM collection has evolved through eight distinct editions, each unique but sharing the same defining characteristic: modern Scandinavian design of the highest quality, offered at an affordable price. Key IKEA partners, loyal customers, media, and local influencers gathered to discover this iconic collection. In welcoming them, Marino Maganto; IKEA CEO for Kuwait, Jordan and Morocco said: 'We are happy to welcome you today at IKEA The Warehouse to celebrate the launch of the latest edition of the STOCKHOLM collection. It is especially meaningful to gather in one of our newest and largest customer meeting points in Kuwait for a collection that continues to inspire, even 40 years after its first launch. STOCKHOLM truly represents the best of IKEA: timeless design, quality craftsmanship, and a deep love for life at home.' Marino Magento In its latest and largest iteration, the collection offers a diverse range of furniture, textiles, lighting, and accessories across the home. Materials take center stage - carefully chosen for their quality and how they age and interact with one another. Solid woods paired with tactile surfaces and natural fibers, linen, and leather, combine to create unique expressions in sturdy wood furniture, handwoven wool rugs, mouth-blown glass, and handcrafted rattan pieces. The collection also includes two glass chandeliers with a retro feel, accompanied by white gloves to wear during assembly. 'The purpose of the STOCKHOLM collections has always been to prove that high quality doesn't need to come at an intimidating cost. STOCKHOLM is a no-compromise collection, where every piece tells a story. Craftsmanship is at the heart of the collection where traditional techniques and hands-on methods have resulted in durable and beautiful design pieces that stand the test of time,' explained Maganto. 'Now in Kuwait, we are excited to help our customers create relevant solutions, designed to last, made to fit the way they live and ages beautifully. It is a collection today, collectables tomorrow.' Three passionate designers with different but complementary form languages together create a collection that is cohesive, while ensuring unique pieces that shine on their own. True to its namesake, the inspiration is deeply rooted in the city of Stockholm, reflecting both the urban and natural landscape surrounding the city. Rich earth tones play against natural woods, and textiles reflect scenes and colors from nature. STOCKHOLM 2025 – Through the eyes of the designers behind it Two distinctly different sofas were first designed as centerpieces to guide the collection as a whole. Designer Ola Wihlborg's wide modular sofa, offered in four colors including a deep turquoise velvet, was born from his frustration with sofas that constantly need the cushions fluffed. He said, 'I wanted to create a high-quality sofa that maintains its shape and looks the same even after you stand up from sitting in it. Something that prioritizes comfort without needing extra pillows.' After developing over 30 prototypes to find the perfect shape for everyday comfort, the result is a sleek, generous sofa with modules that can be used on their own as well as connected to create the desired length. The second sofa, designed by Nike Karlsson with a solid pine wood frame and white cushions, serves as an exploration into design without foam. Made from natural materials, the sofa uses woven fabric, natural latex, and coconut fiber, delivering a sofa with exceptional comfort and timeless appeal. Rattan was a focal point of STOCKHOLM 2017, and Nike's iconic rattan cabinet became a sought-after favorite. In the new collection, Nike introduces a sliding-door cabinet featuring a surface woven from rattan fibers, tied, bent and shaped by hand. Rattan is also used in the backrest of one of the dining chairs, while the lounge chair is built around a robust rattan frame and topped with a deep cushion in a light Bouclé. 'You'd think with the name STOCKHOLM, the pieces would have a big city feeling, but we went outside the urban setting, to the nature and islands around it. This allowed us to lean into the Scandinavian materials, including working with a Swedish pine supplier to source the highest-quality pine. People often think of pine as a budget material, but when you go for the best and apply smart, efficient design techniques, its beauty is undeniable,' said Nike Karlsson. The raw nature of the materials shines throughout the collection, where chairs, bookshelves, and dining tables showcase detailed craftsmanship and smart construction—achieving sleek, clean designs that remain strong and durable. The bentwood chairs are crafted using a traditional technique where the beech wood is soaked and carefully bent by hand to form soft, rounded arches in arms and back. The forest is a central character in Textile Designer Paulin Machado's designs, including lampshades that are adorned in leaf and mushroom prints and color combinations pulled directly from the Scandinavian seasons. Handwoven by master weavers, her collection of 100% wool rugs brings nature inside, with woven birch tree patterns, available in shades of green as well as a gray scale, in black and white. Merino wool blankets and pillowcases in multi-colored patterns add pops of drama. As Paulin put it, 'Nature is the best designer - every color matches beautifully in the natural world and you can see how we have tried to capture the hues of Sweden's seasonal shifts.' For dining, the collection offers tableware in ceramic and porcelain, including glazed stone plates and bowls, and a series of glasses. A selection of large vases stands out as beautiful centerpieces, with two mouth-blown and one ceramic black amorph, so each one carries its own character. Visit IKEA The Warehouse in Sabahiya to discover the STOCKHOLM 2025 collection.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Vermiculus Collaborates with Capital Market Research Firm GreySpark Partners to deliver Key Insights on T+1 Settlement Transition
Joint article series highlights operational, technological, and infrastructure implications for exchanges, clearing houses, and CSDs-one year after T+1 implementation-and explores what lies ahead as global markets consider similar reforms. STOCKHOLM, May 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Vermiculus, a global leading market infrastructure provider, today announced a strategic collaboration with the prominent capital markets research firm, GreySpark Partners, to release a comprehensive analysis of the T+1 settlement transition, which took effect in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico on May 28, 2024. This joint analysis examines how the transition has reshaped key aspects of market infrastructure, including risk exposure, operational workflows, and the role of automation in post-trade processes. "The shift to shorter settlement cycles is a game-changer, forcing the industry to rethink operations and upgrade systems at speed," says Lars-Göran Larsson, Industry Expert at Vermiculus, and continues: "The North American experience reveals how this transition has influenced settlement processes and introduced new demands for managing administrative routines. It also sheds light on the growing importance of modern technology, where flexibility and high throughput are critical to success." The first article highlights several key themes, including the immediate effects and implications of the transition, along with the challenges and benefits that have emerged, drawing on research and data from Acuity Knowledge Partners, Bloomberg, DTCC, Thomas Murray, and the US Securities and Exchange Commission. "Understanding the impact of the T+1 transition on post-trade processes and infrastructure is critical for the entire financial ecosystem," says Taraneh Derayati, CEO of Vermiculus. "To provide the industry with meaningful insights, we partnered with GreySpark for their deep expertise in capital markets and financial infrastructure. Their strong track record made them the ideal partner to help clarify both the challenges and opportunities this shift presents". The first analysis out, titled "Implications of T+1 Settlement on North American Markets" is now available to download from here. In the next in-depth article from this collaboration, the focus shifts to the international stage—exploring how the T+1 transition is influencing global markets and what lessons other regions can draw as they consider similar reforms. About Vermiculus Financial Technology Vermiculus Financial Technology AB provides cutting-edge trading, clearing, and CSD solutions to market participants around the world. Vermiculus' solutions are the first to bring state-of-the-art advances in dynamic microservice architecture together with vast experience in clearing house, exchange, and CSD business requirements. The company started its operation in 2020 and is founded by industry experts with the incentive to revolutionize the technology of exchanges, clearing houses, and CSDs. With its headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden, Vermiculus consists of hand-picked teams, trained to deliver mission-critical solutions. With decades of accumulated knowledge and expertise, the team has previously completed 75+ projects for the world's largest exchanges, clearing houses, and CSDs. For further information, please contact: Amelie Hedenstierna - PR & Communications Vermiculus Financial TechnologyTel +46-(0)73 622 24 This information was brought to you by Cision The following files are available for download: Release Taraneh Derayati, CEO of Vermiculus Lars-Göran Larsson Vermiculus View original content: SOURCE VermiculusFT Sign in to access your portfolio
Forbes
15-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Why IKEA's CEO Is Betting On Small Joys And Big Sustainability
Jesper Brodin was nothing like I expected. A formidable CEO, yes—but without the polished sheen or corporate distance. At Milan Design Week, while much of the design world leaned into spectacle, Brodin sat with me in a converted warehouse in Navigli, discussing carbon emissions and circularity with the calm of someone more interested in systems than soundbites. The CEO of Ingka Group—the largest IKEA retailer globally—was there as IKEA unveiled two projects: the return of its design-led STOCKHOLM collection and Do Something, Change Everything, a data-backed display of how the company is reworking its operations to meet urgent climate targets. Both presentations reflected a broader shift in how IKEA approaches the intersection of design, behavior, and impact. The STOCKHOLM collection is a nod to longtime customers—those who grew up with flat-packs and now have more disposable income. Do Something, Change Everything made the company's strategy clear: by investing in renewable energy, resource efficiency, and circularity, IKEA can reduce emissions and champion affordability at scale. This approach extends to new services like IKEA Pre-Owned and Sustainable Living Shops, designed for how people buy, live, and budget today. CEO Jesper Brodin at Milan Design Week The same attention to everyday realities also shapes the company's Life at Home Report, now in its 11th year. Drawing on insights from over 38,000 people across 39 countries, the 2024 edition revealed that one in three people don't feel enough joy at home. The solution doesn't suggest grand overhauls. Instead, it points to small, powerful shifts—more personalization, more connection, more comfort. In the conversation that follows, Brodin shares how these insights inform IKEA's evolving design priorities, retail strategy, and long-term sustainability goals. You've been at IKEA since 2002. What was your relationship with the brand before joining? I grew up in Sweden—my father was a teacher, my mother worked at a travel agency. We didn't have a lot of money, so every purchase had to count. I remember going to IKEA with my dad and assembling furniture together. I thought it was fun—he might not have agreed! But that relationship with the brand started early. You've just launched the latest STOCKHOLM collection. Can you tell us about that? STOCKHOLM was designed for people who've maybe grown out of their first apartments, had their first kids, and now have a little more money. We noticed some of these customers 'graduated' from IKEA and started shopping elsewhere. So we asked, what if we could keep them with us? This is our eighth STOCKHOLM collection—it's the biggest yet with 100 products. It's intended to 'flirt' with that more design-focused category, but still at a quarter of the price you'd find elsewhere. A similar sofa from a competitor might cost €5,000—we're offering ours for €1,400. IKEA's STOCKHOLM Collection at Milan Design Week There's a lot of talk around sustainability at IKEA. If you couldn't use the word 'sustainable,' how would you describe your approach? It's about doing what's right—not just for business, but for all our stakeholders. Being people and planet positive has to be business positive too. It's not charity; it's a smart business. We've proven it's possible to grow and reduce our carbon footprint at the same time. Since signing the Paris Agreement, we've grown our business by 24% and cut absolute carbon emissions by 30.1%. That's impressive. How have you achieved those reductions? Almost every action we've taken to cut carbon has also helped us reduce costs. We've invested in renewable energy—wind and solar—and now we produce 140% of our own needs. That independence is a business win. We've also reduced food waste by 60.5%. People often assume sustainability is expensive, but being smart with resources is good for the bottom line. And yet, many still believe sustainable products are unaffordable. Why do you think that is? It's a misconception. At IKEA, we follow a design formula: form, function, price, quality, and sustainability. Years ago, I met two groups of producers. One said we had to choose between low price or high quality. The other said increasing quality would save money—through lean production, zero waste, worker motivation, and better materials. They were right. It's the same with sustainability—transformation lowers cost in the long run. Milan Design Week How do you address concerns around greenwashing? Greenwashing emerged from companies that were reckless or misleading. But now there's a new concern—greenhushing. The best companies are staying silent out of fear of backlash. We've chosen the opposite approach. We work with youth organizations, NGOs, and even lawyers who prosecute greenwashing to keep us honest. We're sharing the facts—30% carbon reduction across 20 to 30 examples. If we make a small mistake, we'll own it. But silence isn't an option. How do you know your customers care about sustainability? Every two years, we survey over 33,000 people across more than 30 markets with GlobeScan. Climate change has consistently been the number one concern—across Texas, Shanghai, Milan, Stockholm. In fact, awareness is highest in China. Today, 64% of customers report taking conscious action, like recycling or buying secondhand. But only 6% say they could pay more for climate-smart products. The reality is that most people simply can't afford to care the way they'd like to. So how does that shape IKEA's strategy? We can't build a sustainable future by asking people to pay more. That only works for the wealthy, and it doesn't drive transformation. So we bake affordability into our sustainability strategy. That's why we celebrate when we can lower prices—it means we're reaching more people. Milan Design Week Speaking of affordability, tell us about IKEA's approach to the secondhand market. This is almost embarrassing, I didn't realize how massive our secondhand market share was! Just go on Ebay or Facebook Marketplace and you can see how many people are reselling IKEA products. They don't throw them away—they sell them, especially in life stages like parenting where space is tight. In some areas, we actually have a higher secondhand market share than first-time purchases. How did that lead to IKEA Pre-Owned? We began exploring this seriously around 2015. At first, we thought the existing platforms were good enough. But eventually, our innovation team saw room to add value. We built IKEA Pre-Owned, now live in Spain and Norway. Sellers can access our full photo library, get price recommendations based on our database, and buyers get free spare parts. It's not just resale, it's a better experience. Let's talk about the Life at Home report. How does the concept of 'designing for joy' fit in with your other priorities like sustainability and affordability? People start with price. Then they want functionality—especially in small spaces. After that, quality and well-being become important. Joy is woven through all of that. We've seen families save for years just to buy a bunk bed for their kids so they can create space to play or do homework. That shapes our design process. We do home visits constantly and come back with real insights. We design all our products in-house, so we have a point of view. Simplicity, Scandinavian style, and the feel of the material all contribute to joy. The STOCKHOLM Collection at Milan Design Week Finally, what's the future of IKEA retail that excites you most? We've made big investments in online and services. But we've also explored new physical formats. We realized we couldn't take 70 years to adapt—we had to move fast. After many tests and mistakes, we've landed on three new formats: home planning studios, pick-up points, and what we call 'access format' stores. They're smaller, urban, and flexible—like the one opening soon on Oxford Street in London. They give you the full IKEA experience in a condensed version. It's super exciting to see them rolling out globally.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Invitation to presentation of EQT AB's Q1 Announcement 2025
STOCKHOLM, April 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- EQT AB's Q1 Announcement 2025 will be published on Wednesday 16 April 2025 at approximately 07:00 CEST. EQT will host a conference call at 08:30 CEST to present the report, followed by a Q&A session. The presentation and a video link for the webcast will be available here from the time of the publication of the Q1 Announcement. To participate by phone and ask questions during the Q&A, please register here in advance. Upon registration, you will receive your personal dial-in details. The webcast can be followed live here and a recording will be available afterwards. Information on EQT AB's financial reporting The EQT AB Group has a long-term business model founded on a promise to its fund investors to invest capital, drive value creation and create consistent attractive returns over a 5 to 10-year horizon. The Group's financial model is primarily affected by the size of its fee-generating assets under management, the performance of the EQT funds and its ability to recruit and retain top talent. The Group operates in a market driven by long-term trends and thus believes quarterly financial statements are less relevant for investors. However, in order to provide the market with relevant and suitable information about the Group's development, EQT publishes quarterly announcements with key operating numbers that are relevant for the business performance (taking Nasdaq's guidance note for preparing interim management statements into consideration). In addition, a half-year report and a year-end report including financial statements and further information relevant for investors is published. Finally, EQT also publishes an annual report including sustainability reporting. Contact Olof Svensson, Head of Shareholder Relations, +46 72 989 09 15EQT Shareholder Relations, shareholderrelations@ Rickard Buch, Head of Corporate Communications, +46 72 989 09 11EQT Press Office, press@ +46 8 506 55 334 This information was brought to you by Cision The following files are available for download: EQT AB Group View original content:
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Invitation to EQT's Capital Markets Event in London on 22 May 2025 - Value creation through the lens of EQT's portfolio companies
STOCKHOLM, March 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On 22 May in London, EQT will host a Capital Markets Event focused on EQT's ownership model and approach to value creation. The afternoon will feature insights from the EQT funds' portfolio company CEOs, Chairpersons, Industrial Advisors, and EQT's leadership team. The event will explore EQT's thematic investment focus, its repeatable value creation toolbox and its governance model through the lens of several of its portfolio companies – IFS, Reworld, Nord Anglia, IVC Evidensia, WS Audiology, and Credila Financial Services. In parallel, the portfolio company executives will be available for one-on-one meetings with institutional investors. The day will be hosted by EQT's newly appointed CEO, Per Franzén, Conni Jonsson, Founder and Chairperson, the Heads of the Private Capital and Infrastructure business lines, and EQT's Shareholder Relations team. Hosted in person at Sky Garden in the City of London, the event will begin with registration and lunch at 12:00 pm BST, followed by an afternoon of presentations and discussions. Attendance is primarily intended for institutional shareholders, analysts, financial advisors, and media. Please register here to attend. We look forward to welcoming you! Contact Olof Svensson, Head of Shareholder Relations, +46 72 989 09 15EQT Press Office, press@ +46 8 506 55 334 This information was brought to you by Cision The following files are available for download: PR - Invitation to EQT's Capital Markets Event in London London Capital Markets Event View original content: Sign in to access your portfolio
