Swedish private equity firm buys fish health specialist

Fish health business STIM has been acquired by Swedish investment firm Summa Equity, in a move STIM’s founder said would help the company to grow.

STIM is the aquaculture industry’s largest quality supplier of fish health products and services, operating in Norway, Chile, UK, and Canada. Its gross revenue of the company was over €150m (£128m) in 2023. The price paid for the acquisition has not been disclosed, but Summa has taken a 75% controlling interest in STIM.

Summa Equity is headquartered in Stockholm and has offices in Oslo and Munich. It describes itself as “an impact investor focusing on three thematic areas: Resource Efficiency, Changing Demographics, and Tech-Enabled Transformation”.

Jim-Roger Nordly, Founder and Chairman, STIM

Last year STIM founder Jim-Roger Nordly said he was “identifying new strategic solutions” with the help of advisers ABG Sundal Collier. In September 2023, Nordly stepped down as CEO in favour of aquaculture veteran Carl-Erik Arnesen, formerly managing director of the feed producer Polarfeed, also owned by Nordly.

Announcing the acquisition today, Nordly said: “I am convinced that Summa is the right strategic and long-term partner for us. They recognize that our employees’ expertise and efforts is the bedrock of this company. With Summa on our side, I am confident that STIM can become the world leader within sustainability and health, not just within the salmon industry, but for the seafood industry as a whole. There is a huge demand for advisory services within this sector, and that is something we have our eyes on.”

Martin Gjølme, Partner at Summa, said: “Aquaculture is one of the key building blocks in the sustainable food system of the future due to its low carbon footprint, scalability, and high feed efficiency. But as a young industry it faces challenges related to fish welfare and mortality. Solving these challenges through disease prevention, sound production protocols, genetics and nutrition will be key to unlock the industry’s full potential. STIM is ideally positioned to take the lead role in that transformation.”

Martin Gjølme, Partner, Summa Equity