Catella, which is a Nordic player within real estate financing, fund management and corporate finance, left 2019 stronger than at the start of the year, its year-end report shows.

In total, income went up by 9 percent to EUR 227 million (SEK 2.4 billion) while the operations result also increased by 20 percent to EUR 40 million (SEK 422 million).

"In the Nordics, Denmark and Finland gave higher incomes, whilst Sweden, which is the biggest market, showed a lower income and result compared to the previous year," Catella writes in the report.

The 2019 report is the last one for Knut Pedersen, who is stepping down before the company's AGM in spring.

He characterizes 2019 as a year with a strong finish, which "promises good things for 2020".

"We are still seeing a high level of activity in the market, and Catella is well-positioned to continue to grow profitably," he writes in the report.

English Edit: Catherine Brett

Catella turns more of its funds fossil-free

EUR 17.5bn investment firm's CEO quits after six years at the helm