NORNORM closes financing from Santander CIB guaranteed by the European Investment Fund to fuel expansion in Europe

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This collaboration reinforces NORNORM's commitment to driving sustainable growth and innovation in the furniture subscription industry while advancing circular economy initiatives.

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NORNORM closes financing from Santander CIB guaranteed by the European Investment Fund to fuel expansion in Europe

This collaboration reinforces NORNORM's commitment to driving sustainable growth and innovation in the furniture subscription industry while advancing circular economy initiatives.

Copenhagen, Denmark July 1, 2024 – NORNORM, the leading provider of circular workplace furniture solutions, announces it has closed financing with Santander Corporate & Investment Banking (Santander CIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF), securing a significant debt facility to boost growth. This collaboration reinforces NORNORM's commitment to driving sustainable growth and innovation in the furniture subscription industry while advancing circular economy initiatives.

With over 350,000 square metres of workspace furnished and an impressive 50% annual growth in contracted square metres for 2023, NORNORM's strong business fundamentals are evident. The company is well-positioned to tap into the burgeoning office furniture market, estimated at EUR 201 billion, leveraging its innovative approach to office furniture and circular economy principles.

NORNORM benefits from support from the European Union under the InvestEU fund. This financing, alongside previous funding totaling €110M, empowers NORNORM to expand its market reach to the UK, France, and Germany, enhance its business model, innovate and revolutionise the office furniture landscape. NORNORM, a Nordic scale-up business, is committed to sustainable growth and sets a new standard for responsible business practices in the furniture subscription industry through its furniture-as-a-service model that has attracted thousands of customers, including Electrolux, Volvo and Netflix.

Santander CIB spearheaded the debt financing round while the EIF played a crucial role in supporting NORNORM's growth by providing financial backing.

Ignacio Yllera, Executive Director of Growth Financing at Santander CIB, said: “We are delighted to provide NORNORM with this facility which will support their growth, expand their business and strengthen their leading position in circular workplace furniture solutions.”

Emil Steenhouweer, CFO at NORNORM, stated: “With this partnership, we are poised to accelerate our mission, bringing circular office furniture to more corners of the world and proving that sustainable practices can drive exponential growth.”

By finalising these agreements, NORNORM has successfully secured the capital necessary to sustain the growth trajectory. The EIF guarantee accompanying the financing represents a pivotal validation of NORNORM´s circular strategy. Notably, Verdane was the pioneering growth investor to endorse our endeavours, and together with Deloitte provided invaluable advisory support.

NORNORM has achieved remarkable success in the Nordics, revolutionising the furniture industry with its innovative subscription-based model. With more than 350,000 square metres of furnished space. In only three years, NORNORM changed the game and has become a category leader in Furniture as a service with a fully circular business model. NORNORM helps businesses cut CO2 emissions by up to 70% compared to buying new furniture, offering office furniture on subscription. This success is a testament to the region's embrace of sustainable practices and modern, adaptable living solutions.

NORNORM's success in securing financing from leading institutions underscores its position as a gamechanger in the circular economy space.

END

About NORNORM

NORNORM provides businesses with attractive workplace furniture solutions based on a subscription model. Requiring neither investment nor long-term commitment, it offers flexibility to scale up or down as the company grows or downsizes. The concept is built on circularity, where every piece of furniture is kept in a loop from one workspace to the next, and every product is carefully maintained and refurbished to extend its lifespan. This is good for business, people, and the planet. Backed by Inter IKEA, Verdane, Philian AB, and Coen van Oostrom, NORNORM is on a mission to redefine the future of work by creating a fully circular business model for workspace furniture.

For more information, please visit www.nornorm.com

About Banco Santander

Banco Santander (SAN SM, STD US, BNC LN) is a leading commercial bank, founded in 1857 and headquartered in Spain and one of the largest banks in the world by market capitalization. The group’s activities are consolidated into five global businesses: Retail & Commercial Banking, Digital Consumer Bank, Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB), Wealth Management & Insurance and Payments (PagoNxt and Cards). This operating model allows the bank to better leverage its unique combination of global scale and local leadership. Santander aims to be the best open financial services platform providing services to individuals, SMEs, corporates, financial institutions and governments. The bank’s purpose is to help people and businesses prosper in a simple, personal and fair way. Santander is building a more responsible bank and has made a number of commitments to support this objective, including raising €220 billion in green financing between 2019 and 2030. In the first quarter of 2024, Banco Santander had €1.3 trillion in total funds, 166 million customers, 8,400 branches and 211,000 employees.

Santander Corporate & Investment Banking (Santander CIB) is Santander’s global division that supports corporate and institutional clients, offering tailored services and value-added wholesale products suited to their complexity and sophistication, as well as to responsible banking standards that contribute to the progress of society.

Exclusive Insights from NORNORM's Circular Breakfast at Tech Arena 2024

At this year's Tech Arena, one of Scandinavia's largest tech events, NORNORM hosted the Circular Breakfast, bringing together industry leaders, innovators, and forward-thinkers to explore the role of technology in shaping the future of circular companies. We caught up with a few of our expert panellists afterwards to gain exclusive insights on the topics discussed.

Nanna Gelebo (BCG) on Bridging Linear and Circular Business Models
Nanna Gelebo has been a Partner at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in Stockholm for 12 years, with a strong track record of driving transformative change in the retail sector on everything from strategy to implementation.
Key Insights
Nanna discusses the concept of 'cross-fertilisation' between linear and circular business models. She highlights the importance of transforming transactional customer relationships into relational ones through circular efforts, emphasising that rental and second-hand products can serve as gateways for consumers into more sustainable consumption patterns. This approach not only benefits the environment but also opens new avenues for business growth.
Takeaway
Linear business models do not have to stay linear. You can start to become more circular by gradually integrating a circular business model into your current linear one, through e.g. rental and second-hand products, building a circular set-up that suits your business specifically.
Marcus Linder (RISE) on Evaluating and Ensuring Circular Claims
Marcus Linder is the Director of Business Design at the Research Institute of Sweden (RISE). He holds a PhD in Technology Management and Economics from Chalmers University of Technology, specified in environmental research, with his research having been applied industrially in procurements by industry giants such as Volvo.
Key Insights
Marcus brings attention to the critical aspect of a product's end-of-life plan. He emphasises that being 'potentially circular' is insufficient without a concrete and, preferably legally binding, plan for product lifecycle management. This perspective is crucial for customers evaluating circular claims, pushing companies to not just promise sustainability but to embed it into their actual business practices.
Takeaway
To remain credible towards industry peers and customers, the best practice is to have a clear, communicable, and incentivised plan for your circular business model that customers can trust and rely on. It is important that customers should be able to evaluate and ensure your claim of circularity and end-of-life product plans.
Vojtech Vosecky on Being Authentic when Marketing your Circular Efforts
Vojtech Vosecky is one of the leading circular economy advocates, with experiences ranging from being the co-founder of the successful think-tank Institute of Circular Economy, working for the European Parliament, and the world-leading organisation Circle Economy. In 2022, he was also selected as one of the Top Green Voices to follow in Europe by LinkedIn.
Key Insights
Vojtech stresses the importance of being hyper-authentic in the communication of your circular business principles. For him, it’s about being bold in stating what you stand for, challenging misconceptions, and creating moments of realisation for your audience (think true “aha-moments”). His approach - educate, inspire, and agitate - is a formula that companies can use to effectively market their circular efforts. Vojtech highlights that no matter the format of your marketing, and to avoid the trap of greenwashing, be authentic and stand your ground, whilst always backing up with research. That always wins.
Takeaway
When marketing your circular or sustainable business efforts, especially on LinkedIn, use the three principles of educating, inspiring, and agitating - ideally in one go. Be authentic, use visuals, and create truly educating moments. Use facts whenever you can. However, be careful not to over-do them - and always, always, double check them.
“In the end, what is it about? It's about creating a relationship between the user and this object. I think we all have a strong link to things that are meaningful, that have been charged by accompanying our life.”

Some subtitle

In the end, what is it about? It's about creating a relationship between the user and this object. I think we all have a strong link to things that are meaningful, that have been charged by accompanying our life.

NORNORM closes financing from Santander CIB guaranteed by the European Investment Fund to fuel expansion in Europe

This collaboration reinforces NORNORM's commitment to driving sustainable growth and innovation in the furniture subscription industry while advancing circular economy initiatives.

Copenhagen, Denmark July 1, 2024 – NORNORM, the leading provider of circular workplace furniture solutions, announces it has closed financing with Santander Corporate & Investment Banking (Santander CIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF), securing a significant debt facility to boost growth. This collaboration reinforces NORNORM's commitment to driving sustainable growth and innovation in the furniture subscription industry while advancing circular economy initiatives.

With over 350,000 square metres of workspace furnished and an impressive 50% annual growth in contracted square metres for 2023, NORNORM's strong business fundamentals are evident. The company is well-positioned to tap into the burgeoning office furniture market, estimated at EUR 201 billion, leveraging its innovative approach to office furniture and circular economy principles.

NORNORM benefits from support from the European Union under the InvestEU fund. This financing, alongside previous funding totaling €110M, empowers NORNORM to expand its market reach to the UK, France, and Germany, enhance its business model, innovate and revolutionise the office furniture landscape. NORNORM, a Nordic scale-up business, is committed to sustainable growth and sets a new standard for responsible business practices in the furniture subscription industry through its furniture-as-a-service model that has attracted thousands of customers, including Electrolux, Volvo and Netflix.

Santander CIB spearheaded the debt financing round while the EIF played a crucial role in supporting NORNORM's growth by providing financial backing.

Ignacio Yllera, Executive Director of Growth Financing at Santander CIB, said: “We are delighted to provide NORNORM with this facility which will support their growth, expand their business and strengthen their leading position in circular workplace furniture solutions.”

Emil Steenhouweer, CFO at NORNORM, stated: “With this partnership, we are poised to accelerate our mission, bringing circular office furniture to more corners of the world and proving that sustainable practices can drive exponential growth.”

By finalising these agreements, NORNORM has successfully secured the capital necessary to sustain the growth trajectory. The EIF guarantee accompanying the financing represents a pivotal validation of NORNORM´s circular strategy. Notably, Verdane was the pioneering growth investor to endorse our endeavours, and together with Deloitte provided invaluable advisory support.

NORNORM has achieved remarkable success in the Nordics, revolutionising the furniture industry with its innovative subscription-based model. With more than 350,000 square metres of furnished space. In only three years, NORNORM changed the game and has become a category leader in Furniture as a service with a fully circular business model. NORNORM helps businesses cut CO2 emissions by up to 70% compared to buying new furniture, offering office furniture on subscription. This success is a testament to the region's embrace of sustainable practices and modern, adaptable living solutions.

NORNORM's success in securing financing from leading institutions underscores its position as a gamechanger in the circular economy space.

END

About NORNORM

NORNORM provides businesses with attractive workplace furniture solutions based on a subscription model. Requiring neither investment nor long-term commitment, it offers flexibility to scale up or down as the company grows or downsizes. The concept is built on circularity, where every piece of furniture is kept in a loop from one workspace to the next, and every product is carefully maintained and refurbished to extend its lifespan. This is good for business, people, and the planet. Backed by Inter IKEA, Verdane, Philian AB, and Coen van Oostrom, NORNORM is on a mission to redefine the future of work by creating a fully circular business model for workspace furniture.

For more information, please visit www.nornorm.com

About Banco Santander

Banco Santander (SAN SM, STD US, BNC LN) is a leading commercial bank, founded in 1857 and headquartered in Spain and one of the largest banks in the world by market capitalization. The group’s activities are consolidated into five global businesses: Retail & Commercial Banking, Digital Consumer Bank, Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB), Wealth Management & Insurance and Payments (PagoNxt and Cards). This operating model allows the bank to better leverage its unique combination of global scale and local leadership. Santander aims to be the best open financial services platform providing services to individuals, SMEs, corporates, financial institutions and governments. The bank’s purpose is to help people and businesses prosper in a simple, personal and fair way. Santander is building a more responsible bank and has made a number of commitments to support this objective, including raising €220 billion in green financing between 2019 and 2030. In the first quarter of 2024, Banco Santander had €1.3 trillion in total funds, 166 million customers, 8,400 branches and 211,000 employees.

Santander Corporate & Investment Banking (Santander CIB) is Santander’s global division that supports corporate and institutional clients, offering tailored services and value-added wholesale products suited to their complexity and sophistication, as well as to responsible banking standards that contribute to the progress of society.

NORNORM closes financing from Santander CIB guaranteed by the European Investment Fund to fuel expansion in Europe

This collaboration reinforces NORNORM's commitment to driving sustainable growth and innovation in the furniture subscription industry while advancing circular economy initiatives.

Copenhagen, Denmark July 1, 2024 – NORNORM, the leading provider of circular workplace furniture solutions, announces it has closed financing with Santander Corporate & Investment Banking (Santander CIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF), securing a significant debt facility to boost growth. This collaboration reinforces NORNORM's commitment to driving sustainable growth and innovation in the furniture subscription industry while advancing circular economy initiatives.

With over 350,000 square metres of workspace furnished and an impressive 50% annual growth in contracted square metres for 2023, NORNORM's strong business fundamentals are evident. The company is well-positioned to tap into the burgeoning office furniture market, estimated at EUR 201 billion, leveraging its innovative approach to office furniture and circular economy principles.

NORNORM benefits from support from the European Union under the InvestEU fund. This financing, alongside previous funding totaling €110M, empowers NORNORM to expand its market reach to the UK, France, and Germany, enhance its business model, innovate and revolutionise the office furniture landscape. NORNORM, a Nordic scale-up business, is committed to sustainable growth and sets a new standard for responsible business practices in the furniture subscription industry through its furniture-as-a-service model that has attracted thousands of customers, including Electrolux, Volvo and Netflix.

Santander CIB spearheaded the debt financing round while the EIF played a crucial role in supporting NORNORM's growth by providing financial backing.

Ignacio Yllera, Executive Director of Growth Financing at Santander CIB, said: “We are delighted to provide NORNORM with this facility which will support their growth, expand their business and strengthen their leading position in circular workplace furniture solutions.”

Emil Steenhouweer, CFO at NORNORM, stated: “With this partnership, we are poised to accelerate our mission, bringing circular office furniture to more corners of the world and proving that sustainable practices can drive exponential growth.”

By finalising these agreements, NORNORM has successfully secured the capital necessary to sustain the growth trajectory. The EIF guarantee accompanying the financing represents a pivotal validation of NORNORM´s circular strategy. Notably, Verdane was the pioneering growth investor to endorse our endeavours, and together with Deloitte provided invaluable advisory support.

NORNORM has achieved remarkable success in the Nordics, revolutionising the furniture industry with its innovative subscription-based model. With more than 350,000 square metres of furnished space. In only three years, NORNORM changed the game and has become a category leader in Furniture as a service with a fully circular business model. NORNORM helps businesses cut CO2 emissions by up to 70% compared to buying new furniture, offering office furniture on subscription. This success is a testament to the region's embrace of sustainable practices and modern, adaptable living solutions.

NORNORM's success in securing financing from leading institutions underscores its position as a gamechanger in the circular economy space.

END

About NORNORM

NORNORM provides businesses with attractive workplace furniture solutions based on a subscription model. Requiring neither investment nor long-term commitment, it offers flexibility to scale up or down as the company grows or downsizes. The concept is built on circularity, where every piece of furniture is kept in a loop from one workspace to the next, and every product is carefully maintained and refurbished to extend its lifespan. This is good for business, people, and the planet. Backed by Inter IKEA, Verdane, Philian AB, and Coen van Oostrom, NORNORM is on a mission to redefine the future of work by creating a fully circular business model for workspace furniture.

For more information, please visit www.nornorm.com

About Banco Santander

Banco Santander (SAN SM, STD US, BNC LN) is a leading commercial bank, founded in 1857 and headquartered in Spain and one of the largest banks in the world by market capitalization. The group’s activities are consolidated into five global businesses: Retail & Commercial Banking, Digital Consumer Bank, Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB), Wealth Management & Insurance and Payments (PagoNxt and Cards). This operating model allows the bank to better leverage its unique combination of global scale and local leadership. Santander aims to be the best open financial services platform providing services to individuals, SMEs, corporates, financial institutions and governments. The bank’s purpose is to help people and businesses prosper in a simple, personal and fair way. Santander is building a more responsible bank and has made a number of commitments to support this objective, including raising €220 billion in green financing between 2019 and 2030. In the first quarter of 2024, Banco Santander had €1.3 trillion in total funds, 166 million customers, 8,400 branches and 211,000 employees.

Santander Corporate & Investment Banking (Santander CIB) is Santander’s global division that supports corporate and institutional clients, offering tailored services and value-added wholesale products suited to their complexity and sophistication, as well as to responsible banking standards that contribute to the progress of society.