While the UK and Germany have long been seen as the most dependable buyout markets in Europe, it is the Nordic region that has remained particularly robust so far in 2013.

In the first quarter of 2013, Nordic buyouts accounted for 12% of the 122 deals done in Europe, up from 8% in the previous quarter, despite the region being home to just around 3% of the continent's population. Nordic buyouts as a percentage of all Nordic M&A reached their highest point for a year at 8.9%.