Grade and Talentech agree on merger

Oslo, 5. November 2025 

Swedish Grade and Norwegian Talentech have agreed to merge into a new Nordic HR technology company. Combined, the new company would offer a wider range of products and services to Nordic customers and be well positioned for further European expansion.  

Grade and Talentech specialise in solutions that make it easier for HR departments in private and public companies to recruit, develop and retain the right people. Together, the new company will have close to 4000 customers. 

“Combining Grade and Talentech is the perfect match. By uniting all talented people in one combined company, the most dynamic and forward-thinking HR technology team in the Nordics will be created. The Nordics is just the start,” says Nils Vold, Partner at Verdane.   

The two companies have each built strong HR technology platforms and have solid foothold in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland. The companies are also established with clients in the Benelux region.  

“Being part of this Nordic HR technology company with international growth ambitions is a great opportunity. The European HR market is fragmented and undergoing rapid technological transformation. The combined company is a unique opening for a Nordic player with innovative offerings to further challenge the HR market,” says Joar Welde, Partner at Viking Growth and Chair of the Board of Grade. 

Grade was acquired by the investment company Viking Growth in 2021 through the merger of Grade, Varbi and Workbuster. Talentech was established by Verdane, an investor in European growth companies, in 2019 through the acquisition and merger of HR Manager and Webcruiter and later several other acquisitions. 

The transaction, which is a 50/50 merger, is subject to FDI filing approval in Sweden and Denmark, and approval from the competition authorities in Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Until the regulatory process is completed, both Talentech and Grade will continue to act as individual companies and competitors.  

For more information, please contact:

Joar Welde,  
Partner at Viking Growth 
Joar.welde@vikinggrowth.com +47 982 06 930 

James Cook
Director of PR and content at Verdane  
james.cook@verdane.com 
+44 7462 607105 

About Talentech  

Talentech was established in 2019 to make it easier for HR professionals to drive growth by recruiting, developing, and retaining the right talent for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), large enterprises, and government clients across the Nordics. In a short period of time, Talentech has positioned itself as a key provider of integrated recruitment and HR solutions. With 350,000 annual recruitment projects, Talentech processes 10 million job seekers each year. Over 200 employees work at Talentech’s offices throughout Europe, with locations in Oslo, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Amsterdam and Gdansk. The company is owned by the private equity company Verdane.  

About Grade 

Established in 1995, Grade is a prominent player in the HR, training and talent management area in the Nordic region. Grade has over 1600 customers from medium and large private companies to public organizations and municipalities. The company has over 170 employees in offices in Oslo, Bodø, Stockholm, Lund, Trollhättan, Oulu and Helsinki. Since 2021. Grade is owned by the investment company Viking Growth.  

About Viking Growth 

Viking Growth is the leading software investor specializing in scaling Nordic B2B software companies. With over 20 years of experience, Viking Growth helps innovative software companies achieve international growth. Based in Trondheim, Norway, Viking Growth partners with ambitious software companies by providing capital, strategic expertise, and operational support to accelerate their journeys. Viking Growth currently maintains an active portfolio of 19 companies across the Nordics, with NOK 4.1 billion in ARR.  

About Verdane  

Verdane is a specialist growth buyout investment firm that partners with tech-enabled and sustainable businesses that help to digitalise and decarbonise the European economy. The flexible mandates of Verdane funds allow it to invest as a majority or minority control investor, replacement or growth capital, in single companies or in portfolios of companies.  

Verdane has raised €9 billion in capital and its funds have made more than 200 investments in fast-growing businesses since 2003. Verdane’s team of over 150 investment professionals and operating experts is based out of Berlin, Copenhagen, London, Helsinki, Munich, Oslo and Stockholm, and combines deep sector expertise with long-standing local networks and presence in core European markets.   

Verdane is also a certified B Corporation, the most ambitious sustainability accreditation globally. The firm only backs businesses that pass its 2040 test, which indicates whether the company can thrive in a more sustainable future economy.   

Verdane is partly owned by the Verdane Foundation, which is focused on two areas: climate change and more equitable and inclusive local communities