Cevian Capital establishes a new Chair in Finance

Feb. 24, 2020

The Stockholm School of Economics is proud to announce the establishment of a new Chair in Finance, which has been awarded to Professor Bo Becker, one of Sweden’s most renowned researchers in the field. This new professorship supports research opportunities and strengthens Swedish competitiveness.

The new Chair is made possible by a donation from Cevian Capital, amounting to a total of SEK 50 million.

“We are incredibly grateful for Cevian Capital’s commitment to research and education in finance. Their long-term support to the Stockholm School of Economics shows their dedication to giving back and to help prepare future generations of leaders and decision makers,” says Lars Strannegård, President of the Stockholm School of Economics.

Bo Becker’s research focuses on corporate finance, particularly corporate credit markets. Recent work has covered topics like credit cycles, insolvency, credit ratings, insurance, and corporate governance. He serves as an associate editor of several professional journals, is a prize-winning teacher of corporate finance at the Stockholm School of Economics and is active at the Swedish House of Finance. Professor Becker is also a research member of the European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI) and a research fellow of the Center for Economic Policy Research (CEPR).

“By establishing a new chair, Cevian has provided great support for the school and the department, and the important tasks of research on financial markets and the education of business leaders of the future”, says Bo Becker.

Cevian Capital is an international investment firm acquiring significant ownership positions in publicly listed European companies, where long-term value can be enhanced through active ownership. Cevian Capital was founded by SSE alumni Lars Förberg and Christer Gardell in 2002 and today manages more than €13 billion. Funding the Cevian Capital Chair in Finance is another way for the company to invest in the future of Swedish and European business and society.

“For over 100 years, the Stockholm School of Economics has played a significant role in building a thriving and competitive Swedish business community. We are proud to support Professor Bo Becker and to invest in SSE’s ability to continue offering the highest academic standards. By maintaining its outstanding quality, the school is well positioned to educate the business leaders of tomorrow,” says Lars Förberg, co-founder of Cevian Capital.