The Nordic region is looking more and more like the next big playground for private equity firms, Dow Jones reports, citing market watchers. In the past year, the number of deals has risen from 14 to 23, but the value of those transactions has more than tripled from $15.8 billion to $56.5 billion, and there are at least another 20 listed companies up for grabs. What makes the region so attractive to p.e. firms is simple: low interest rates and a strong bull market. In addition, Christer Gardell of Sweden’s Cevian Fund, told Dow Jones. “Companies aren’t as tightly held or hidden away” from investors...The market is very driven by capitalism and assets are almost always for sale if you want them.” It also helps that Scandinavia has “extremely good returns in the last few years compared with other places,” notes Gardell, “so there are no signs that there will be reduction in capital income here.” Which mean s investors will be able to spend almost to their hearts content to identify a target. Finally, adds Mats Carlsson of Sweden’s Öhman Equities in a Dow Jones interview, “Managers are more open to the idea of foreign capital, which also helps.”