Värde Partners
Värde Partners is a leading global alternative investment adviser with roots in credit and distressed. At a fundamental level, Värde focuses on unlocking value – Värde means value in Swedish. The firm seeks opportunities in less efficient markets and pursues assets at a discount to their intrinsic or potential value, all with the focus of creating value for its investors and empowering the common good they seek. Investments span corporate and sovereign credit, restructurings, real estate, mortgages, private equity, and direct lending. The firm has invested more than $75 billion since its founding in 1993, and employs more than 300 professionals across 11 offices worldwide. Värde currently manages over $14 billion in assets on behalf of its investors around the world.
Värde Partners Story
Värde Partners was founded in 1993 in Minnesota by three investment professionals: George Hicks (right), Marcia Page (center) and Greg McMillan (left). Pioneers in the nascent years of the alternative investment industry, each founder brought broad experience in financial markets and a shared set of values. Värde's early focus was on distressed assets and included investments across the liquidity spectrum from the very start. Over time, the firm extended its investing platform to a broader set of strategies and assets, all rooted in its deep credit heritage. The complexity of these opportunities demands commitment and discipline around a process honed over decades of practice and success. This investment philosophy is supported by the firm’s integrated platform, with an institutional operating model in place to maintain a flexible, adaptable organization.
Responsibility
Värde’s core purpose is to fundamentally change lives for the good by finding innovative ways to invest and create value.
The firm believes that environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) principles align naturally with its core values, as well as its fiduciary responsibility to protect, create, and maximize value for investors.
Guided by Värde’s senior leadership and CIOs, ESG considerations are integrated throughout the firm’s operations as well as the investment lifecycle from diligence to exit. The Portfolio Operations team actively monitors, promotes and implements sustainable and responsible practices among portfolio companies.
A strong belief that everyone benefits from a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive society and a culture of generosity underpin the firm’s efforts to create positive change in our industry and our communities.
Diversity & Inclusion
With a female co-founder, Värde embraced from the start the belief that diverse teams lead to better investment and business outcomes. The firm is deeply committed to increasing diversity in the alternative investment industry and creating a more equitable world. With dedicated resources focused on this effort, Värde is a leading voice advocating for change in the industry and has taken real action to:
- Create a more inclusive workplace and mitigate unconscious bias in attracting, retaining and promoting talent, resulting in the firm doubling its female investment professionals over five years
- Partner with organizations that support underrepresented groups in finance
- Sponsor diverse high school students and college graduates through work-study and rotational programs to expand the field of future job candidates and develop future leaders
- Devote time and resources to support the building of wealth in local BIPOC communities
Partnerships include:
Community & Philanthropy
Värde is passionate about giving back in its local communities. Through skills-based volunteer efforts and financial support, the firm is focused on advancing education and children & youth development, with a commitment to reaching marginalized populations and supporting financial literacy. In addition to company-led initiatives and sponsored volunteer opportunities, Värde proudly supports employees’ personal philanthropic efforts, including a charitable match program for volunteer time or financial contributions.
Värde’s Philanthropic Response to Covid-19
Partnerships across Värde’s geographic regions include:
