Business1 min read

Palantir’s Alex Karp buys 37,000 Swedish forest for $22M; why hunters are barred

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Alex Karp acquired 15,000 hectares of forest located south of Storsjö Kapell for approximately $22 million from Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget. Following the deal, local hunters were informed that their renewable 11-month hunting leases would no longer be issued by the former owner. Cladonia Skog board member Jenny Lopes Da Silva noted the property will now prioritize preserving the natural landscape and wildlife habitat. The deal coincides with ongoing European scrutiny regarding the region's reliance on American technology and artificial intelligence providers.

Key points

  • The new landowner plans to prioritize wildlife habitat protection, recreation, and the pr…: The new landowner plans to prioritize wildlife habitat protection, recreation, and the preservation of the landscape over hunting.
  • Karp continues to maintain prominent business ties within Sweden, where his software comp…: Karp continues to maintain prominent business ties within Sweden, where his software company partners directly with defense authorities.
  • The land transaction emerges against a backdrop of wider European Union debates regarding…: The land transaction emerges against a backdrop of wider European Union debates regarding dependence on foreign technology firms.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Palantir CEO Alex Karp has purchased 15,000 hectares (37,000 acres) of forest in Härjedalen, Sweden, through his newly registered company Cladonia Skog AB. As reported by Swedish newspaper Tidningen Härjedalen, the sale was reportedly for 235 million kronor, or $22 million. As per the report, hunters in the region had received notifications in the mail alerting them they could no longer lease the land to hunt south of the quiet village of Storsjö Kapell, known for its hiking and fishing. The sale was later confirmed by Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget (SCA), a paper manufacturer that previously owned the land.

Why hunters can no longer enter the forest that Alex Karp bought

In an emailed statement to Fortune then, SCA spokesperson Robert Östholm said: “We grant hunting rights through lease agreements with a term of approximately 11 months. This means that the agreements can be reviewed and renewed on an annual basis”.

“As we have now sold the land in question, we can of course no longer grant hunting rights on it, as the land is no longer owned by us”.

Jenny…

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