Investor AB, the Swedish investment firm, has increased its stake in b-business partners, the Stockholm-based venture capital firm, buying out 90% of technology firm ABB's stake in the company.

Investor AB and ABB founded b-business partners in March 2000. Investor AB paid €188m ($168m) for the stake, and the deal is part of the firm's strategy to strengthen its exposure to the European venture capital market. ABB will retain a small holding in b-business, and ABB's chief executive, Jorgen Centerman, will remain on b-business' board of directors. The total capital commitment to b-business partners is €728m, of which Investor AB represents €570m. b-business partners paid-in capital stands at €270m, of which Investor has contributed about €200m. The other investors in b-business are Ericsson, SEB, AstraZeneca, Atlas Copco, Electrolux, Hewlett-Packard, Saab Aerospace, Sandvik, SKF, Stora Enso and WM-data .