Private Equity(en) Archives - Castrén & Snellman

CapMan Growth – Investment in Kuntokeskus Liikku

We will provide you with well-considered and practical solutions for every phase of your investment.

Our Private Equity service is one of the cornerstones of our firm, offering unparalleled expertise and comprehensive legal services to clients across the investment spectrum.

With our robust team of seasoned legal professionals, we deliver strategic and innovative legal solutions tailored to the needs of private equity sponsors, venture capital investors, asset managers, and institutional investors.

Comprehensive expertise

We advise leading international and Nordic private equity sponsors on their transactions in the Finnish market. Our expertise covers the full range of M&A transactions for private equity firms and their portfolio companies across various industries and sectors. We regularly advise on:

leveraged buyouts and consortium deals
investments and divestitures
take-private transactions
add-on acquisitions
joint ventures
recapitalisations and restructurings.

We also have vast experience in tax structuring, debt financing, management incentivisation programmes, and ESG reviews associated with private equity transactions.

Our team has market-leading expertise in minority investments and fund formation. Each project is supported by experts who bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, ensuring that we provide holistic support at every stage of the investment lifecycle.

Chambers Europe, Chambers Global, The Legal 500 and Best Lawyers International consistently rank our services and our lawyers among Finland’s best.

Client-centric approach

We pride ourselves on our client-centric approach, emphasising agility, responsiveness, and proactive engagement. Our processes are optimised through the use of AI and advanced legal technologies to enhance efficiency and precision. As active members of industry associations such as the Finnish Venture Capital Association and Invest Europe, we stay at the forefront of industry trends, providing our clients with strategic counsel and forward-thinking solutions.

Global reach, local expertise

Operating at the intersection of local market knowledge and international best practices, we are uniquely positioned to assist clients with cross-border transactions. Our extensive network and deep understanding of regulatory landscapes and market practices ensure that our clients navigate the complexities of investments – whether international or domestic – with confidence and success.

Latest references

CapMan Growth – Investment in Kuntokeskus Liikku

We are assisting CapMan Growth in its significant investment in Kuntokeskus Liikku, a Finnish gym chain known for its high-quality self-service facilities and excellent value for money. The investment will further strengthen Liikku’s position as a market leader and support the continued execution of its growth strategy. Liikku is one of Finland’s leading fitness chains, with more than 70 locations across the country serving nearly 90,000 members. The company’s concept is to offer high-quality self-service gyms at an exceptionally competitive price point which, combined with strong operational efficiency, provides a solid foundation for profitable growth. The company’s main shareholder is COR Group, a long-time partner of CapMan Growth, and a Finnish health and wellness conglomerate known for active ownership and long-term value creation. CapMan Growth is a leading Finnish growth investor that makes significant investments in entrepreneur-led growth companies with a turnover of €10–200 million. CapMan Growth is part of CapMan, which is a leading Nordic private equity investor engaged in active value creation work. CapMan has been listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange since 2001.

CapMan Growth – Investment in restaurant chain Factory

We are assisting CapMan Growth in making a significant investment in Factory, a Finnish restaurant chain known for its high-quality homemade meals and excellent value for money. The investment supports Factory’s ambitious growth strategy to expand nationwide and strengthen its presence also in shopping centres. Industry veteran Aku Vikström also joins as a co-investor and member of the board to support the company. Factory is a restaurant chain that specialises in high-quality homemade meals. In addition to buffet offerings, Factory provides catering services for meetings and events. All dishes are prepared in Factory’s own restaurant kitchens by the restaurants’ own chefs, and the menu focuses on diverse, high-quality home cooking. The company currently operates 22 restaurants in Southern Finland and employs around 200 people. CapMan Growth is a leading Finnish growth investor that makes significant investments in entrepreneur-led growth companies with turnover of €10–200 million. CapMan Growth is part of CapMan, which is a leading Nordic private equity investor engaged in active value creation work. CapMan has been listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange since 2001.

byFounders.vc – DataCrunch’s USD 64 million Series A funding round

We supported byFounders.vc as the Finnish counsel in their investment in DataCrunch Oy in a USD 64 million Series A funding round. DataCrunch provides scalable AI compute solutions from energy-efficient data centers in Iceland and Finland. byFounders.vc is the community-powered early-stage venture fund investing in globally ambitious teams connected to the Nordic and Baltic countries.

Vapaus Group – Acquisition of Azfalte

We represented Vapaus Group, a leading provider of employee bicycle benefit services, in its cross-border acquisition of Azfalte, a French corporate bicycle solutions company. The acquisition accelerates Vapaus Group’s international expansion and strengthens its position in sustainable mobility by combining Vapaus’s digital platform and circular-economy capabilities with Azfalte’s established enterprise programs and partner network in France. The transaction advances Vapaus’s growth strategy and increases its ability to help employers meet well-being and sustainability goals in one of Europe’s most dynamic cycling markets. Vapaus Group is at the forefront of sustainable mobility services and has been a pioneer in the employee bicycle benefit sector since 2020 with a vision to become the leading bicycle benefit service in Europe. Vapaus has automated the employee bicycle process through its technology platform, covering payroll, invoicing, logistics, insurance, and financing. Azfalte, founded in 2020, is a pioneer of corporate cycling in France, optimizing financing, tailored bikes, insurance, maintenance, assistance, training, and carbon tracking for the benefit of its clients.

Latest insights

11.12.2025 – Venture Capital & Minority Investments SAFE financing explained: Why it’s complicated under Finnish law

Karlo Siirala

Vesa Rasinaho

Karlo Siirala & Vesa Rasinaho

31.1.2024 – Environment, Energy & Green Transition Investments in the green transition require courage and cooperation

Jarno Tanhuanpää

Jarno Tanhuanpää

3.3.2026 – Employment The threshold for dismissal is lowered: what should be taken into account in practice?

Aleksandra Särkelä

Aleksandra Särkelä

6.2.2026 – Tax & Structuring Electricity sector Profit Tax Act in conflict with EU law – SAC denied leave to appeal

Janne Juusela

Mikko Alakare

Janne Juusela & Mikko Alakare

Search from the site.