6.6.2017

Sponda – Advice Concerning EUR 1.76 Billion Recommended Cash Tender Offer for all shares in Sponda

We are representing Helsinki-listed Sponda Plc in connection with the public tender offer of Polar Bidco S.à r.l., a corporation owned by funds advised by affiliates of The Blackstone Group L.P., to purchase all issued and outstanding shares in Sponda. In the tender offer, Sponda shareholders will be offered a cash consideration of EUR 5.19 for each share in Sponda representing an aggregate equity purchase price of approximately EUR 1,763 million for Sponda shares. The board of directors of Sponda has unanimously decided to recommend the shareholders of Sponda to accept the tender offer for their shares. The Sponda – Blackstone deal is the largest ever real estate transaction in Finland measured by the market value of the properties.

President and CEO of Sponda, Kari Inkinen, believes that with the support of Blackstone, Sponda will further develop their business, properties and portfolio. According to Inkinen, Sponda will continue to offer high-quality business premises and working environments to their customers.

Latest references

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We advised UK-based investment company Downing in its acquisition of the entire share capital of Tornionlaakson Voima Oy. Tornionlaakson Voima owns three hydropower plants in the Tengeliönjoki river system – the Portimokoski power plants in Ylitornio, the Jolmankoski power plants in Raanujärvi and the Kaaranneskoski power plants in Sirkkakoski. The power plants produce a total of approx. 45 gigawatt-hours of electricity per year. Tornionlaakson Voima’s daily operations will continue normally, and the transaction will not affect customers. The consummation of the transaction is subject to the approval of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. Downing has over 35 years’ experience in providing a wide range of investment solutions to the needs of institutional investors, advisers and retail investors. The company manages over £2 billion in assets in both the private and public markets and its current hydro power portfolio includes approx. 50 hydro power plants in the Nordics. 
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