Finland’s IPO, share issue and bond markets remained lively in 2018. We are pleased that issuers and other parties seeking financing placed their trust in the expertise of our Capital Markets and Banking & Finance teams.
14.2.2019
Busy and Multifaceted 2018 for Castrén & Snellman Capital Markets and Banking & Finance Teams
Janne Lauha, Sakari Lukinmaa & Tero Tuomisto
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We maintained our position as one of the leading firms in the field and were involved in the year’s most important arrangements, such as IPOs, transactions in the financial sector, structurings and the largest real estate transactions on the market.
Our Capital Markets team was kept busy in 2018 by the following assignments:
We have Finland’s largest and most closely integrated Capital Markets team, with expertise that extends from issues to regulatory advice and transactions in the financial sector. Partners Merja Kivelä and Janne Lauha are renowned as long-time experts in the industry. We appointed two senior associates in 2018, Hannu Huotilainen and Aksu Tuominen. Our team also includes senior associate Anna-Maarit Laurila, associates Viola Valtanen and Lauri Liljavirta and associate trainee Julian Lagus. Furthermore, we just appointed veteran regulatory expert Sami Lommi as Counsel in our team. Sami joins us from Folksam Non-Life Insurance Company, where he has served as member of the management team in charge of legal affairs, HR and Internal Services.
Our Banking & Finance team was involved in the following arrangements in 2018, among others:
Our experienced Banking & Finance team is led by partner Tero Tuomisto together with partner Sakari Lukinmaa. They are assisted by senior associates Mariella Både-Landell and Niko Johansson as well as associates Sonja Hänninen, Juhani Lautjärvi and Henri Kaasalainen. Our team also gained new members in counsel Minna Korhonen, who joined us in October, and associate Valtteri Jalo from the start of the year. Additional hires have already been agreed, and our team is set to grow further this year.
The wide range of our assignments and the strategic planning sessions we engage in with our clients are indicators of the scope of our expertise and the market’s faith in us. We are grateful for the trust placed in us and will venture into 2019 with the same spark and dedication to our work while continuing to develop our expertise.
Despite the volatile market conditions, our books are already filling up for 2019, and the year is looking promising.
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Lenders and Export Credit Agencies – EUR 514.4 million green project financing for Easpring Finland New Materials’ CAM plant
We acted as Finnish law legal adviser to the lenders and the export credit agencies in connection with the EUR 514.4 million green project financing for the development and construction of Easpring Finland New Materials Oy’s cathode active material (CAM) manufacturing plant in Kotka, Finland. The borrower, Easpring Finland New Materials Oy, is a joint venture owned by Beijing Easpring Material Technology, Finnish Minerals Group and LG Energy Solution. The financing was provided by six international commercial banks, with Société Générale acting as financial adviser and mandated lead arranger together with Natixis as co-mandated lead arranger, and DNB, ICBC, ING and Standard Chartered participating as lenders, with support from the export credit agencies Finnvera and Sinosure. The project represents a significant milestone for Finland and the European battery value chain by strengthening Europe’s domestic supply of cathode active materials, a key component in lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage applications. Once the first phase of the project is operational, the Kotka facility is expected to produce approximately 60,000 tonnes of cathode active material annually, making it one of the largest CAM production plants in Europe and supplying leading battery manufacturers across Europe.
Case published 21.7.2026
Delta Capacity – Acquisition of BESS Project
We acted as Finnish legal advisor to Delta Capacity in connection with its acquisition of the ready-to-build Karppio battery energy storage system (BESS) project from Helios Nordic Energy. The acquisition was made and the project will be implemented together with Strioga Family Foundation. The Karppio BESS project is located in Teuva, Finland, and has a capacity of 125 MW / 300 MWh. Delta Capacity will lead the remaining development of the project through to commissioning, planned for 2027, and will serve as long-term asset manager. Delta Capacity is a Swiss-based developer of utility scale battery storage systems. The acquisition adds to Delta Capacity’s growing Nordic portfolio.
Case published 20.7.2026
Swedbank – Refinancing of Trophi’s Finnish retail real estate portfolio
We advised Swedbank AB (publ) on the refinancing of a large Finnish retail real estate portfolio owned by Trophi’s Finnish subsidiaries. Trophi is the leading Nordic real estate company focusing on grocery anchored retail properties, with 278 properties across Sweden and Finland. Finland is a market that continues to develop and is also strategically important for Trophi, accounting for approximately 30% of Trophi’s letting and property value.
Case published 17.7.2026
HANZA – Acquisition of Fortaco Finland’s heavy mechanics and assembly business
We are acting as Finnish legal advisor to HANZA in connection with its acquisition of Fortaco Finland’s heavy mechanics and assembly business. The transaction is structured as a combined asset and share acquisition and includes Fortaco Finland’s heavy mechanics and assembly operations in Finland, as well as shares in two Estonian and two Polish subsidiaries. The transaction is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. Founded in 2008, HANZA is a Swedish mechanical engineering and electronics contract manufacturing company listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm main list. HANZA has approximately 5,000 employees and annual sales of SEK 10 billion. We advise HANZA on this transaction in collaboration with the Swedish law firm Lindahl.
Case published 15.7.2026