Mergermarket has chosen Castrén & Snellman as the M&A Legal Adviser of the Year 2017 in Finland. This has been yet another strong year for our M&A team with – among many other highlights – three landmark deals that paved the way for this award.
15.12.2017
Mergermarket Awards Castrén & Snellman’s Expertise in Complex M&A Work
We advised Ilmarinen Mutual Pension Insurance Company in the merger with Etera Mutual Pension Insurance Company, which is recognised as one of the most significant and complex transactions on the Finnish market this year.
We were also the only law firm to be involved in both public takeovers on the Finnish market, advising Comptel in the takeover by Nokia and Sponda in the takeover by Blackstone, which was the largest ever real estate transaction in Finland.
–All three deals are great examples of the combined transaction and specialty expertise often required in demanding mergers and acquisitions. The Ilmarinen-Etera merger was carried out in an extremely complex regulatory landscape. Nokia introduced new developments to the Finnish market by announcing its bid unconditional before securing the 90% ownership threshold for a squeeze-out process, Partner and Head of M&A Jan Örndahl says.
The Mergermarket European Awards winners are chosen by an independent panel of judges from a wide variety of industry backgrounds. The judges analyse Mergermarket deal data and look for evidence that firms added value to deal processes, supported clients and offered creative solutions to complex situations.
–We are thrilled to receive this award and recognition. There has been a remarkable upswing in M&A activity in Western Europe, and our M&A team has had the privilege of working on the most complex deals this year. Currently, we are leading Mergermarket’s comparison tables for Finland in both the volume and the value of deals, Managing Partner Sakari Lukinmaa cheers.
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Piippo – Sale of bale netwrap and baler twine machines and certain trademarks
We are acting as legal advisor to Piippo Plc in the sale of their bale netwrap and baler twine machines, related assets, and trademarks used in Piippo’s business to Portuguese Cotesi S.A. The sale of assets will be carried out in two phases and the final completion of the transaction is expected to occur during the first quarter of 2026. Piippo Oyj’s core business is baling nets and twine and it is one of the leading suppliers in the industry globally. The company’s global distribution network covers more than 40 countries. The company’s shares are listed on the First North Growth Market Finland operated by Nasdaq Helsinki Oy. Founded in 1967, Cotesi is one of the world’s leading producers of synthetic and natural twines, nets and ropes, with operations in Europe, North America and South America and its main production plant in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.
Case published 17.4.2025
KKR – Acquisition of Karo Healthcare
We acted as Finnish legal adviser to KKR in connection with its acquisition of the entire share capital of Karo Healthcare from EQT. The transaction follows Karo’s significant strategic transformation from a Nordic specialty pharma business into a leading pan-European consumer healthcare platform, with an attractive product portfolio spanning core categories such as Skin Health, Foot Health, and Intimate Health, as well as Digestive Health and Vitamins, Minerals & Supplements. KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), is a leading global investment firm that offers alternative asset management as well as capital markets and insurance solutions. KKR sponsors investment funds that invest in private equity, credit and real assets and has strategic partners that manage hedge funds. Completion of the transaction is subject to customary conditions and regulatory approvals. The transaction is expected to close in the coming months.
Case published 17.4.2025
Savings Banks Group – Sale of Sb Life Insurance
We advised the Savings Banks Group on an arrangement whereby the shares in Sp-Henkivakuutus Oy were sold to Henki-Fennia and at the same time the parties agreed on a long-term distribution cooperation for insurance savings and loan protection products. The closing of the transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals. Sb Life Insurance is a domestic life insurance company, established in 2007, offering insurance savings and risk insurance products to private customers and companies. The Savings Banks and Oma Säästöpankki Oyj act as agents for Sp-Life Insurance. Henki-Fennia is a subsidiary of Keskinäinen Vakuutusyhtiö Fennia, specialising in voluntary life, pension and savings insurance.
Case published 11.4.2025
Readpeak – Capital Investment
We advised Readpeak in an arrangement where Finnish growth fund Voland Partners made an investment in Readpeak. Readpeak is a service platform specialising in native advertising for purchasing, designing, and targeting the distribution of advertising space. Readpeak has quickly risen to a leading position with its platform solution, which enables an easy way to target and schedule communications as part of the news feed on media sites. Readpeak is a company founded in Helsinki in 2014, which has since expanded to nine European market areas and collaborates with over a thousand publishers. Readpeak redefines content-driven advertising using advanced machine learning models, creating added value for both quality media and journalism. Voland Partners is a minority investor specialising in the development of technology companies, with a mission to work together with entrepreneurs to build successful companies responsibly, creating success stories that benefit the entire society. Readpeak is Voland Partners’ sixth investment target, into which the fund company is investing from its first growth fund of 57 million euros.
Case published 10.4.2025