15.12.2017

Mergermarket Awards Castrén & Snellman’s Expertise in Complex M&A Work

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.

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.

Latest references

United Bankers – Sale of three care properties
We advised United Bankers on the sale of three care properties to Kinland AS. The buildings were completed between 2021 and 2022 and meet high technical and environmental standards. All three properties are fully leased. The portfolio has a weighted average unexpired lease term of 13 years.
Case published 1.6.2026
Hiab acquisition financing
We are advising Hiab Corporation in the financing for its USD 1,035 million acquisition of Labrie Environmental Group, a leading North American refuse collection vehicle (“RCV”) manufacturer, from Wynnchurch Capital, L.P. Hiab Corporation (Nasdaq Helsinki: HIAB) is a leading provider of smart and sustainable on-road load handling solutions, with 2025 sales of approximately EUR 1.6 billion and approximately 4,000 employees, operating through a global network spanning over 100 countries. Labrie Group is a leading North American provider of RCVs, employing approximately 1,200 people. 
Case published 1.6.2026
We advised an international bank syndicate in a EUR 300 million revolving credit facility (RCF) for ICEYE, the world leader in sovereign intelligence from space. The bank-syndicate comprised Nordic and global banks, with Citi and Danske Bank acting as Joint Global Coordinators and Mandated Lead Arrangers. The RCF will support the issuance of guarantees for customer contracts, enable continued business growth, and serve as a liquidity backstop. 
Case published 21.5.2026
We are advising Terrieri Kiinteistöt Ky and A. Ahlström Kiinteistöt Oy in the sale of a modern production and logistics building complex to Swedish property investment company Catena AB. We are also assisting S-Bank Building Plot non-UCITS Fund which in connection with the transaction, has agreed to sell the land area where the building complex is located to Catena AB. The building complex located in the immediate vicinity of Helsinki-Vantaa Airport was completed in 2021 and comprises approximately 23,260 square metres of leasable area, fully leased to Cramo Finland Oy. The approximately 140,000-square-metre plot offers additional long-term development potential in the form of approximately 45,000 square metres of additional building rights.
Case published 21.5.2026