2.6.2025

Valentin Golovanov and Wille Järvelä join Castrén & Snellman, boosting cross-border M&A and Private Equity offering

Valentin Golovanov and Wille Järvelä officially joined the ranks of Castrén & Snellman’s M&A and Private Equity team on 2 June 2025.

‘Valentin and Wille are indeed set to play significant roles in advancing the M&A and Private Equity team. Their extensive experience in managing complex domestic and cross-border transactions will undoubtedly be a valuable asset to our clients. Both Valentin and Wille are recognized for their excellent teamwork and will be great additions to the team. Looking forward to the exciting journey ahead with these talented professionals! ,’ Benjamin Bade, Head of M&A, states.

Wille Järvelä brings vast experience of working with Finnish and international blue-chip companies, having most recently overseen all legal matters for Huhtamäki’s M&A projects and negotiated key commercial contracts.

‘I’m excited to return to private practice, after eight years on the other side of the table. We make a stellar team here at C&S, providing clients with the strategic advice in their most demanding project and I believe our cross-border capabilities and experience are of major importance for our clients ,’ Wille says.

During his extensive career with the leading law firms in the Nordics, Valentin Golovanov specialised in advising Finnish and international industrial companies and private equity sponsors on complex large-scale domestic and cross-border transactions, including strategic investments, buyouts and public takeovers.

‘Having been part of several landmark cases in my career, I’m eager to start building new ones here at Castrén & Snellman. The firm’s full-service capabilities are a true asset for clients, and I look forward to achieving great things as a team working seamlessly together,’ Valentin says.

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Latest references

Jolt Capital and Tesi – Investment in VEV

We advised Jolt Capital and Tesi in connection with their investment in VEV, a leading provider of commercial fleet electrification solutions. The investment, led by Jolt Capital with Tesi as co-investor, will support VEV’s next phase of growth and expansion across Europe. As part of the transaction, VEV became an independent company following the acquisition of Vitol’s stake in the business. Founded by Vitol, VEV provides integrated fleet electrification solutions combining fleet strategy, charging infrastructure, energy supply and operational services. Through its VEV IQ platform, the company supports more than 6,000 commercial electric vehicles across Europe and has been deployed across more than 600 sites spanning the transport, logistics and waste sectors. Jolt Capital is a private equity firm focused on growth investments in European deeptech companies. Tesi is a Finnish state-owned investment company that promotes Finnish business and economic growth through investments. We advised Jolt Capital and Tesi on the equity financing and structuring aspects of the transaction. International law firm Goodwin advised the investors on the acquisition of VEV.

VR Group – Intellectual property matters

VR-Group Plc is a transport and logistics group owned by the Finnish State, operating passenger and freight rail transport in Finland with activities also in the Swedish market. VR Group provides passenger, logistics and maintenance services with over 160 years’ experience in developing responsible transport of the future. We advise VR Group in intellectual property matters as part of the company’s wider brand protection efforts. Our assignments have included advice on copyright, design rights and trademarks, focusing on the protection of the company’s visual identity – including its distinctive green colour – in connection with transport services as part of a comprehensive IP protection strategy. VR Group’s consistent brand building has also received recognition, including the Finland Chamber of Commerce’s Brand of the Year award in 2026. In the competition, brands were viewed comprehensively from various perspectives, including their story, strategic role, brand renewal ability and intellectual property protection. The jury found that VR had understood the importance of the protection of its brand as part of a comprehensive business strategy.

NoHo Partners – EUR 50 million secured notes and EUR 97 million senior secured facilities agreement

We advised NoHo Partners Plc on the issuance of EUR 50 million senior secured floating rate notes. The notes have a tenor of four years and mature on 10 September 2030. The notes bear interest at a rate of three-month EURIBOR plus a margin of 4.375 per cent. per annum. The notes were allocated to a mix of domestic and international investors. We also advised NoHo Partners on the negotiation of its new senior facilities agreement. The facilities agreement comprises a EUR 60,000,000 term loan facility, a EUR 10,000,000 capex facility and a EUR 27,000,000 revolving credit facility. “We are delighted by the interest investors have shown in the company’s Notes, which reflects confidence in our strategy. The successful issuance of the Notes, together with the new loan agreement, extends the maturity profile of our financing and enables the company to continue executing its growth strategy going forward. I would like to thank all investors for their participation, as well as our partner bank for the excellent execution of the Notes issuance”, says Jarno Suominen, CEO of NoHo Partners. OP Corporate Bank plc acted as the sole lead manager and bookrunner for the issue of the notes. NoHo Partners Plc is a Finnish group established in 1996, and it specialises in restaurant services being the creative innovator of the Northern European restaurant market. The company was listed in Nasdaq Helsinki in 2013 becoming the first Finnish listed restaurant company, and it has continued to grow strongly throughout its history. NoHo Partners’ vision is to be the leading restaurant operator in Northern Europe.

Topfoods – Acquisition of Delice Plus

We advised Topfoods Oy, a Triton-backed Geia Group company, on its acquisition of Oy Delice Plus Ab, a Finnish supplier of cakes and pastries. Through the acquisition, Topfoods strengthens its retail business and further reinforces its position in the cakes and pastries segment. Founded in 2008, Topfoods supplies selected food products to professional kitchens, the retail sector, and the food industry.

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