Anna Joutsi

Helkama-Autokauppa – Acquisition of Škoda Dealerships in Helsinki and Tampere

We are advising Helkama-Autokauppa Oy in the acquisition of the Škoda dealerships in Helsinki and Tampere from Hedin Automotive Finland. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval. Helkama-Autokauppa Oy operates as an independent dealer in the dealer network of Helkama-Auto Oy, the Finnish importer of Škoda cars, spare parts and accessories.

3.12.2024

VR-Group – Sale of road logistics business to investment company Mutares

We are acting as legal advisor to VR-Group Plc in their strategic decision to sell their road logistics business to the investment company Mutares. This transaction supports VR’s focus on rail transport in freight traffic. The road logistics business, which generated a revenue of approximately EUR 80 million in 2023, will be transferred to a newly established company under Mutares. The business unit employs around 75 people who will transition to the new company. The completion of the transaction is subject to approval by the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority.

18.11.2024

Pernod Ricard – Sale of local Nordic beverage brands to Hartwall

We acted as Finnish counsel to Pernod Ricard in the sale of a portfolio of local Nordic brands to Oy Hartwall Ab, an affiliate of the Danish group Royal Unibrew. Pernod Ricard is a worldwide leader in the spirits and wine industry. The local portfolio of brands includes spirits, liqueurs and Finnish wine brands, the best-known being the liqueur Minttu, along with their related production assets based in Turku, Finland. The closing of the transaction remains subject to customary conditions.

21.10.2024

Fortum – Sale of recycling and waste business

We are acting as the lead counsel to Fortum in a cross-border transaction in which Fortum is selling its recycling and waste business. The business is sold to thematic impact investing firm Summa Equity through its portfolio company NG Group. The debt-free purchase price is approximately EUR 800 million. The transaction is subject to authority approval and customary closing conditions. Fortum’s recycling and waste business to be sold comprises municipal and industrial waste management and end-to-end plastics, metals, ash, slag and hazardous waste treatment and recycling services. These businesses are located in Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway and currently employ approximately 900 employees.

18.7.2024

Andritz – Acquisition of Procemex

We advised Andritz Oy, a part of ANDRITZ group, with their acquisition of all the shares in Procemex Oy. The acquisition further strengthens ANDRITZ’s automation and digitalisation portfolio. Procemex is a global leader in integrated web monitoring and web inspection solutions for the pulp and paper industry. It has a team of more than 100 vision systems experts and has subsidiaries in Germany, Japan and the US. ANDRITZ offers a broad portfolio of innovative plants, equipment, systems, services and digital solutions for a wide range of industries and end markets. ANDRITZ is a global market leader in all four of its business areas – Pulp & Paper, Metals, Hydropower and Environment & Energy. The publicly listed group has around 30,000 employees and over 280 locations in more than 80 countries.

18.7.2024

Prevas Aktiebolag – Acquisition of majority of NMAC Group shares

We are acting as Finnish legal advisor to Prevas Aktiebolag in its acquisition of approximately 92 percent of the shares in NMAC Group Oy (‘Enmac’). This acquisition marks Prevas’ entry into the Finnish market and is aligned with its growth strategy, enabling future market synergies. Swedish Advokatfirman Lindahl KB is acting as lead legal counsel to Prevas Aktiebolag in this deal. Enmac was founded in 1983 and is a prominent player in the Finnish market offering advanced services in production process development, including advanced technical calculations, industrial automation, product development, as well as process and piping design. With approximately 200 employees and 8 locations in Finland, Enmac achieved a turnover of MEUR 23 in 2023. The transaction is subject to approval from the Finnish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.

23.5.2024

Efecte – European 24 Bidco’s public tender offer on Efecte

We are acting as the legal advisor to Efecte Plc in European 24 Bidco Oy’s voluntary public cash tender offer for all outstanding shares and options in Efecte. The tender offer values Efecte’s total equity at approximately EUR 100 million. European 24 Bidco is directly wholly owned by Matrix42 Holding GmbH. Matrix42 Holding is the holding entity of the Matrix42 Group, which provides innovative software solutions for digital workspace management. Matrix42 Holding is owned by funds advised by Corten Advisors UK LLP, a private equity firm. The combination of Efecte and Matrix42 Holding is expected to enable both companies and their respective customers to benefit from complementary product capabilities over time and to increase the scale, talent and capital of both companies to pursue and accelerate their growth ambition. Efecte’s shares are admitted to trading on First North Growth Market Finland. Efecte helps people digitalize and automate their work, and customers across Europe leverage Efecte’s cloud service to operate with greater agility, to improve the experience of end-users, and to save costs. The completion of the tender offer is subject to the satisfaction or waiver by the offeror of certain customary conditions on or prior to the offeror’s announcement of the final results of the tender offer. The tender offer is currently expected to be completed at the end of the first quarter or at the beginning of the second quarter of 2024.

18.1.2024

Remondis – Acquisition of all the shares in Delete Group

We acted as the lead counsel to REMONDIS Group and REMONDIS Maintenance & Services International GmbH in a cross-border acquisition of all the shares in Delete Group Oyj from its shareholders, including Axcel, a Nordic private equity firm. The redemption of all Delete Group’s outstanding senior secured notes was also carried out in connection with the transaction. The acquisition complements REMONDIS Maintenance & Services’ existing industrial cleaning business and marks the entry of the REMONDIS Group to the Finnish market. As a result of the transaction, Delete Group became the third industrial cleaning services company in the REMONDIS Group, alongside BUCHEN Industrial Services and REYM. Operating in Finland and Sweden, Delete Group is one of the leading providers of high-quality industrial cleaning services. It employs approximately 675 professionals in 29 locations. The sale and purchase agreement was signed in May 2023. The transaction was notified to the competition authorities in Finland and Sweden. We assisted REMONDIS in notifying the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority. Mannheimer Swartling advised REMONDIS in matters under the laws of Sweden. REMONDIS Maintenance & Services belongs to the REMONDIS Group, one of the world’s largest recycling, service and water companies. REMONDIS employs more than 40,000 employees all around the globe in over 30 countries.

5.12.2023

Litorina Capital – Merger of Leo’s Lekland and HopLop

We advised Litorina Capital, a Swedish private equity house, in the merger of two leading indoor playground chains in the Nordics, Leo’s Lekland and HopLop. Litorina IV fund, the main owner of Leo’s Lekland, and CapMan Special Situations I, the main owner of HopLop, agreed on an ownership arrangement that will unite Leo’s Lekland and HopLop into Europe’s leading indoor playground group. Both parties will continue their ownership in the new combined group. The HopLop chain continues to operate in Finland under the HopLop brand. The new group will be Europe’s largest family focused activity and exercise company. It has a total of 68 parks in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Germany. Leo’s Lekland is the largest indoor playground chain in the Nordic countries, with a total of 50 parks in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Germany. There are 7 parks in Finland. HopLop is the largest children’s adventure and indoor playground chain and the most significant family focused activity and exercise company in Finland. There are 17 HopLop parks in Finland and 1 in Germany. Litorina is a private equity investment firm based in Stockholm, Sweden. It was founded in 1998. It invests in niche market leading companies with headquarters in the Nordics. Currently it has 13 portfolio companies.

2.2.2023

Bewi – Acquisition of Jackon Holding

Together with Cirio, Thommessen, Pinsent Masons and RBB Economics, we advised Norwegian BEWI ASA in an arrangement where it acquired the entire share capital of Jackon Holding AS. BEWI ASA is a Norwegian industrial group operating internationally that manufactures and sells insulation, packaging and component products mainly from EPS, XPS and EPP materials. Jackon offers a wide variety of EPS, XPS, EPP and EPE products, e.g. insulation, elements, wet room boards, other construction systems, packaging products and technical components for industrial purposes. The merger of the companies expands the product range and brings significant synergistic benefits. The competition authorities in Finland, Sweden, Norway and Germany were notified of the transaction. We assisted BEWI ASA in reporting the acquisition to the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority.

30.11.2022

Lantmännen Agro – Acquisitions of JS Perttula Oy and Ismo Lindell Oy

We advised Lantmännen Agro Oy in its acquisitions of the entire share capitals of JS Perttula Oy and Ismo Lindell Oy. JS-Perttula Oy operates the Lantmännen Agro stores in Riihimäki, Hämeenlinna and Nurmijärvi. Ismo Lindell Oy operates the stores in Kouvola and Lappeenranta. Lantmännen Agro Oy is a Finnish agricultural company and part of the Lantmännen ek för corporation. Lantmännen is an agricultural cooperative and a leading player in the agricultural, machinery, bioenergy and food sectors in the Nordic countries.

4.8.2022

Valio – Joint Venture for Biogas Production with St1

We advised Valio when it established Suomen Lantakaasu Oy, a joint venture, together with St1. The purpose of the joint venture is to produce renewable biogas as transport fuel using dairy farm manure and agricultural by-products. Suomen Lantakaasu Oy aims to build 8–10 production plants for biogas production and liquefaction by 2030. The company aims to produce a total of 1 TWh of renewable transport fuel, which corresponds to a quarter of the biogas need for Finland’s roadmap to fossil-free transport. St1 will distribute the biogas through its own nationwide network of fuelling stations for heavy-duty vehicles. A prerequisite for the biogas production investment is improving the profitability of the entire biogas value chain and particularly more widespread use of a biogas-powered transport fleet. The joint venture uniquely links the entire value chain, from the network of farmers to biogas production, liquefaction and distribution. Biogas produced from manure creates significant climate benefits and strengthens Finland’s energy and fuel self-sufficiency. Suomen Lantakaasu Oy is a company owned in equal shares by the energy company St1 and the food company Valio. St1’s responsibilities include technical and project planning and the distribution of the final product. Valio is responsible for the procurement of feeds and the planning of raw material logistics. Valio is a Finnish dairy and food group founded in 1905 and owned by Finnish regional dairy co-operatives. Valio has subsidiaries in Sweden, the Baltics, the USA and China. St1 is a Finnish energy company and part of the St1 Nordic Group. The Group investigates and develops financially profitable and environmentally sustainable energy solutions. St1 focuses on marketing liquid fuels, oil refining and renewable energy solutions, such as advanced biofuels and industrial wind power. The Group has in total 1,250 St1 and Shell petrol stations in Finland, Sweden and Norway.

11.3.2022

Valio – Purchase of Gold&Green’s Brand, IPR and R&D Function

We advised Valio in the purchase of all the rights of the Gold&Green brand, Gold&Green Foods’ intellectual property and its research and development function from Paulig. Gold&Green Foods is known for its revolutionary plant-based innovation Pulled Oats. The arrangement does not include other Gold&Green Foods operations, and Paulig will continue Gold&Green Foods’ current operations and sell Gold&Green products under license from Valio. ‘Gold&Green has been a pioneer in the field of plant-based food and new product development, and Valio has successfully developed its Oddlygood plant-based product portfolio. Now, the Gold&Green R&D team joins us in reaching our strategic goal—to further strengthen our position in the growing global plant protein market. Together, we will develop the innovations in Gold&Green’s pipeline and continue the story of the brand’, says Tuomas Salusjärvi, Executive Vice President, Growth Businesses and R&D at Valio. Valio is a Finnish dairy and food group founded in 1905 and owned by Finnish regional dairy co-operatives. Valio has subsidiaries in Sweden, the Baltics, the USA and China. It had net sales of EUR 1,787 million in 2019 and employs over 4,000 professionals.

2.3.2022

My latest blogs

Latest references

Get to know our other experts in the field

Search from the site.