Carola Lindholm

Partner, Chairman of the Board, Member of the Finnish Bar

I am a partner in Castrén & Snellman’s M&A team and the chair of our board. I have worked within M&A for almost 20 years and been involved in some 300 transactions, most with a cross-border element.

I am often consulted for strategic M&A advice, and take a particular interest in the possibilities and risks climate change and constantly changing regulation bring for future businesses and investors. I regularly work on deals for both domestic and international clients in a variety of industries—the financial, insurance and health care industries, to name a few—and have also been involved in several major energy, renewables and infrastructure transactions on the Nordic market.

I strive to be a solution-orientated negotiator who brings value to the table when the deal hinges on building a relationship and trust between the parties. I have advised clients on the establishment of some unique joint ventures on both the Nordic and Russian markets.

Why M&A? I simply have always genuinely enjoyed helping our clients build their success stories. With a trimmed project management and a firm hands-on and pragmatic approach, I like to deliver on time and on budget.

Latest references

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.
Case published 18.7.2024
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.
Case published 18.7.2024
We advised Exsitec Holding AB in a transaction whereby it acquired all the shares in M-flow Finland Oy. M-flow Finland Oy is a Finnish company engaged in reselling Medius B2B standard S2P software-as-a-service solutions in Finland. Exsitec Holding AB is a Swedish company part of the Nordic Exsitec group, which has over 20 offices in the Nordics. Exsitec delivers digital solutions to improve its customers’ businesses.
Case published 4.7.2024
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.
Case published 23.5.2024
We acted as Zendesk, Inc.’s Finnish legal counsel in its acquisition of Ultimate Enterprises Oy, an industry leading provider of service automation using AI technology. The cross-border acquisition was completed in cooperation with the transaction’s lead counsel Allen & Overy. Zendesk is a leading global technology company that provides software-as-a-service and customer experience (CX) products based in the US. The acquisition of Ultimate expands Zendesk’s AI-powered CX offerings.
Case published 26.3.2024
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.
Case published 5.12.2023
Castrén & Snellman is the trusted partner for companies in the insurance sector both in Finland and internationally. We have assisted our clients in matters such as obtaining authorisation for activities transactions, such as insurance portfolio transfers and ownership control processes system acquisitions disputes outsourcing arrangements sales, marketing and insurance distribution matters. We have extensive experience in the insurance sector and decades of collaboration with supervisory authorities. We offer our clients our internationally recognised competence, clear thinking and solution-oriented experts.
Case published 5.12.2023
We advised Applus+ in the divestment of K1 Katsastajat Oy and its vehicle inspection operations in Finland to A-Katsastus Group. The main service of K1 Katsastajat Oy is light and heavy vehicle inspections through its network of 84 stations and 137 employees. K1 Katsastajat Oy also provides technical vehicle inspections, vehicle certificates and registration services and condition checks for commercial customers. Its revenue in 2021 was 14 million euros. This divestment is in line with the active portfolio management announced in the Applus+ Strategic Plan to focus on portfolio mix quality-improvement. Applus+ Group is a worldwide leader in the testing, inspection and certification sector for its technical capabilities, innovative approach, and its workforce of over 25,000 employees in more than 70 countries. It is a trusted partner, enhancing the quality and safety of its clients’ assets and infrastructures while safeguarding their operations.
Case published 5.1.2023

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