Samuli Salminen

Fortum – Acquisition of a project development portfolio for renewable power from Enersense

We are acting as a counsel to Fortum in a transaction in which Fortum is strengthening its renewable power project pipeline through the acquisition of a project development portfolio from Enersense. The debt-and-cash free purchase price is approximately EUR 9 million, with the potential for project-specific earn-outs subject to projects successfully reaching a final investment decision in the future. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to be completed during the first quarter of 2025. Fortum is a leading Nordic energy company with the purpose to power a world where people, businesses and nature thrive together. Fortum’s core operations comprise of efficient, CO2-free power generation as well as reliable supply of electricity and district heat to private and business customers. The company is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. One of Fortum’s strategic targets is to develop at least 800 MW of ready-to-build onshore wind and solar projects by the end of 2026.

19.12.2024

Hanza AB – Acquisition of Leden Group

We are acting as Finnish advisor to Hanza AB relating to its acquisition of all the shares in Leden Group Oy. Hanza AB is a Swedish mechanical engineering and electronics contract manufacturing company listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange. Founded in 2008, the company has six manufacturing clusters in Sweden, Finland, Germany, Baltics, Central Europe and China and an annual turnover of approximately SEK 4.6 billion. Leden Group is a leading Finnish contract manufacturer specialising in sheet metal, machining and complex assembly. Leden Group has four production sites in Finland and one in Estonia and an annual turnover of approximately SEK 1.1 billion. The closing of the transaction remains subject to authority approval and customary conditions.

13.12.2024

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

Citycon – Outsourcing of finance activities related to Nordic Accounting and Lease Administration to Staria

We successfully acted as the lead external counsel for Citycon Plc in an arrangement whereby Citycon outsourced its Nordic Accounting and Lease Administration operations and related workforce in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Estonia to Staria Plc. The outsourcing is expected to take place as of 1 August 2024. With this outsourcing arrangement, Citycon aims to align the size and capabilities of the company’s finance organisation with its future development, ensuring it can adapt to meet the company’s needs at any given time. During the assignment, we assisted Citycon in drafting the necessary contract documentation and planning the contract negotiations and timetable. We led the outsourcing agreement negotiations and advised Citycon on employee transfer and data privacy related matters. We also coordinated legal advice for other in-scope countries. Citycon is the leading owner and developer of urban hubs in the Nordics and Baltics. Citycon’s 33 mixed-use, necessity-based centres are located in the major cities in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Estonia. Citycon transforms unique locations into sustainable communities and cities full of life, serving 140 million people each year and delivering long-term share value. Citycon brings value to communities by developing urban hubs for living, working, socialising and shopping. Citycon has extensive experience as an urban developer and uses its expertise in creating mixed-use centres that include retail, offices, hotels, housing, food & beverage as well as healthcare, culture and leisure services.

13.5.2024

Mérieux Equity Partners – Acquisition of Labquality

We acted as the legal and ESG advisor to Mérieux Equity Partners on the acquisition of a majority stake in Labquality through a leveraged buyout by its buyout fund, Mérieux Participations 4. Existing shareholders of Labquality, including Cor Group and the management, will reinvest a portion of their proceeds into the company in connection with the transaction. Headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, Labquality is a Nordic player specialized in EQA, CRO activities and regulatory affairs, with a strong local presence in Central and Eastern Europe. The company provides a comprehensive array of services for the healthcare, medical technology, and pharmaceutical industries. The company, employing over 120 professionals and supported by a network of more than 150 external experts and consultants across its offices in Finland, Germany, and Poland, serves a diverse clientele of over 8,000 customers, including major pharmaceutical companies in over 60 countries. Mérieux Equity Partners (MxEP) is an AMF-accredited management company dedicated to equity investments in the Healthcare and Nutrition sectors. MxEP actively supports entrepreneurs and companies with differentiated products and services, giving them privileged access to its sector expertise and international network. The transaction will enable Labquality to pursue its buy & build strategy in Europe to accelerate its CRO activities while continuing strong and recurring growth in the EQA segment. Labquality will benefit from MxEP’s sector expertise and financial resources to achieve its ambition of becoming a leading European CRO and EQA platform, with fully integrated regulatory consulting capabilities to serve major customers across Europe.

4.12.2023

Oddlygood and Valio – Acquisition of Planti

We advised Valio and Oddlygood in their acquisition of the Nordic brand and business Planti. Through the acquisition, Oddlygood becomes the owner of the Planti products and brand, as well as related intellectual property rights. Oddlygood becomes the market leader in plant-based dairy alternative spoonable snacks in Sweden and dairy alternative cooking products in Finland. Simultaneously, Oddlygood’s majority owner Valio acquires Planti’s production in Turku, including the employees at the site. Until the acquisition, the Planti brand was part of the Norwegian Kavli Group.

3.10.2023

Ahlström Capital – Merger of Enics and GPV International

Castrén & Snellman and Danish law firm Plesner are advising Ahlström Capital and its portfolio company Enics Group in the contemplated merger between Enics Group and GPV International A/S, wholly owned by the public listed company Schouw & Co A/S. The transaction values the combined business at more than DKK 4 billion. The merger will create Europe’s second-largest EMS (electronics manufacturing services) company with production facilities across worldwide and with more than 7,500 employees globally. Schouw & Co A/S will hold 80% of the shares in the merged entity and Ahlström Capital will hold the remaining 20% of the shares. The completion of the acquisition is subject to customary approvals, including from competition authorities in certain jurisdictions. Schouw & Co. is a Danish industrial conglomerate listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen. Ahlström Capital is a family-owned investment company.

23.6.2022

QPR Software – Rights Issue

We advised QPR Software Plc and lead manager Evli Plc in a rights issue. A Finnish language EU Recovery Prospectus, approved by the Financial Supervisory Authority, was published in conjunction with offering. The issue was oversubscribed, and the company raised gross proceeds of approximately EUR 3.45 million. Trading with the new shares subscribed for in the issue commenced on Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd today. “I am very pleased with the outcome of the rights issue and the great interest of investors in the implementation of our company’s growth strategy. I would like to extend my warm thanks to all the old and new shareholders of QPR Software Plc for their trust in the company. As we have previously announced, the excellent result of the rights issue will enable the implementation of our growth strategy according to the company’s plans. The oversubscribed offering is a sign of strong faith in the company’s growth and its results are an important milestone to strengthen our position as a leading SaaS company in a rapidly growing process mining market”, notes Jussi Vasama, CEO of QPR Software Plc. QPR Software Plc provides process mining, performance management and enterprise architecture solutions for digital transformation, strategy execution, and business process improvement in over 50 countries. QPR software Plc allows customers to gain valuable insights for informed decisions that make a difference.

20.6.2022

Evli – EAB Group Merger into Evli

We advised Evli in a transaction in which EAB is going to merge into Evli through a statutory absorption merger in accordance with the Finnish Companies Act. The combination agreement and the merger plans relating to the transaction were signed and announced on 31 May 2022, and the transaction is expected to be completed during the second half of 2022. For this transaction, we drafted the first exemption document in the history of Finland in accordance with Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/528 and regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council. Both Evli and the EAB Group offer wide ranging investment services as well as asset and fund management including alternative investment funds (AIFs). The combination of Evli and the EAB Group is the next step for Evli in its strategic path to become a leader in Nordic wealth management services. The Combined Company resulting from the merger will have an especially strong position among others in wealth management for institutions and in the design and management of incentive and rewards systems.

7.6.2022

Blackstone Growth – RELEX Solutions’ EUR 500 Million Funding Round

Castrén & Snellman, together with Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and Taylor Wessing, advised Blackstone Growth (BXG), Blackstone’s growth equity investing business, on the EUR 500 million funding round of Retail Logistics Excellence – RELEX Oy, a Finland-based provider of unified retail planning solutions. The funding round, led by funds managed by Blackstone Growth (BXG), values Relex Solutions at EUR 5 billion and is the largest funding round raised by a Finnish growth company to date. The funding raised allows the company to continue its growth path by hiring hundreds of developers and experts to grow its technical team that already stands at over 400 people strong. RELEX Solutions is a software company that automates and optimizes supply chain, merchandising, and operational decisions for retailers and consumer packaged goods companies. With the rise of both regulations and corporate initiatives to reduce waste and drive social, economic, and environmental benefits, RELEX Solutions is a key partner for companies to reach their sustainability goals without sacrificing customer experience. Headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, the company employs over 1,300 people globally. Blackstone is the world’s largest alternative investment firm with assets under management of USD 881 billion.

17.2.2022

Bilot – Proposed merger of Bilot and Vincit

We act as legal advisor to Bilot Plc in the merger of Bilot Plc and Vincit Plc, which is proposed to be implemented as an absorption merger pursuant to the Finnish Companies Act. “Merging with Vincit is the next logical step for Bilot on the way to becoming a more comprehensive and versatile operator. The merger will accelerate Bilot’s on-going change and enable stronger contribution to customer experience, electronic business operations and internationalisation in the future. Thus, the merger will create an opportunity to further invest in the future company’s growth. Customer portfolios, target markets and offerings that complement each other will create a new kind of market actor with a strong culture and employee experience at its core. Even though the name will change, Bilot’s impressive story will continue together with another fine company. The future is looking even brighter,” says Jens Krogell , CEO of Bilot. In 2020, the illustrative combined operating profit of the future company was approximately EUR 70.6 million and EBITDA approximately EUR 9.1 million. On 31 December 2021, Bilot and Vincit had a total of approximately 821 employees. Bilot Plc is a Finnish IT services company that provides its customers with a strategic competitive advantage by developing a comprehensive digital business. Vincit Plc is a top expert organisation that offers its customers digitality that always works, with no nonsense, for a world without fear for tomorrow. The companies’ shares are listed on the Nasdaq First North Growth Market Finland marketplace maintained by Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd.

4.2.2022

9Lives Group – Acquisition of Stella Kotipalvelut

We advised first aid and ambulance service company 9Lives Group Oy when it acquired the entire share capital of Stella Kotipalvelut Oy. The acquisition is at the heart of 9Lives’ strategy and is driven by, among other things, the SOTE reform and the megatrend of population aging. ‘Stella is one of the leading players in home care and personal care in Finland. By combining our strengths and expertise, we will have an even stronger foothold in the market as well as a more comprehensive service network, and we will be able to offer high-quality and versatile care close to the customer competitively. In addition, as a Finnish-owned and entrepreneur-driven operator, we are able to react to market changes quickly, in a customer-oriented and reliable manner’, says Markus Ulfstedt , CEO and owner of 9Lives. 9Lives is Finland’s largest private company providing first aid and ambulance services. The clients of its ambulance services are public actors and medical institutions. The company has also lately become known with COVID-19. The company’s turnover in 2020 was approximately EUR 20 million and it employs 800 people. Stella Kotipalvelut Oy is a company specialising in home care services, with a turnover of EUR 24 million in 2020. The company employs 1,600 people, of whom 520 are permanent employees.

5.1.2022

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