Sari Suutari

Associate, Master of Laws

Services

  1. Capital Markets & Financial Regulation
  2. ESG and Corporate Sustainability

Contact details

I advise our domestic and international clients in various assignments related to capital markets transactions and financial regulation.

I joined Castrén & Snellman in 2022 as an Associate Trainee. I graduated from the University of Helsinki in the spring of 2023. In my studies, I focused on corporate and securities law. I consider the judicialisation of sustainability to be one of the most interesting developments in business law today and also wrote my thesis on a subject related to sustainability regulation. Before graduation, I gained a wide range of practical experience from several Finnish law firms and from the legal department of a listed company.

I am committed to helping our clients and providing them with sound and meticulous legal advice on all matters related to business and financial law. I have assisted in various bond issuances, IPOs and regulated transactions.

I’m on secondment at a client company until June 2025.

Latest references

S-Bank – Bond transactions totalling EUR 1.45 billion for acquisition of Svenska Handelsbanken’s operations 
We have advised S-Bank Plc in four bond transactions totalling EUR 1.45 billion that provided financing for S-Bank’s acquisition of Svenska Handelsbanken AB’s Finnish private customer, asset management and investment services operations. In 2023, we advised S-Bank in supplementing their earlier bond programme and in the issuance of two new bonds. S-Bank’s first covered bond, valued at EUR 500 million, was issued in September 2023. In addition to general corporate purposes, the purpose of the issue was to finance the acquisition of Svenska Handelsbanken AB’s Finnish private customer, asset management and investment services operations. Further, a EUR 150 million senior preferred MREL eligible bond was issued in November 2023 and the purpose of the issue was to meet the minimum requirement for own funds and eligible liabilities (MREL) and to finance the bank’s activities. In 2024, we have advised S-Bank Plc in the update of a EUR 3 billion bond programme. Under the programme, S-Bank may issue senior preferred MREL eligible notes, covered bonds and additional tier 1 capital notes. In February of 2024, we advised S-Bank in its issuance of a EUR 300 million senior preferred MREL eligible bond and on the tender offer of its EUR 220 million senior preferred MREL eligible bond maturing in 2025. The tender offer required the prior permission of the Finnish Financial Stability Authority based on Commission Delegated Regulation 2023/827 on technical standards for the reduction of own funds and eligible liabilities prior authorisation. The Stability Authority granted S-Bank a permission for repurchases of the notes. Based on the permission, S-Bank replaced the notes with own funds or eligible liabilities instruments of equal or higher quality at terms that are sustainable for the income capacity of S-Bank. The final tender offer results were announced in February 2024. In April 2024, we further advised S-Bank in supplementing their base prospectus and issue of their second covered bond of EUR 500 million. The covered bond’s maturity date is 16 April 2030.
Case published 30.7.2024
Multitude – Relocation from Finland to Switzerland
We act as the lead legal counsel in the groundbreaking case of Multitude SE’s (Multitude) proposed relocation from Finland to Switzerland. The first phase of the relocation, involving the transfer of Multitude’s registered office from Finland to Malta pursuant to SE Regulation, was successfully completed on 30 June 2024. In this connection, Multitude’s shares were removed from the Finnish book-entry system and the issuer central securities depository of the shares changed from Euroclear Finland Oy to the CSD operated by the Malta Stock Exchange. In practice, all of Multitude’s shares are now held through Clearstream. In Malta, the company is anticipated to be converted into a public limited liability company under Maltese law, following which it will seek redomiciliation from Malta to Switzerland. Given that Finnish legislation does not allow for direct relocation to a non-European Economic Area country such as Switzerland while preserving the company’s legal personality, the process necessitated a multi-jurisdictional strategy as outlined above. Our mandate encompasses advising Multitude on all aspects governed by Finnish law concerning the proposed relocation and coordinating the work of local legal counsel and various other advisors involved in the project. The process also involved a written procedure to amend Multitude’s existing subordinated capital notes and senior bonds to facilitate the relocation as well as placement of EUR 80 million senior guaranteed notes by a newly established Multitude Capital Oyj. ”The transfer to Malta marks a significant step in Multitude’s journey. This pioneering and complex process has been successfully implemented with the invaluable support of our own team and advisors. Castrén & Snellman has masterfully orchestrated the entire project, ensuring seamless coordination across multiple jurisdictions. We look forward to achieving our next step with the further relocation to Switzerland”, says Jorma Jokela, Multitude’s CEO. Multitude is a fully regulated growth platform for financial technology, employing over 700 individuals across 25 countries. Its shares are listed on the regulated market (Prime Standard) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
Case published 1.7.2024
Huhtamaki – EUR 300 million bond and tender offer of bond maturing in 2024
We advised Huhtamäki Oyj in its issuance of a EUR 300 million senior unsecured bond and on the tender offer of its EUR 150 million senior unsecured bond maturing in 2024. The new bond bears interest at a fixed interest rate of 5.125 per cent per annum. Huhtamaki used the net proceeds from the issue of the new bond for the partial repurchase of its bond maturing in 2024 and for refinancing and other general corporate purposes of the group.
Case published 10.1.2024
Raute – Rights issue and two convertible perpetual junior loans
We advised Raute Corporation and lead manager Evli Plc in connection with Raute’s rights issue. The offering was oversubscribed, and the company raised gross proceeds of approximately EUR 7.5 million. Trading with the new shares subscribed for in the issue will commence on the official list of Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd on or about 21 June 2023. In addition, we advised Raute in connection with two convertible perpetual junior loans. Raute agreed on perpetual junior loans of up to EUR 2 million each with LähiTapiola Yritysrahoitus I Ky and Veritas Pension Insurance Company Ltd respectively in connection with the rights issue. We have been the trusted partner of Raute in previous assignments as well: this spring, we acted as the legal advisor to Raute relating to its directed share issue, combination of share classes, new EUR 12 million secured revolving credit facility and a total of EUR 40 million in uncommitted secured bank guarantee facilities. ‘I would like to thank our shareholders for their trust and commitment. The completion of the offering, together with the directed issue carried out earlier this year and the agreed junior loan arrangements, form an entity, which strengthens our financial position and enables the implementation of our new growth strategy. Raute now has a strong foundation to be the partner to future-proof the wood industry. With our unique solutions, we drive change and promote resource-efficient society.,’ comments Mika Saariaho, President and CEO of Raute. Raute is a worldwide technology and service company whose customers are companies operating in the wood products industry. Raute’s technology offering covers the entire production process for veneer, plywood and LVL (Laminated Veneer Lumber) and special measurement equipment for sawn timber. As a supplier of mill-scale projects, Raute is a global market leader both in the plywood and LVL industries. Additionally, Raute’s full-service concept includes technology services ranging from spare parts deliveries to regular maintenance and equipment modernisations.
Case published 19.6.2023
Metsäliitto Cooperative – A EUR 200 million sustainability-linked revolving credit facility agreement
We advised Metsäliitto Cooperative in relation to a new EUR 200 million sustainability-linked revolving credit facility with a syndicate of eight banks. This new credit facility refinances the existing EUR 200 million facility signed in December 2018 and will be used for general corporate purposes. The facility has a tenor of five years and includes two one-year extension options. The pricing mechanism of the revolving credit facility is linked to two of Metsä Group’s ambitious sustainability targets: Target 1: Zero tonnes of fossil carbon dioxide emissions, Scope 1 and 2, by 2030. Target 2: Share of certified wood in wood supply 100% by 2030. ‘Incorporating sustainability criteria into our financing further demonstrates the company’s strong commitment to actions that reduce our carbon footprint and mitigate climate change,’ says Vesa-Pekka Takala, EVP, CFO of Metsä Group.
Case published 16.1.2025
NoHo Partners – A MEUR 119 Financing Package
We advised NoHo Partners Plc on a 119-million-euro financing arrangement. The financing arrangement frees up a significant part of the cash flow for the business and enables the implementation of an acquisition-driven growth strategy also in the future.
Case published 16.1.2025
CapMan Buyout – Divestment of Renoa Group
We advised CapMan Buyout in the exit of Renoa Group. Renoa Group management together with Korpi Capital and other investors have acquired the group. Renoa Group is a Finnish established expert in the building technology sector specializing in detached houses in Finland and Sweden. Renoa is a major provider of turnkey domestic water & heating, sewer system and electricity network renovations, with significant operations also in Sweden. The Group reported sales of €35 million and employed c. 300 personnel across its 10 offices in Finland and 6 in Sweden. Korpi Capital is a Finnish investment company with holdings in 29 companies. 
Case published 14.1.2025
eQ Community Properties Fund – Acquisition of a property portfolio
We advised eQ Community Properties Fund in its acquisition of a property portfolio comprising a health centre in Espoo, a daycare property in Vantaa, an elementary school in Helsinki, and a parking facility property in Helsinki from Ilmarinen Mutual Pension Insurance Company. The lettable area of the first three properties is approximately 13,900 sq.m., while the parking facility offers 120 parking spaces. The portfolio’s tenants include the City of Helsinki, the City of Vantaa, the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County, and Aimo Park Oy. In connection with the transaction, Ilmarinen invested in eQ Community Properties fund as per 31 December 2024.
Case published 9.1.2025

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